Ulrike Mathesius

Prof. Ulrike Mathesius is a Professor in the Division of Plant Sciences at The Australian National University (ANU). Her research focuses on plant-microbe symbioses, particularly nitrogen-fixing interactions in legumes such as Medicago truncatula. She investigates mechanisms governing nodule formation, root architecture, and plant responses to environmental stresses like low nitrogen and phosphorus availability. Her work integrates genetics, physiology, and microbiology to improve crop productivity and sustainability.

Key projects include optimizing symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Australian pulse crops, exploring legume root traits under elevated CO2, and analyzing rhizosphere microbiome dynamics. She leads collaborations on advanced imaging techniques for molecular analysis and has contributed to over 120 peer-reviewed publications, including high-impact studies on super-nodulating mutants and silicon-enhanced nodulation.

Her research highlights include:

• Disentangling hormonal (auxin, cytokinin) and genetic (SUNN, CEP genes) controls over nodulation and root development.
• Advancing understanding of legume plasticity under climate change, including CO2 effects on photosynthesis and nitrogen allocation.
• Engineering crop roots to enhance nutrient uptake and stress resilience.
• Developing tools for studying root exudates and microbiome interactions.

Prof. Mathesius has secured major grants (e.g., Zero Net Emission Agriculture CRC) and collaborates internationally, with a strong emphasis on translating research into agricultural applications.