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De Storme Lab
LABORATORY FOR PLANT GENETICS AND CROP IMPROVEMENT
Meet the Members of the PGCI Lab
Nico De Storme
Principal Investigator
Research Interests:
Meiosis
Plant reproduction
Pome fruit genetics
Crop breeding
Plant biotechnology
2013
Ghent University, Belgium
Cell and Gene Biotechnology
PhD
2006
Ghent University, Belgium
Bioscience Engineering
MSc
Tine Verhoeven
Laboratory Manager
Eva Vanden Broeck
Secretary
Mireia Uranga Ruiz De Eguino
Postdoctoral Researcher
Hanne Claessen
Postdoctoral Researcher
German Vighi
PhD Student
Research Interests:
Plant breeding and new breeding techniques
Science communication
Plant physiology and developmental biology
MicroRNAs functionality
2019
University of Turin, Italy
MSc
2013
National University of Litoral, Argentina
MSc
2011
National University of Litoral, Argentina
BSc
Astrid Severyns
PhD Student
Research Interests:
Tropical crops
Innovative plant breeding
Crop improvement
Engineering of meiosis
Diploid gametes
2020
University of Leuven, Belgium
MSc
2018
University of Leuven, Belgium
BSc
Aybars Koç
PhD Student
Research Interests:
Plant stress responses
Plant reproductive biology
Crop improvement
Meiotic restitution
2019
Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
MSc
2017
Yeditepe University, Turkey
BSc
Research Interests:
Horticulture
Plant growth regulators
Pome fruit breeding
Germplasm collections
Pollen analysis
Image analysis
2020
University of Leuven, Belgium
MSc
2019
University of Leuven, Belgium
BSc
Han Palmers
PhD Student
Goytom Berihun
PhD Student
Research Interests:
Polyplodization
Plant abiotic stress resistance
Plant-pathogen interactions
2017
Wageningen University, Netherlands
MSc
2011
Aksum University, Ethiopia
BSc
Research Interests:
Bud dormancy
Plant abiotic stress resistance
Pome fruit breeding
2018
Hawassa University, Ethiopia
MSc
2005
Mekele University, Ethiopia
BSc
Seifu Fetena Fela
PhD Student
Pollien Aert
PhD Student
Research Interests:
Polyplodization
Plant abiotic stress resistance
Plant-pathogen interactions
2022
University of Leuven, Belgium
MSc
2020
University of Leuven, Belgium
BSc
Rohit Sangwan
PhD Student
Research Interests:
Plant Genetics
Crop Improvement
Haploid Induction
Plant Molecular Biology
2022
University of Potsdam, Germany
MSc
2018
Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra, India
BTech
Lucas Philips
PhD Student
Research Interests:
Meiotic recombination
Pome fruit breeding
Plant gene editing
2023
University of Leuven, Belgium
MSc
2020
UCLL, Belgium
BSc
Research Interests:
Plant cultivation
Plant genetics
Crop improvement
Climate change adaptation
Hobbies:
Piano
Hiking
Running
Tennis
Padel
Robbe Beelen
Master Student
Jarne Sels
Master Student
Research Interests:
Meiosis
Crop breeding
Gene editing
Hobbies:
Volleyball
Tennis
Research Interests:
Cell division
Abnormal growth
Gene editing
Hobbies:
Gaming
Running
Microelectronic repair
Bjarne Debaere
Master Student
Dries Delmotte
Master Student
Research Interests:
Genetic engineering
Bioreactor design
Crop improvement
Circular economic production
Hobbies:
Writing
Hiking
Biking
Gardening
Research Interests:
Genetic engineering
Crop improvement
Environmental improvement
Hobbies:
Fencing
Gaming
Taking care of pets and plants
Running
Mathias Van Driessche
Master Student
Sarah Van Lommel
Master Student
Research Interests:
Plant breeding
Tropical crops (banana)
Meiosis
Diploid gametes
Hobbies:
Running
Hiking
Cooking
Research Interests:
Meiosis
Crop improvement
Genetic engineering
Hobbies:
Scouting
Roxane Roesgen
Master Student
Hannah Guyon
Master Student
Research Interests:
Process optimization in the agri-food chain
Food security in the Global South
Ethical questions and legislations concerning new (genetic) techniques used in the agri-food chain
Hobbies:
Enjoying the excitements of life while travelling
Hiking
Trail running
Reading
Research Interests:
Haploid induction
Crop improvement
Plant genetics
Hobbies:
Travelling
Reading
Piano
Guitar
Robynn
Vancompernolle
Master Student
Former Members
Marie Sarens - January 2024
Evelien Waegneer - December 2023
Sergej Pracek – June 2022
Anze Svara – June 2022
Jolien Smessaert – March 2022
Eline Lemmens – November 2021
Sanne Torfs – March 2021
Amelie Grammen – July 2020
Stijn Vanderzande – July 2019
Nick Hias – August 2019
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