What motivates your research on G-protein-mediated defense, and what curiosity do you seek in students joining your lab?
During my undergraduate and master’s studies, I became deeply interested in G-protein–coupled signaling, as these molecular switches relay extracellular signals into precise cellular responses. While these pathways are well characterized in animals, their roles in plants remain less understood, particularly in defense. This knowledge gap motivated my Ph.D. research on G-protein signaling in plant defense. In my lab, I seek students who are curious about how G-protein–mediated pathways translate external cues into coordinated defense and developmental responses in plants.
How do you study fungal penetration mechanisms, and how do you encourage students to think creatively about plant protection?
To study the fungal penetration mechanism, we used various localization and omics-based techniques. We used fungal mutants tagged with GFP or RFP fluorescence proteins to infect plant samples and trace the disease progression in the plants. We also used transcriptomics to check the dynamics of RNA expression involved during pathogen infection. I encourage students to think creatively by suggesting them to integrate molecular biology with bioinformatics, ecology, or systems biology to solve the global food security.
How can your discoveries on cutinases and plant surface defenses shape future crop resistance, and how do you train students to connect mechanisms to field relevance?
Cutinase are enzymes that are the first effectors being released from the fungal pathogens to penetrate the plant surface. By uncovering how cutinases interact with surface defense mechanisms, we can better understand the early stages of pathogen invasion. Likewise, a stronger plant surface having higher cuticle components may resist the pathogen entry. I encourage students to think beyond the lab bench linking biochemical findings to physiological outcomes and agricultural applications.
What excites you about the industrial potential of microbial enzymes and metabolites, and how do you nurture entrepreneurial and translational thinking in your group?
Microbial enzymes have huge industrial potential and the exciting thing about them is that they are versatile, meaning they can digest their substrate from a wide range of plant species. Microbial enzymes can convert agricultural waste into useful products and have tremendous commercial potential to produce biofuel, fatty acids and biocontrol agents. In my group, we are working on how we can isolate and modify enzymes by genetic engineering and I encourage students to apply knowledge to create their own startups to become entrepreneurs.
What cutting-edge tools will power your lab’s next phase, and how do you support students in mastering advanced techniques with confidence and integrity?
In the next phase of my lab, I aim to use cutting-edge tools such as targeted gene editing using CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing, high-resolution imaging and advanced omics approaches (transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) to solve the unanswered questions. To help students to become experts in these advanced techniques I mentor them to learn these techniques and ask why and when to use it.
How do you envision the future of plant disease resistance research, and what role do young scientists play in shaping it?
The future of plant disease resistance research lies in integrating molecular insights with systems-level understanding and real-world applications. Advances in genomics, genome editing, and multi-omics approaches will enable us to uncover complex defense networks rather than single resistance factors. Young scientists play a crucial role in this transition by bringing interdisciplinary thinking, technological fluency, and fresh perspectives. I encourage them to ask fundamental questions, embrace emerging tools responsibly, and connect basic research with agricultural challenges, ensuring that discoveries translate into durable, sustainable solutions for global food security.
