معرفی
Jonathan Plett is an Associate Professor at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), Western Sydney University. He holds a Ph.D. in plant developmental biology from Queen's University and conducted postdoctoral research at INRA, France, focusing on plant-fungal symbiosis. His research explores signaling mechanisms in plant-microbe interactions, particularly in ectomycorrhizal fungi and environmental stress responses. Key areas include small protein signals in symbiosis, abiotic stress tolerance, and fungal effector proteins. Plett has received multiple awards, including the Daniel McAlpine Medal (2018) and the Young Tall Poppy Science Award (2016). He leads grants addressing plant disease management, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and climate resilience. Current projects involve Pisolithus-Eucalyptus symbiosis and the impact of elevated CO₂ on forest ecosystems.
Education:
- Ph.D., Biology (Plant Developmental Biology), Queen's University
- Postdoctoral Research, INRA, France (2009–2012)
Research Interests:
- Molecular basis of plant-microbe communication
- Role of secreted proteins in symbiosis
- Climate change impacts on plant-fungal interactions
- Biological control of plant pathogens
Grants/Projects (Selected):
- Biologically informed control of Gummy Stem Blight (2023–2027)
- Microbiome management for forest productivity (2022–2027)
- National Tree Genomics Program (2019–2024)
Awards:
- 2024: Excellence in Research Impact - Commended
- 2022: Research Impact Competition Winner
- 2018: Daniel McAlpine Medal
- 2017: Goldacre Award
Labs/Teams: HIE's research group focuses on mycorrhizal symbiosis and environmental resilience, collaborating with institutions like INRA, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, and Forest and Wood Products Australia.
