Postdoctoral Scientist
Nanne Taks
Bio
My interests lie in understanding how the plant immune system operates against invading microbes across different cells and tissues. During my PhD, I studied how plants defend themselves against pathogenic bacteria that invade through hydathodes, which are small organs at the leaf margin involved in guttation. My work focused on the role of these hydathodes in protecting the leaf vasculature from bacterial colonisation. I developed bioluminescence-based imaging methods to track bacterial progression through the plant over time, providing insights into the spatial and temporal aspects of both bacterial virulence and plant immunity.
In my project at TSL, I will investigate the function of different immune states that individual plant cells can adopt when encountering pathogens. My aim is to identify proteins involved in activation and transmission of immune signals in these distinct cell states.
Job history
-
2026 -
Postdoctoral Scientist
The Sainsbury Laboratory, UK -
2024 - 2025
Postdoctoral Scientist
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands -
2020 - 2024
PhD (Plant Pathology)
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands -
2017 - 2019
MSc Biology (Adaptive Organisms)
Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands -
2013 - 2016
BSc Biology (Ecology & Genetics)
Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands