EPSO TEAM & BOARD

Trainee

EPSO is continuously looking for PhD students in biological, agricultural or food sciences for a remote or on-site (scholarship/grant holders) traineeship of 3 to 6 months. This traineeship offer is for PhD students in biological, agricultural or food sciences.

ODD ARNE ROGNLI

Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway

EPSO President

I strongly believe that plant science will play a major role in solving the grand challenges defined by the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. We need to develop more sustainable food and feed systems. I am very much concerned with understanding genetic diversity and the use of genomics, phenomics and biotechnology to utilize this diversity for breeding resilient, climate adapted and resource efficient cultivars. Translation of knowledge from model species to crop plants, implementation of new breeding technologies and international collaboration are essential elements for innovations in the plant sector. I have a keen interest in feed crops and sustainable grassland systems, and a better integration between livestock and crop production is needed to improve overall agricultural sustainability in Europe. Finally, I think EPSO needs to focus on students and plant science study programmes also need to integrate technology and data science to attract the best students.

Marie-Theres Hauser

University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria

EPSO Treasurer

The motivation to serve EPSO is my passionate belief that plant sciences are highly important for a sustainable future and thus need a powerful independent advocate in Europe to increase visibility. As professor at the only University in Austria teaching Agricultural Sciences and Forestry among Food and Biotechnology, Environmental and Bioresources Management, Civil Engineering and Landscape Planning, I am trained to communicate and teach together with experts of these different fields which I consider as beneficial for several goals of EPSO. I feel that a fully environmentally friendly future depends on us plant scientists. My focus lies on education and the support and promotion of innovative ideas on how this goal can be reached.

PILAR CUBAS

CSIC, Spain

My main motivation to serve EPSO is a strong belief in the key significance of plant sciences for society. My main goals as a board member are to advocate for the acknowledgment of both plant basic science and applied plant biotechnology as indispensable tools in addressing the challenges of sustainable agriculture and food security in the 21st century. I will also engage actively with policymakers, working to promote a more supportive legal framework for New Genetic Technologies (NGTs) within the EU. Furthermore, I am dedicated to contributing to the outreach and dissemination of the latest discoveries in plant science, and the expanding applications of plant biotechnology, ensuring that society is informed and aware of these advancements.

MARUŠA POMPE NOVAK

National Institute of Biology, Slovenia

Promote research on plant – environment interactions including plant – pathogen interactions

Promote dissemination of plant science

Enhance collaboration between EPSO members

CECILIA SARMIENTO

Tallinn University of Technology,
Estonia

I am convinced that plant sciences have a crucial role in achieving important goals of today’s society such as food security, sustainable agriculture and taking care of biodiversity. EPSO is paving the way to accomplish these objectives. 

It is my wish to stimulate communication between all plant scientists and policymakers to build a strong network that reaches farmers and the agricultural sector. The benefits of EPSO should reach all stakeholders, starting at home (Estonia).
I also want to encourage international cooperation in plant sciences among EPSO members: projects, PhD students and postdocs’ mobility.

As one of my passions is education, I wish to engage students in outreach activities like the Fascination of Plants Day and EPSO Plant Science Seminars. 

ALAN SCHULMAN

LUKE University, Finland

Adviser to the Board

My goal is to help EPSO achieve public and governmental recognition that from basic science in crop and model plants transformative innovations emerge and that plants are the basis for human health and social stability. The wellbeing of Europe and the world depends not only on a few strategic crops but also on many regionally important diverse species that have received insufficient attention or funding, but contribute nutritionally to our diverse diets. In the face of a shifting climate and decreasing inputs, the EU needs both a bottom-up plant research agenda and science-driven crop improvement.