Life Science: Angel Johnson wins first prize for her Bachelor's thesis
The Junior Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (JGBM) has awarded Angel Johnson the first Hannover Bachelor's thesis award. The participants presented their work in front of an audience at a science slam at the beginning of January 2025. In addition to the award, Johnson received a one-year membership of the GBM - an excellent opportunity to network in the life sciences community. Furthermore, the Life Science student was also awarded a DAAD scholarship (RISE Worldwide Programme) for a stay abroad in Australia.
"In her work, Ms Johnson tested various promoters for the expression of biosynthetic genes and thus made an important contribution to establish the fungus Trichoderma reesei as a heterologous host", comments Dr. Jennifer Gerke, the examiner. "I am particularly pleased that the Junior GBM Hannover was honoured, as the public decides. This shows not only Mrs Johnson's talent for communicating science in an understandable way, but also the great interest of young people in this topic."
Milestone for sustainable production in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries
The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is one of the biggest CO₂ emitters. Cutting their emissions is a key challenge. Many pharmaceuticals are based on natural substances from fungi - but are often synthesised in an energy-intensive process. Production in microorganisms offers a more environmentally friendly alternative. The fungus Trichoderma reesei is considered promising here: it grows on decaying plant material and can be cultivated in the laboratory on organic waste such as fruit or vegetable peelings. If it is used to produce important natural substances, this could promote recycling and reduce CO₂ emissions.
Plant genetics: Hung Doan and Annina Marxen win poster awards
Two doctoral students from the reproduction and development section at the Institute of Plant Genetics were honoured at the annual conference of the German Horticultural Society (DGG) and the Federal Association of University Graduates / Engineers in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture (BHGL). The conference took place from 26 to 28 February 2025 in Essen. Manh Hung Doan's poster took first place and Annina Marxen's poster came second. The prizes are endowed with 300 and 200 euros respectively.
Both are working under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Traud Winkelmann. Mr Doan is working on a research project funded by the Mathias Tantau Foundation. He is investigating how roses react to soils on which roses have previously grown - so-called post-construction diseased areas. The aim is to analyse the underlying gene expression and find ways to overcome the disease. Ms Marxen is researching the causes of so-called off-types in blueberries on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. These conspicuous plants only appear late in cultivation: they flower less and bear hardly any fruit - an economically serious problem.
- Original posting from the institute: „Gleich zwei Auszeichnungen für beste Poster“ [German content]
