Hilje Doekes

Hilje Doekes is an Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Genetics within the PE&RC (Plant Research International) at Wageningen University & Research. Their research focuses on microbial evolution, spatial population dynamics, and bacteriophage ecology, with a particular emphasis on understanding how evolutionary processes operate across multiple scales.

Research interests include bacteriophage communication, natural selection mechanisms in spatially structured environments, and the evolution of cooperative behaviors like altruism. Doekes employs mathematical modeling and computational simulations to study these phenomena, often combining theoretical approaches with empirical data.

Recent work highlights the role of repeated outbreaks in shaping phage strategies and the evolution of spatially structured populations. Their publications span topics like horizontal gene transfer dynamics, microbial cooperation, and the interplay between selfish genetic elements and beneficial traits.

• Advising PhD candidates on projects such as:
• Revealing drivers of bacteriophage diversity (de Bruijn)
• Evolving antibiotic resistance in spatial environments (Pool)
• Soil microbial communities in intercropping systems (van Schijndel)

Labs/Teams: Active in the Laboratory of Genetics and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving bioinformatics and ecological modeling.