Julie CHONG

Julie Chong is a Full Professor at the University of Haute-Alsace (UHA) in Colmar, France, affiliated with the Faculty of Marketing and Agrosciences. She directs the Laboratory of Vine, Biotechnologies and Environment (LVBE) and holds key administrative roles including leadership of the Master 1 'Valorization and Transformation of Agricultural Products' program and the Agronomy pole at UHA.

Her academic qualifications include a Habilitation to Supervise Research (2012) from UHA on induced plant defenses in grapevine resistance to cryptogamic diseases, and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology (2001) from the CNRS Institute of Molecular Plant Biology in Strasbourg, where her doctoral research focused on salicylic acid biosynthesis and pathogen-induced glucosyltransferases.

Professor Chong's research program investigates molecular mechanisms of grapevine defense against trunk diseases, particularly Botryosphaeria dieback. Her laboratory characterizes defense signaling pathways (notably VvNPR1), studies the role of sugar transporters (SWEET family) in pathogen interactions, and explores resistance sources in wild grapevine species (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris). She employs advanced techniques in molecular biology, metabolomics, and pathogen characterization to dissect host-pathogen dynamics and identify sustainable disease control strategies, with emphasis on fungal virulence factors and plant immune responses.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2016-2025) reveals consistent focus on effector-triggered immunity, metabolic reprogramming during infection, and biotechnological enhancement of grapevine resilience. Key themes include characterization of fungal secreted proteins, symbiotic interactions with mycorrhizal fungi, and engineering of disease resistance through transporter overexpression, demonstrating translational applications for viticulture.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized with:

• Prime d'Excellence Scientifique (2014) from University of Haute-Alsace
• Innovative Project Grants from University of Haute-Alsace

Professor Chong actively supervises Master's students in the 'Sciences and Technologies of Agriculture, Food and Environment' program, guiding internships and R&D projects. She serves on doctoral committees (EDSC222) and contributes to academic governance as an elected faculty council member. Her research is supported by institutional grants for innovative projects and collaborative initiatives with the regional wine industry.

As Director of LVBE, she leads a multidisciplinary team investigating viticultural challenges, maintaining strong connections with the University of Strasbourg doctoral school and Alsace winegrowers to address trunk disease epidemics through integrated molecular and ecological approaches.