Four group leaders from the Department of Plant Microbe Interactions are once again among the most highly cited researchers worldwide
 

Paul Schulze-Lefert, Jane Parker, Stéphane Hacquard, and Ruben Garrido-Oter “have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research”.

Four scientists from the Department of Plant Microbe Interactions have – as in 2024 – been selected as “Highly Cited Researchers” for 2025. This means that each has authored multiple Highly Cited Papers™ ranking in the top 1% by citations for their field(s) and publication year in the Web of Science™ over the past decade. Of all the world’s scientists (and social scientists), Highly Cited Researchers are 1 in 1,000. This recognition also takes into account metrics such as community-wide recognition, which means that all four have been cited by a wide-ranging network of authors from across the world.

The laboratory of Paul Schulze-Lefert studies the root microbiota and plant immune receptors.

Jane Parker and her group study how plants activate and control their innate immune responses.

The laboratory of Ruben Garrido-Oter explores the evolutionary and ecological principles that govern the structure and dynamics of complex microbial communities.

The group of Stéphane Hacquard characterizes the structure and functions of the multi-kingdom microbial consortia colonizing plant roots.