AE (Annika) Liefferink

Currently I'm doing a PhD at the laboratory of plant physiology, about the role of RNA binding proteins during seed germination under stress conditions. The project is funded by the grant I won with my project proposal in the EPS graduate programme.

I did my Bachelor Biology in Wageningen, with the specialisation Ecology and Biodiversity. later on, I realised that I was more interested in developmental biology, plants and seeds. So for my MSc I chose to do Plant Sciences, sp. Pathology and Entomology. During my MSc thesis I studied oxidative stress on proteins and stored RNAs during prolonged seed storage. Afterwards, I did my internship at Incotec Enkhuizen, where I developed a microplastic free seed coating for corn seeds, that contains biostimulants to improve germination and seedling establishment. The product (L-3101) will be launched at the end of 2021.

At the end of my internship I received the exciting message that my project proposal for the EPS graduate programme was granted and I could start my PhD right after I finished my internship. A super exciting opportunity, that I'm very grateful for. So at the moment I'm busy becoming Dr. Liefferink, under the supervision of Leónie Bentsink and with the help of all the other people at PPH.