New Plant-PATH Phd student joins Ulrich Hammes group in Würzburg
The Plant-PATH Centre is pleased to welcome Celina Ockert, who has joined the research group of Ulrich Hammes at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) as a PhD student.
Celina began her scientific journey at JMU Würzburg, where she completed her bachelor's thesis studying the voltage-dependent sodium channel AmNaV1 in honeybees. As part of her project, she investigated how bitter compounds produced by plants influence the function of the channel using electrophysiological approaches. Her work relied on two-electrode voltage clamp recordings in Xenopus oocytes, a technique that will continue to play a central role in her PhD research.
As part of a fast-track programme, Celina is beginning her doctoral studies while completing her master's degree. During her PhD, she will work at the interface of plant nutrition and hormone transport, focusing on members of the NPF transporter family. Using electrophysiological methods, she will investigate the transport properties and mechanisms of these proteins, contributing to our understanding of how plants coordinate nutrient uptake and signalling processes.
Transport proteins are at the heart of Plant-PATH's mission to uncover the molecular mechanisms that regulate the movement of hormones and other key compounds within plants. Celina's expertise in electrophysiology and transporter characterization will bring valuable skills and perspectives to the centre's interdisciplinary research environment.
We are delighted to welcome Celina to Plant-PATH and look forward to following her research journey.