I am interested in how plants and fungi co-evolve. I started out in plant genetics and later moved to studying their pathogens, and seeing both sides has shaped how I think about adaptation and genome dynamics.

My work brings together genetics, evolution, and genomics to understand how organisms change under selection, particularly as this happens in real time in natural populations. I am especially interested in evolution as an ongoing process, not just something we reconstruct, but something we can observe as it unfolds.

I care about clear thinking, good science, and building a lab where people feel supported and excited to explore new ideas.

I also enjoy spending time outdoors and working directly with natural systems. It keeps the science grounded and makes these evolutionary processes tangible.

Contact:

cristina.barragan@phytomed.uni-kiel.de 

Tel.  +49 (0) 431 880 4861

Institute for Phytopathology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel

Ludewig-Meyn-Straße 9 · 24118 Kiel · Germany

By the end of my Bachelor studies, an initial interest in genome editing tools such as TALEN and CRISPR-Cas led me to pursue infection biology. Over time, this developed into a focus on plant–pathogen interactions, particularly fungal effector proteins, a topic I plan to continue exploring throughout my research career. Building on this background, I joined Dr. Barragan’s group to deepen my expertise and explore new directions.

Currently, I am working on a project investigating how mini-chromosomes in fungal pathogens contribute to disease severity and host range. To address this, I use a combination of approaches, including plant infection assays, bioinformatics, and protein–protein interaction studies.

Outside the lab, I enjoy an active lifestyle, especially outdoor activities, as well as photography, reading, and writing.

Contact:

alejandro.rodriguez@phytomed.uni-kiel.de