Rahul Jain

I am a microbiologist turned in to a plant biologist.

In my PhD (2014-2018) I studied psychrotolerant Pseudomonads for production of cold active lipases and promotion of mountain agroecosystems.

Following my PhD as CSIR-Nehru Science Postdoctoral fellow (2019-2022) at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, India, I explored role of microbial endophytes isolated from high-altitude medicinal plant Arnebia euchroma in abiotic stress mitigation using model plant systems.

Currently, at the University of Amsterdam and within the MiCRop (Microbial imprinting for crop resilience) consortium, I as a Postdoc (2022 onwards) aim to understand how microbiome in plant rhizosphere communicate with the roots and respond under environmental stress to benefit plant partners. In one such project, I am investigating how nitrogen deficiency in tomato influences dynamics of secreted metabolites mainly strigolactones as root exudates followed by restructuring of rhizosphere microbiome to recruit beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere through chemotaxis.

Alongside research, I like to explore nature and travel to new places. And If you like badminton and/or ping pong, we can have fun together.