Welcome to the Huber lab

We are an international research group that explores the frontiers in plant evolutionary ecology. We combine high-throughput sequencing approaches with experimental evolution, metabolic profiling, and genetic engineering to discover how plants adapt to environmental stresses. Our mission is to explore how plants defend themselves against environmental stresses and to exploit the plants biosynthetic machinery by using plants as green biofactories. Thereby, we aim to discover fundamental principles in plant evolutionary ecology and ultimately use the acquired methods to make industrial practices more sustainable.

 

 

Lab News

 

2024

Nov 2024

 

Laura's manuscript on intraspecific competition accepted in Proceedings B

Laura Böttner studied at which densities duckweeds benefit from snail herbivory by reduced interspecific competition. Here is the preprint:
"Herbivory can increase plant fitness via reduced interspecific competition – evidence from models and mesocosms"

Congrats, Laura!

 

 

Okt 2024

 

Laura Böttner defended her doctoral thesis!

Prof. Meret Huber, Dr. Laura Böttner and Prof. Shuqing Xu

We are thrilled to announce that Laura has successfully completed her PhD! Her dedication, perseverance, and contributions to the field of plant-herbivore-microbe interactions have been truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing all the great things she'll accomplish in the future, and wish her the very best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion article accepted in Plant, Cell & Environment

The article discussing the role of epigenetic inheritance in rapid adapatation has now been published online: "Assessing Rapid Adaptation Through Epigenetic Inheritance: A New Experimental Approach"

 

Manuscript highlighted in New Phytologist

Laura Böttner's Manuscript on the ecological function of natural rubber was selected for New Phytologist Virtual Issue on ‘The chemical language of plant–microbe–microbe associations’, which can be accessed here:  "The chemical language of plant–microbe–microbe associations"

Congrats, Laura!

 

New Bachelor students: Vladimir Schmankov an Sofie Rutenbeck

Sofie and Vladimir are about to start their Bachelor's project at Huber lab. Welcome, Sofie and Vladimir!

 

September 2024

 

New Master student: Vivianne Hell

Vivianne will be workingon stably transforming duckweed to express the phenolamide defense pathway. Welcome, Vivianne!

 

April 2024

 

New Bachelor students: Selin Akdogan and Barbara Eppard

Selin Akdogan and Barbara Eppard are starting their Bachelor's project at the Huber lab. Welcome, Selin and Barbara!

 

Feb 2024

 

Our new international masters program in evolutionary biology at Uni Mainz will start in winter semester 2024/25. The application portal will open in April. Join this new, cross-disciplinary program!

https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb10-biologie-eng/master-evolutionary-biology/

Flyer-Master-Evolutionary-Biology-24012024

 

Jan 2024

 

Review by Meret Huber on the role of plant latex in pathogen defense has been accepted in Trends in Microbiology:

"Latex – a potential plant defense against microbes"

 

New Master student: Fiona Brurein

Fiona is now starting to work on her Master thesis at the Huber lab. Welcome, Fiona!

 

2023

Dec 2023

 

Paper by Laura Böttner accepted 

Laura Böttner's manuscript on the role of phenotypic plasticity in plant adaptation to herbivory was accepted in Communications Biology. Congratulations, Laura!

 

November 2023

 

Graduate school in Mainz

The graduate school Gene Regulation in Evolution was extended by the German research foundation.
Our group will host a PhD student to elucidate the role of small RNAs in transgenerational plasticity in duckweeds.

 

 

Dr. Amanda de Santana Lopes joined our group

Amanda Lopes joined our group as a postdoc to establish genetic transformation of the nuclear and plastic genome in duckweeds.
Welcome, Amanda!

 

 

 

 

October 2023

 

Enrico Diniz Rodrigues Batista joined our team

Enrico Rodrigues started as a PhD student in the lab to study the epigenetic basis of transgenerational plasticity in duckweeds.
Welcome, Enrico!

 

 

September 2023

 

New Bachelor students: Lisa-Marie Laick and Anne Schreyer

Lisa-Marie Laick and Anne Schreyer are starting to work on their Bachelor's projects this month at the Huber lab. Welcome, Lisa-Marie and Anne!

 

July 2023

 

Martina Galloway joined our team

Martina Galloway supports our team as an administrative manager.
Welcome, Martina!

 

 

 


Meret Huber becomes director of the Botanical Garden Mainz

Meret Huber will serve as the new director of the botanical garden of the University of Mainz. Looking forward to contributing to the botanical garden and the planning of the new greenhouses!

 

June 2023

 

Manuela Rathgeber joined our team

Manuela Rathgeber joined our team as a technical assistant.
Welcome, Manuela!

 

 

 

 

 

January 2023

 

First PhD paper by Laura Böttner

Laura Böttner’s first PhD paper on the ecological function of natural rubber was accepted in New Phytologist. Congratulations, Laura!

 

2022

December 2022

©Stefan F. Sämmer, JGU Mainz

 

Funding through Emmy Noether Programme

Meret Huber receives funding from the Emmy Noether Programme to study the role of DNA methylation in transgenerational stress resistance.