Dr. Modupe Doyeni, a senior researcher at the Department of Agrobiology, Institute of Agriculture, LAMMC, completed a 30-day scientific internship at the Julius Kühn-Institute (JKI), Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics in Braunschweig, Germany. The internship was supervised by Dr. Doreen Babin's research group.
During the internship, Dr. M. Doyeni participated in experimental work on soil–plant–microbe interactions, including rhizosphere analysis and research on the soil microbiome. The work was carried out in close collaboration with JKI scientists on root and soil sampling, sequencing preparation, and data-quality control procedures essential to soil microbiome research, including rhizosphere analysis.
The internship also included a three-day training workshop, organised to strengthen his expertise in metagenomic data analysis and bioinformatics. This training enhanced his analytical competencies and will directly support soil microbiome research activities at LAMMC.
During the internship, Dr. M. Doyeni delivered a scientific colloquium to the researchers of JKI titled ‘From waste to soil amendments: LAMMC Agrobiology Laboratory’s biocircular approach to sustainable soil health and pollution mitigation’. The presentation generated an active discussion on circular bioresources, microbial indicators of soil function, and opportunities for collaborative monitoring of soil-borne pathogens resulting from the application of external organic materials to the soil.
The internship also opened pathways for future cooperation, including joint exploration of microbial consortia to improve soil health and opportunities for reciprocal scientific visits.
The scientific visit was funded by the NextGeneration EU programme project ‘R&D idea validation – assessing the role of soil microorganisms in changing soil health’ under agreement 10-038-T-0302.
