since 10/2016: Research Assistant at the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kaiserslautern (Hahn group), Germany 04/2016 - 09/2016: Postdoc, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. DFG return-fellowship 01/2013 - 03/2016: Postdoc, BOKU Vienna (Kleine-Vehn group), Austria. DFG Fellowship 2011 - 2012: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Heidelberg, Germany 2007 - 2011: PhD at University of Heidelberg (Robinson group), Germany 2005/2006: ERASMUS fellowship at the University of Wolverhampton, UK 2001 - 2007: Studies of Biology at the University of Freiburg, Germany

In contrast to animals, plants do not possess an adaptive immunity, characterized by specialized cells like B cells/T cells and antibodies. Nevertheless, most plants survive a constant and highly diverse attack of numerous pathogens. Most plant immune responses are based on the recognition of conserved microbial signatures (MAMP/PAMP) and include the formation of defensive chemical compounds (often sequestered in the vacuole), the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and eventually a localized hypersensitive response (HR), that causes programmed cell death (PCD) at the infection site to interfere with further pathogen proliferation. My general research interest is focusing on specific plant defense responses against fungi. More specifically, I am interested in (1) the identification of fungal effector molecules, interfering with plant defense and allow host plant infection and (2) the molecular dissection of pathogen-induced cell death mechanisms. For the first project (the fungal-side) we use the necrotrophic gray mold fungus Botrytis cinerea as a model pathogen. This fungus affects >1000 different plant species and causes dramatic economic losses in fruit and vegetable cultures (e.g. vine, tomato, strawberry). Necrotrophic fungi in general are able to enhance and thereby abuse the plant HR in order to invade host plant tissue. Additionally, it has been suggested that necrotrophs secrete cell-death inducing factors to directly kill plants cells. Currently, we are investigating the secretome of Botrytis and started to isolate, identify and characterize the key players for fungal virulence. For the second project (the plant-side) we want to unravel which specific defense reactions are initiated upon pathogen infection with an emphasis on the role of the vacuole in PCD. In a combined genetic, biochemical and cell biological approach we aim to understand the complex temporal sequence of pathogen attack and plant defense, resulting in either infection or resistance-associated cell death.