Associates
The SPUN Science Associates are an international group of mycorrhizal and soil scientists and local experts who are unearthing the mysteries of underground ecosystems.
Looking for an internship or research collaborator in your region? Need some expertise about a specific biome? Are you a journalist looking for a scientist to talk to about mycorrhizal networks? Discover our global network of 300+ science associates from more than 30 countries here.
To join our network, fill out the application here:
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Malin Klein
Malin Klein
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Arbuscular mycorrhizal networks under nutrient limiting conditions.
specializations
biomes

Manikandan Ariyan

Manikandan Ariyan
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I am working on the biodiversity offset project.
specializations
biomes

Marcelo Betancur Agudelo

Marcelo Betancur Agudelo
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Marco Iannaccone

Marco Iannaccone
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Plant-fungal ecology. Plant-fungal biotechnology.
specializations
biomes

Maria Alice Neves

Maria Alice Neves
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I work on tropical ectomycorrhizal fungi. The research group is multi disciplinar and includes taxonomy of fungi and plants, plant anatomy, plant physiology and ecology.
specializations
biomes

Maria Victoria Vignale

Maria Victoria Vignale
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Marie-Charlott Petersdorf
Marie-Charlott Petersdorf
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Mariela Lis Ambrosino

Mariela Lis Ambrosino
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Studies related to nutrient dynamics and organic matter decomposition; evaluation of chemical, biochemical and microbiological indicators of soil quality in semi-arid environments. Ecological studies about the effect of different disturbances on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi present in the rangelands of central-southern Argentina.
specializations
biomes

Marije van Son

Marije van Son
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Imaging of Arbuscular mycorrhizal networks under nutrient limiting conditions
specializations
biomes

Marina Semchenko

Marina Semchenko
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Mark Worthing

Mark Worthing
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Martin Hassan Polo Marcial

Martin Hassan Polo Marcial
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
María Belén Moya Mejía
María Belén Moya Mejía
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Effects of soil type management on mycorrhizal communities in conserved dry forest, coffee, corn and peanut crops in southern Ecuador.
specializations
biomes

María del Rosario Lonardi

María del Rosario Lonardi
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
McKenzie Stock
McKenzie Stock
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Meirong Chen
Meirong Chen
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Melina Soledad Piacenza

Melina Soledad Piacenza
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Melissa Uribe Acosta

Melissa Uribe Acosta
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Meryem ADOUANE

Meryem ADOUANE
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Michael Adedotun Oke
Michael Adedotun Oke
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Economic Behaviour and Livestock Production in the Forestry Zones of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Studying the various activities that are involve in each of the forestry zones and looking at the advantages
specializations
biomes

Michael Remke

Michael Remke
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Michael Sakha

Michael Sakha
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Michala Phillips

Michala Phillips
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I am an ecologist studying how biotic interactions, disturbance and global change mediate community assembly of plants and soil microbes to affect emergent ecosystem functions.
specializations
biomes
Michela Audisio
Michela Audisio
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Mohamed Abourouh

Mohamed Abourouh
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Systematic and ecology of higher fungi, specially ECM. Promotion and conservation of edible species is equally a major focus.
specializations
biomes

Mohamed Hijri

Mohamed Hijri
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
My research interests encompass plant-microbiome interaction, environmental microbiology, and mycology. My research program focuses on understanding mycorrhizal symbiosis, particularly the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. My attention is specifically centered towards the fungus side of this symbiosis, known as AM fungi, which play a vital role in terrestrial ecosystems.
specializations
biomes

Muhammad Noman

Muhammad Noman
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Flowering and Fruit Ripening in Coffee
specializations
biomes

Muhammad Riaz

Muhammad Riaz
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Mustafa Saifuddin
Mustafa Saifuddin
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Namid Krüger

Namid Krüger
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Interests: Inter-cropping, hydraulic lift, arbuscular mycorrhiza, stable isotopes, root exudates, priming effect -always interested in cooperation and knowledge exchange.
specializations
biomes
Nancy Johanna Pino Rodríguez
Nancy Johanna Pino Rodríguez
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Natalia Veronica Fernandez
Natalia Veronica Fernandez
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Bioecology of mycorrhizas and associated fungi in natural and human-modified environments; Taxonomic and functional diversity of mycorrhizas; Direct and indirect ecosystem services provided by mycorrhizas; Search for fungal species with biotechnological potential for application in various aspects of everyday life, remediation and restoration of natural environments; Fungi and global change.
specializations
biomes

Natalie Ferro Lozano

Natalie Ferro Lozano
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Nathan Howard
Nathan Howard
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I study novel mycorrhizal nitrogen acquisition
specializations
biomes
Naveen Dilawar
Naveen Dilawar
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Nelly Jazmín Pacheco Cruz
Nelly Jazmín Pacheco Cruz
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Estudiante de doctorado. Especializada en la genética de la conservación de especies forestales en los bosques de la Sierra Juárez de Oaxaca, México. Interesada en los efectos del cambio climático y en las interacciones entre plantas y ecosistemas del suelo (hongos y bacterias).
specializations
biomes
Ngagne NDONG
Ngagne NDONG
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Nicholas Medina

Nicholas Medina
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Niloufar Hagh-Doust
Niloufar Hagh-Doust
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Nourou Soulemane Yorou
Nourou Soulemane Yorou
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I am working on tropical African mycorrhizal fungi and their interactions with green plants. Research aspects include mycorrhizal networking, integrative taxonomy, evolution, ecology, sustainable uses and conservation of mycorrhizal fungi from tropical Africa
specializations
biomes

Nur Edy

Nur Edy
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Currently, I work as a researcher and teaching in the Faculty of Agriculture at Tadulako University. My core research area is the functional diversity of arbuscular mycorrhiza, fungal pathogens, and agroecology.
specializations
biomes

OLATUNDE Oluwaseun J. A.

OLATUNDE Oluwaseun J. A.
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Okoro Ikwuakonam George

Okoro Ikwuakonam George
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Osayomwanbo Osarenotor

Osayomwanbo Osarenotor
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Pablo Adrián García Parisi

Pablo Adrián García Parisi
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Exploring the vital role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in agriculture, my research aims to understand their potential in enhancing agroecosystem sustainability. I investigate the impact of agricultural practices on AMF abundance and diversity, offering insights crucial for disentangling the complexities of a fungal-friendly approach to sustainable farming. Argentinean Pampas
specializations
biomes

Pablo Cornejo

Pablo Cornejo
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Patricia Carina Fernandez

Patricia Carina Fernandez
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Paul Shannon

Paul Shannon
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Paul Thomas
Paul Thomas
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Paulette Goyes
Paulette Goyes
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I work with pollutants and their degradation with fungi
specializations
biomes

Pedro Madeira Antunes

Pedro Madeira Antunes
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
My research focuses on understanding the role of soil fungal communities on plant community composition in different systems (agricultural, grassland and temperate and boreal forest). In addition, I am interest in understanding how global change factors such as soil disturbance, biological invasions and climate change affect such plant-fungal interactions.
specializations
biomes

Peter Chatanga

Peter Chatanga
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Peter’s expertise lies in Plant Ecology and Biodiversity and is particularly interested in studying the complex networks of relationships between organisms and their environment, and how these interactions shape community structure and organisation, as well as ecosystem functioning. His research focuses not only on understanding the factors that influence species composition, diversity and abundance in ecological communities, but also the processes that drive the distributions of species at both fine and coarse spatial scales, as well as temporally.
specializations
biomes
Peter Wachira
Peter Wachira
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Philemon Gyamfi

Philemon Gyamfi
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I am currently a 2nd year MSc. Plant Protection, and my research focuses on the effects of different fertilizer levels on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in different corn varieties under different water regimes. This research aims to evaluate the potential impacts of different nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under different water conditions to ascertain the best soil nutrient addition methods that can help sustain soil microbiome functioning and diversity.
specializations
biomes

Pratima Vasistha

Pratima Vasistha
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
My primary research focus lies in harnessing the power of genomics to develop innovative solutions that promote a harmonious relationship between agriculture and the environment. Additionally, I'm passionate about exploring marine bioprospecting for the development of novel drugs and other valuable applications.
specializations
biomes

Prof. Jesus Perez-Moreno

Prof. Jesus Perez-Moreno
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Biodiversidad y ecología de hongos ectomicorrízicos en ecosistemas templados, subtropicales y tropicales. Biotecnología de inoculación con hongos ectomicorrízicos tendiente a reforestaciones exitosas y rehabilitación de ecosistemas forestales. Uso sostenible de hongos comestibles silvestres, como recurso forestal no maderable, para la conservación de ecosistemas naturales en los pueblos originarios de México.
specializations
biomes

Quinn Moon

Quinn Moon
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
My research interests are within the nexus of ecology and evolutionary biology, studying the role of fungi in generating and maintaining biodiversity. Some current project I am currently working on include the mycobiome of the deep earth and deep sea, systematics of leotiomycetes, and fungal community assembly.
specializations
biomes
Rachel Gallery
Rachel Gallery
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Raja Polachi Reddiar
Raja Polachi Reddiar
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Raklami Anas

Raklami Anas
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Ramona Werner

Ramona Werner
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I'm investigating community compositions of arbuscular and ectomycorrhizae in mixed forest plantations in temperate and boreal zones.
specializations
biomes

Raphael Boussageon

Raphael Boussageon
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Raphael Wangalwa

Raphael Wangalwa
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Raquel Correa Delgado
Raquel Correa Delgado
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Raquel Juan-Ovejero

Raquel Juan-Ovejero
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Raquel Milagros Rodriguez-Rodriguez

Raquel Milagros Rodriguez-Rodriguez
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Ecology of soil and arbuscular mycorrhizae. Study of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in natural and disturbed ecosystems, their relationship with the main soil properties, and plants. Mycotrophy of plant species and internal morphology of the AM association.
specializations
biomes

Rebeca Gonnet

Rebeca Gonnet
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Rebecca Bunn

Rebecca Bunn
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
My research focuses on understanding the function of soil biota, particularly mycorrhizal fungi, when plants are stressed. This work can be applied to managing invasive plants, creating sustainable agriculture systems, and improving restoration outcomes.
specializations
biomes

Ricardo Arraiano Castilho

Ricardo Arraiano Castilho
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Roberto Godoy

Roberto Godoy
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Researcher to study the fungal communities and mycorrhizal associations through their roles in important soil processes in the old growth temperate forest ecosystems in Southern Chile and expertise in terrestrial biogeochemistry and soil ecology
specializations
biomes

Rocío Vega-Frutis

Rocío Vega-Frutis
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Rodica Pena
Rodica Pena
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Roisin Moore

Roisin Moore
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Romuald Oba

Romuald Oba
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Saeed Karbin
Saeed Karbin
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Soil Biodiversity and Carbon Dynamic
specializations
biomes
Sanni Färkkilä
Sanni Färkkilä
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I'm interested in mycorrhizal nutrient dynamics
specializations
biomes
Sara Cazzaniga
Sara Cazzaniga
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Sarah Cuprewich

Sarah Cuprewich
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Sarah Symanczik
Sarah Symanczik
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Sarkal Jyakhwa

Sarkal Jyakhwa
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Sebastián Zambrano Rojas

Sebastián Zambrano Rojas
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Soil fungi biodiversity characterization using next generation sequencing and bioinformatics
specializations
biomes

Sibusiso Trevor Dlamini

Sibusiso Trevor Dlamini
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Sigisfredo Garnica
Sigisfredo Garnica
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
We are working on questions how abiotic and biotic factors influence the biodiversity, distribution and composition of plant-associated fungi in natural and managed ecosystems, including the effects of the plant-microbe interactions under controlled conditions.
specializations
biomes

Simone Graziosi

Simone Graziosi
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Simone Marcolini

Simone Marcolini
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Snehanjana Chatterjee

Snehanjana Chatterjee
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Sofia Crescio

Sofia Crescio
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Solomon Maerowitz-McMahan
Solomon Maerowitz-McMahan
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
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Sreejith Kalpuzha Ashtamoorthy
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Sreejith Kalpuzha Ashtamoorthy
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Long-term monitoring of tropical forests of Southern Western Ghats in the context of climate change through permanent sample plots
specializations
biomes

Stav Livne Luzon

Stav Livne Luzon
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Stefanie Lutz
Stefanie Lutz
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes
Steven de Goede
Steven de Goede
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Effects of forest management and drought on forest soils, in particular the role of soil fungi in carbon cycling
specializations
biomes

Sujai Kumar

Sujai Kumar
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

T. Bertie Ansell

T. Bertie Ansell
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I am interested in the molecular dialogue between plants, mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria during community formation. I apply electron tomography and light microscopy to study the structural organisation of community interactions during symbiosis and how the mechanisms of molecular transport inform our understanding of planetary health.
specializations
biomes

TEMEGNE NONO Carine

TEMEGNE NONO Carine
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Takem Ebangha Agbor Delphine

Takem Ebangha Agbor Delphine
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
As a researcher and Geospatial Analyst, I do a lot of mapping as daily routine and work in soil, climate and forest conservation projects,
specializations
biomes
Tanner Hoffman
Tanner Hoffman
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
Bacterial and fungal community and functional responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances.
specializations
biomes

Taylor Bright

Taylor Bright
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
I am interested in characterizing fungal biodiversity and function along axes of disturbance using metatranscriptomic approaches, and leveraging my research to inform restoration/conservation initiatives. I am specifically interested in forests and fens of the Sierra Nevada (California) that are in peril due to rapid climactic and hydrological shifts.
specializations
biomes

Thapelo Raseepho

Thapelo Raseepho
Affiliation
Location
Research Description
specializations
biomes

Iker Yturralde
University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hugo Mauricio Ortega Andrade
Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam
Rachel Gallery
University of Arizona

Roisin Moore
Rhizocore Technologies

Raklami Anas
Cadi Ayyad University, Faculty of Science Semlalia, Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Agrosciences, and Environment (BioMAgE), Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4
Basiru Sulaimon
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University

Prof. Jesus Perez-Moreno
Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo

Jadson Belem de Moura
Evangelical College of Goianesia

Luis Alberto Lara Pérez
Tecnologico Nacional de México campus Instituto Tecnológico de la Zona Maya

Maria Victoria Vignale
Universidad Nacional de Misiones - InBioMis e Instituto Misionero de Biodiversidad

Claudia Bashian-Victoroff
Holden Forests and Gardens

Nicholas Medina
Morton Arboretum

BADOU Akotchayé Sylvestre
Laboratory of "Tropical Mycology and Plants-Soil Fungi Interactions" ( MyTIPS)
Antonio Marcos Miranda Silva
University of Southern Denmark

María del Rosario Lonardi
Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires
Sarah Symanczik
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)

Vatsala Koul
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, India

Kennedy Ododa
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Sarkal Jyakhwa
University of Tartu

OLATUNDE Oluwaseun J. A.
Horticultural Research Institute

Dr. Samina Sarwar
Botany Department, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan

Liz Koziol
University of Kansas

Alan Wanke
Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge

Martin Hassan Polo Marcial
Tecnológico Nacional de México campus Instituto Tecnológico de la Zona Maya

Marcelo Betancur Agudelo
Universidad de Caldas
Ana Vanessa Aguilar Paredes
Crop Science Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna

Jordon Tourville
Appalachian Mountain Club

Catalina Alicia Guerra León
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Cristiane Figueiredo
Federal University of Lavras and Westerdijk fungal biodiversity

Mohamed Hijri
University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P)

Sujai Kumar
SPUN | Society for the Protection of Underground Networks
Solomon Maerowitz-McMahan
Western Sydney University- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

Kenkwo Promise
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Nigeria.

Felix Zimmermann
Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

Jean Evans Israël CODJIA
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)

Dr. Nandkumar M. Kamat
Goa University

Tijana Martinović
Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia; Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Sarah Cuprewich
Dartmouth College

Anna Hopkins
Edith Cowan University
McKenzie Stock
New Mexico State University

Dr. Hanna Artuti Ekamawanti
Universitas Tanjungpura (Tanjungpura University)

Jazmin Salazar
Catholic University of Cuenca

Ayooluwa Adebanke Olubode
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Ogun State

Laura Yahdjian
University of Buenos Aires, Facultad de Agronomia. IFEVA-CONICET

Aynalem Gochera Sade
KU Leuven