Leonhard Pachinger

Research Interests
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​My main research interests are on effector biology and the identification of virulence-determining factors in fungal plant pathogens. I first became interested in plant-pathogen interactions when working on composts and their potential disease-suppressing effects during my Bachelor's. This sparked my passion for understanding plant diseases as a result of interactions between plants, plant-associated microbes, and pathogens. Subsequently, I have been focusing on molecular interactions between plants and fungal plant pathogens. Presently, as a Ph.D. candidate in the Environmental Genomics group, I have the opportunity to follow my enthusiasm and investigate the trilateral interactions between wheat (and its close relatives), their microbiomes, and Zymoseptoria species. In the course of the Ph.D. project, we will functionally assess antimicrobial effector candidates using novel in silico prediction tools, in vitro heterologous expression systems, and in planta experiments on synthetic communities.


Short CV

2024 - present: Ph.D. candidate in the Environmental Genomics Group, Kiel University

2022 - 2024: MSc. Plant Sciences – Plant Pathology & Entomology, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Thesis: "Unraveling the role of Botrytis elliptica mini chromosomes in virulence on Lilium", WUR Phytopathology
Internship: "Alt A 1-like effector candidates in Zymoseptoria tritici, Environmental Genomics, Kiel University 

2017 - 2020: Student Assistant & Internship: Facilities of Organic Plant Protection & Organic Farming and Cropping Systems, University of Kassel Topics: Development of Vicia faba root nodules upon Sitona lineatus infestation; Role of compost application on Rhizoctonia solani infestation rates on Solanum tuberosum tubers -

2016 - 2021: BSc. Organic Agriculture, University of Kassel Thesis: "Testing a Biotest System Pythium ultimum-Basil", Organic Farming and Cropping Systems, University of Kassel