I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Understanding Evolution group at Naturalis Biodiversity Center. My project focuses on understanding the co-evolution of the visual systems and the brain in spiders. These arachnids offer a rich system to test hypotheses about the evolution of eyes, visually guided behaviours, and ecological specialisation, helping us grasp the role of different drivers of brain evolution. In my studies, I like to combine morphological methods like X-Ray micro-CT scanning and SEM imaging with molecular phylogenetics to infer the evolution of spider traits. Whenever possible, I like to be out on the field catching and describing new species! In my free time, I like to do sports like football and bouldering, I also love photography, reading, and watching TV series and movies.

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I am a PhD candidate at Wageningen University & Research, and my project is about the evolution of antibiotic resistance in spatially structured environments. To do this, I am developing a model that aims to simulate this process. I will be working closely with a postdoc who will be performing experiments from which the data will be used to parametrize and validate the model. I really enjoy picking apart biological systems to get a better understanding of what happens on a molecular level. In my free time, I like to go climbing and working on do-it-yourself engineering projects.

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I am a PhD student at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, focusing on the macroevolution of mountain plants across various mountain systems, including the Andes, Himalayas, Rockies, and Alps. In my PhD, I integrate a comparative framework by combining comprehensive data on plant traits, distribution, phylogeny, and environmental conditions to understand why plant diversity across these mountain systems differs. My work will provide novel insights into the mechanisms shaping biodiversity in mountain ecosystems, ultimately enhancing our ability to predict how mountain biodiversity may respond to future environmental changes and guide conservation strategies for these critical global biodiversity hotspots. 

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Golsa Nayeb Ghanbar Hosseini is a Ph.D. candidate in Microbial Biotechnology at the Institute of Biology Leiden (Leiden University). She studies the evolutionary metabologenomics of soil Streptomyces, linking genetic variation to chemical diversity through whole-genome sequencing, biosynthetic gene-cluster annotation, comparative genomics, multi-omics integration, and advanced mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, DESI-MSI). Her work has identified genetic determinants of metabolic traits, discovered novel β-lactam biosynthetic gene clusters, and revealed specialized-metabolite–mediated microbe–microbe interactions that advance natural product discovery and our understanding of antibiotic and signaling-molecule biosynthesis.

I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in assessing the relative contribution of neutral and adaptive evolutionary processes (adaptive evolution and phenotypic plasticity) in the responses of plant populations to climate change. Although my previous research was focused on Mediterranean species, my postdoctoral project at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) uses the common duckweed (Lemna minor) as a model system. In this project, we aim to evaluate whether phenotypic plasticity to temperature in both traits and gene expression is an adaptive solution to cope with the higher temperature variation and heterogeneity imposed by climate change. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, playing the guitar and spending time in nature.

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Microbial Ecology at Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW).

My current research focuses on understanding how plant domestication has influenced the taxonomic and functional diversification of the root microbiome. In particular, I investigate the role of root exudates in shaping microbial communities. This includes identifying ‘missing’ plant-associated microbes, analyzing their genomes, and uncovering biosynthetic gene clusters from both wild plant species and historical herbarium specimens.

In my free time, I enjoy jogging, bouldering, learning ballroom dancing, or simply relaxing.