PhD Student

My PhD project is part of the CRC 1403 Cell Death in Immunity, Inflammation and Disease. I investigate how regulated cell death (RCD) is controlled and executed during plant–microbe interactions. RCD can be triggered by pathogen-secreted toxins or effector proteins that are perceived by specific plant receptors. However, the molecular components underlying the initiation and execution of plant RCD remain largely unknown. Building on previous work from our group that identified 58 marker genes of cell death (MCDs) in Zea mays (Bargahn et al., 2023), I explore the potential of these MCDs to modulate the hypersensitive response (HR), a form of RCD, using cell viability assays in Z. mays protoplasts and overexpression studies in N. benthamiana.

Beyond my PhD research, I am broadly interested in molecular biology and particularly enjoy translating knowledge between plant and animal systems, a topic that I pursue within a CRC-funded tandem project. 

In addition to my research I enjoy teaching and supervising students.

University of Cologne

CEPLAS / Institiute for Plant Sciences
Chair of Terrestrial Microbiology
Zülpicher Straße 47a
D-50674 Cologne
Tel:  +49 221-470-4572
Fax: +49 221-470-7406
Mail: nsoliasmail.uni-koeln.de