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In 2014, Sandrien graduated as a Master of Science in Biochemical Engineering Technology at Ghent University. During her master’s thesis, she worked on the optimization and validation of the toxicological screening of drugs in blood samples on HPLC-PDA. Following her master’s thesis and after obtaining an FWO PhD scholarship, she started working in the Bio-Energy and Bio-Aromatics group of Prof. Wout Boerjan to study the aromatic metabolism of poplar and maize. During her PhD, she developed a combination of dry and wet lab tools for the structural characterization of specialized metabolites, and in 2020 she graduated as a Doctor of Sciences in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. She now continues her research as a post doctoral researcher in the Bio-Energy and Bio-Aromatics group.

I did my Master thesis at the 'Functional Interactomics' group in 2019-2020. During this year, I explored the approach of mining the TOR-SnRK1 nutrient signalling network towards higher yielding and stress resilient plants via  combinatorial CRISPR screens. Intrigued by the research and encouraged by the warm atmosphere in the group, I decided to apply for an FWO-SB mandate in order to continue this quest and contribute to a more sustainable and climate robust agricultural system.
When I am not in the lab, I am always eager to jump on my bike for a trip, enjoying nature and being inspired and ready for new challenges!

Jenny Russinova has studied Biotechnology in Sofia University, St. Kliment Ohridski and obtained her PhD at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. Subsequently, she performed postdoctoral studies at Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands in the lab of Sacco de Vries, where she worked on understanding the function, mechanisms of activation and the subcellular compartmentalization of plant receptor-like kinases called SERKs. In 2006, she started her own research group focusing on brassinosteroid signaling regulation in plants.