Liesje Mommer

Liesje Mommer is a Professor at Wageningen University & Research, affiliated with the Department of Environmental Sciences and the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group. She leads the Wageningen Biodiversity Initiative (WBI), focusing on biodiversity's role in food systems and planetary health. Her research investigates how plant-root interactions with soil fungi influence ecosystem functioning, particularly in grassland biodiversity experiments. She is recognized as a Highly Cited Scientist (2021-2022) and has contributed to paradigm shifts in root economics and functional trait ecology.

Her work bridges ecology and policy, advising on soil health legislation and public awareness campaigns. Key research themes include belowground disease dynamics, root trait variation, and the application of biodiversity principles to sustainable agriculture. Notable collaborations include leading the international sROOT and RootFun workgroups with Prof. Alex Weigelt (University of Leipzig).

Literature highlights include a 2023 New Phytologist study on fungal-root trait relationships and a Nature reflection paper on trait selection methodologies. Awards include the Hugo de Vries Award for her student Eline Ampt's thesis on plant-pathogen interactions.