Short presentation

I am interested in the interactions between host organisms (insects and plants) and their microbial symbionts (mainly fungi). I study the effects resulting from these interactions, which have both fundamental and applied perspectives, including use in integrated pest management and biological control. My research focus on:

• Plant-microbe-insect interactions. 
• Biological control of insect and mite pests in plant production by use of insect pathogens.
• Combination of insect pathogens with other biocontrol agents.
• Insect responses to fungal pathogens, including behavioural and immune responses. 

CV

Education

2005: PhD in Insect Pathology and Biological Control, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark (Oct. 2005).

2001: MSc (cand.scient.) in Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Dec. 2001).

Employment history

2008-present: Associate Professor, Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences, UCPH.

2017-2019: Associated Researcher, Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy (NIBIO), 10%.

2006-2008: Postdoc/Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology, University of Copenhagen (UCPH).

2005-2006: Amanuensis; Department of Ecology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University.

2002-2005: PhD fellow at The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Denmark.

Current and recent research projects as Principal Investigator/Supervisor

• BumbleBio: Bumblebees as vectors of fungi for biocontrol of insect pests in strawberry flowers. Miljøstyrelsen/Danish EPA (PI, 2023-2026; budget 3.6 mill. DKK).
• CombiControl: Combining above‐ and belowground biological control agents for improved pest control in strawberry tunnel production. Miljøstyrelsen/Danish EPA (PI, 2020-2022; budget 2,0 mill. DKK).
• EXCALIBUR: Exploiting the Multifunctional Potential of Belowground Biodiversity in Horticultural Farming. H2020 Societal Challenges EU (National PI, 2019-2024; budget 3.48 mill. DKK).
• FlyIPM: Integrated control of root-feeding fly larvae infesting vegetable crops (ERA-Net C-IPM). Miljøstyrelsen/Danish EPA (National PI, WP leader, 2017-2020; budget 1.6 mill. DKK).
• MiRA: Microbe Induced Resistance to Arthropod Pests. Innovative Training Network H2020 Marie S. Curie Actions (co-WP leader, main supervisor for 1 PhD student, 2018-2021).
• INSECTDOCTORS: Educating insect pathologists to prevent infectious diseases in mass-reared insects. Innovative Training Network H2020 Marie S. Curie Actions (supervisor for 2 PhD students, 2020-2023).

Editorial duties

• Associate Editor for BioControl (ISI impact factor 2022=2.5), 2012-2023.
• Subject Editor for Bulletin of Entomological Research (ISI impact factor 2022=1.9), 2015-2021.
• Editorial Board Member of Fungal Ecology (ISI impact factor 2022=2.9), since 2016.
• Reviewer of >130 manuscripts for international scientific journals.

Scientific memberships and conference contributions

• Society for Invertebrate Pathology, since 2005; Chair/post-chair Fungi Division (2016-2020).
• Board member OIKOS, treasurer, Nordic Ecological Society, Danish branch (2014-present).
• 14 invited talks, 1 keynote talk, at national and international meetings and conferences (101 abstracts presented in total); organizer of two specialist symposia at international conferences.

Managerial duties

• Head of Research Group, Insect-Microbe Interactions (2020-present).
• Health and Safety Organization, leader representative (2010-present).
• Member of Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science (2017-present).