Liesje Mommer

My research focus on interactions between plant roots and soil-borne fungi at the community level. My mission is to elucidate how biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning, with a particular focus on disease risk. By doing so, I cross scientific disciplines, as I combine concepts and methodologies from plant ecology, phytopathology and epidemiology in my work. My work is mainly experimental in nature, but my background in theoretical biology (cum laude) allows me to leverage quantitative modelling approaches too (see output#6, section c). My research on root distributions and soil-borne pathogens in biodiversity contexts has contributed to paradigm shifts in the understanding of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, evidenced by the fact that I am recognised as a highly cited scientist (i.e. belonging to top 1% best cited scientists of the world, ClarivateTM) in 2021 and 2022. • EDUCATION 2005 PhD degree: Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands 2000 MSc degree: Biology (with honours, cum laude); specialisation: Theoretical Biology and Plant Ecology; Wageningen University (WUR), the Netherlands. • ACADEMIC CAREER 2023 - now Professor Belowground Ecology, Forest Ecology and Forest Management WUR 2021 - now Scientific lead of Wageningen Biodiversity Initiative, which is an transdisciplinary network of +400 scientists and stakeholders collaborating to deliver innovative pathways for nature-positive futures. 2015-2022 Professor Plant Ecology, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, WUR 2013-2015 Associate professor, Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group, WUR 2008-2013 VENI Postdoc, funded by a NWO VENI Talent grant acquired by me, WUR 2005-2007 Postdoc at Radboud University Nijmegen