In 2020, MPMI journal Editor-in-Chief Jeanne Harris and Associate EIC Tessa Burch-Smith spearheaded an effort to add assistant feature editors to the MPMI Editorial Board. These creative individuals have two-year appointments to explore new ways to present and amplify journal articles. After reviewing submissions from this year's applicants, Harris invited Dominique Holtappels, Siva Sankari, Amelia Lovelace, Manish Tiwari, and Tiffany (Tiff) Mak to be assistant feature editors for MPMI.

Past Assistant Feature Editors Morgan Carter, Elizabeth Deyett, and Juan S. Ramirez worked on paper summaries for newsletters and press releases, helped with social media promotion, worked on the Microgreens podcasts, and wrote biographies for first authors.​

Meet the Assistant Feature Editors!

Dominique Holtappels

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of California-Berkeley, USA

1) Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

Hi! I'm Dominique. I'm currently working as a postdoc at the Koskella Lab at UC Berkeley. Originally, I'm from Belgium, where I did my Ph.D. studies in bioscience engineering at the Laboratory of Gene Technology (KU Leuven) with Prof. R. Lavigne, focusing on the potential of bacteriophages as a biocontrol strategy to tackle bacterial diseases in several crops. In my current position, I'm looking into the effects of bacteriophage–bacterium coevolution on the bacterium–plant interaction, using pear trees as a model system. I'm also interested in how phages manipulate the microbial community in general and what role they play in the disease ecology of several diseases plaguing these trees. Want to learn more? Visit Twitter @Dominiqueholta1​ and https://holtappelsdominiqu.wixsite.com/dhltppls.​

2) Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

I applied for the position of assistant features editor as I love making podcasts. They are the perfect medium for reaching a broad, scientifically minded audience and getting people interested in the beauty of microbes and their interactions with plants. There is more than meets the eye! In my role as assistant features editor, I want to translate novel and complex science into bite-sized information that is accessible to everyone—because, let's be honest, who doesn't want to learn about those nasty black hairs coming out of their favorite strawberries?

3) What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

Helping people understand what we scientists do on a day-to-day basis and showing them that we are building toward a better future for the generations to come is what I want to achieve. We are not just doing science for the sake of knowledge. Our ideas and research lay the foundation for a better, more sustainable, and brighter future in harmony with our environment. Together with MPMI, we can build a community that educates people on the beauty and significance of our research. Let's show them what we are working on in a comprehensive way and maybe, just maybe, inspire them to do the same!

Amelia Lovelace

Postdoctoral Researcher
The Sainsbury Laboratory, UK

1) Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

I'm Amelia Lovelace, a postdoctoral researcher at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Dr. Wenbo Ma's lab. I attended a small liberal arts college called Hood College in Frederick, MD, USA. I was first introduced to the field of plant–microbe interactions while in college, where I conducted my honors thesis project at the USDA-ARS in Fort Detrick, MD. I worked with highly pathogenic fungi called rusts in a BSL3 greenhouse that required me to wear scrubs and shower out of containment. I was in awe that something so tiny could be so devastating, and I wanted to learn more about these plant pathogens. I graduated in December 2020 with my Ph.D. degree in plant pathology at the University of Georgia. I worked in Dr. Brian Kvitko's lab, where I explored the mechanisms of plant immunity through bacterial monitoring. My current research at The Sainsbury Laboratory focuses on the effector biology of phloem-limited bacterial pathogens. Although these pathosystems are challenging, I find them truly fascinating!

2) Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

Since moving from the United States to the United Kingdom, I've had to think about my field of research through a global lens. I applied to be an assistant editor because I am impressed by the creative ways that MPMI promotes and builds its international community. I want to be a part of these initiatives that aim to celebrate the communities' achievements and diversity.

3) What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

As an assistant features editor, I want to promote the fantastic work done by first authors and early-career scientists. Additionally, this will be a great opportunity to expand my knowledge on the plant–microbe interactions that fall outside of my own personal research interests. I want to expand my writing and creative skills by creating accessible, nontechnical summaries in both written and visual formats. I look forward to working with the editorial staff and getting behind-the-scenes experience on the inner working of a research journal.

Manish Tiwari

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA

1) Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

I am Manish Tiwari, a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Jean-Michel Ane's Lab, Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I graduated with my Ph.D. degree from the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, India. I worked with Dr. Sabhyata Bhatia, and my study was focused on elucidating the regulatory mechanism of chickpea root nodule symbiosis involving cytokinin and small RNAs. This is where I was introduced to nitrogen fixation. Continuing the same background, I am currently working on deciphering the signaling cascade function between the plasma membrane and cytoplasm regulating root nodule symbiosis. I am ambitious about understanding the nitrogen fixation mechanism and engineering the same into cereals to reduce fertilizer dependency.

2) Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

Research is fascinating and, simultaneously, a never-ending process in which you learn new things daily. My doctoral and postdoctoral work was mainly confined to beneficial plant–microbe interactions, thereby missing the required knowledge on the other side of plant–microbe interactions. As an assistant editor, there is an opportunity to come across intriguing research that will strengthen the knowledge I gained and accomplish what I missed. Additionally, there is an opportunity to learn about the publication process and promotion of published research in different interactive forms. As an assistant editor, I will have a platform to express my thoughts about published research and simplify them to resonate globally with authors and readers. The tenure as an assistant editor may also help me add the experience required to succeed in publishing while being in academia and editorial responsibilities if I come across them in the future.

3) What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

I look forward to building a network with the authors and the editorial team responsible for the publication. In the process, I would like to learn all the intricacies behind the scenes before publication. I am also interested in being involved in the journal's promotional events to highlight articles of significant interest and take them to a scientific and nonscientific audience. My motto during my tenure will be to present simplified science and promote it to a very general audience without jargon and technicalities. Ultimately, I aim to arouse the broad audience's interest in science and bridge the gap between them and scientists. This position will help me gain the necessary exposure and experience to shape my career trajectory.

Siva Sankari

Postdoctoral Researcher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

1) Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

I am a postdoctoral research scientist in Dr. Graham Walker's lab, Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. My work encompasses understanding the mechanisms of action of plant peptides that govern host–microbe interactions and translating them to pharmacological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and agricultural applications. During my graduate studies in Dr. Mark O'Brian's lab at the University at Buffalo, NY, I worked on understanding important mechanisms of iron import, trafficking, and export in the bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum when in symbiosis with soybean. That is when I started admiring how certain plants and microbes share resources and have evolved to coexist harmoniously. However, I was fascinated to learn that there are systems where the host becomes more manipulative and started working on Medicago–Sinorhizobium symbiosis during my postdoc. I was born and brought up in a small town in India and have first-hand experience in learning gaps (especially in science) experienced by first-gen students and those hailing from rural backgrounds. I am passionate about creating awareness of scientific research and developing scientific temperament among students hailing from less privileged backgrounds. When I am not doing science, I love spending time with my kid, singing and listening to Carnatic and light music, and gardening.

2) Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

I am always intrigued by the various avenues MPMI has invested in, apart from being an excellent journal. Programs like author interviews, Microgreens podcasts, virtual seminar series, first-author bios, and interviews have been enlightening and have given me a real-world connection to the published articles. These initiatives build a sense of community among researchers and develop a "symbiotic relationship" between scientists from various backgrounds. I think these are very important for the next generation of students to develop a sense of belonging and choose plant–microbe research as a career. I also applaud MPMI's strong commitment to diversity. All of these initiatives align well with my passion to make science accessible to everyone, and that is why I want to join this team and contribute my best to these efforts.

3) What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

I hope to write articles on first authors, on how the research unfolded in the lab, acknowledging the role of undergrads, etc. I also hope to contribute to converting complex research articles into simple summaries without jargon and at the same time preserving the intricacy of the research. I hope to bring out stories from scientists of diverse backgrounds and maintain MPMI's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I also hope to learn the nuances of scientific communication and improve my writing skills. The most exciting thing that I look forward to as an assistant features editor is to connect with scientists, talk to them about their research, and be a part of this community. I also look forward to connecting with undergraduate and graduate students in this community, learning about their needs and the obstacles they face, and will try to help them in my capacity through the community.

Tiffany Mak

Postdoctoral Researcher
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark

1) Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.

I'm a postdoc at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). My current research areas of focus include 1) how microbes interact with each other to form communities in different ecological niches, from soil to fermented foods; 2) how we as humans interact with these communities; and 3) how these interactions, in turn, shape our food system. I studied Natural Sciences as an undergraduate at the University of Cambridge and subsequently moved to London for my Ph.D. studies at the Francis Crick Institute, where I mainly worked on understanding the coordination of protein synthesis and cell growth control using fission yeast as the model system.

You might be wondering, how did I go from cell biology research into looking at microbial communities and food systems? While I was working on my Ph.D. degree, I initiated some side projects with collaborators across various disciplines to look at how human activity, particularly in the areas of food consumption, impacted our global food system and ultimately the overall sustainability of the wider ecosystem. I became aware that just as all the processes within a cell are related to each other, our food system is also extremely interconnected, and the ways we produce and consume food have direct consequences, not only on our own health, but also that of our planet. Interestingly, a common theme that I found to relate to many different aspects, from agriculture to nutrition, was microbes(!), which is also what brought me here to Copenhagen to continue my research.

2) Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?

Working in highly multidisciplinary areas of research, I see science communication as having an essential role in not only the sharing of knowledge, but also the process of inquiring and generating itself. I was inspired by the range of activities that MPMI has committed to in engaging both specialists and nonscientific audiences, and I am motivated to be part of the team in continuing to expand these activities. I see it as my responsibility as a researcher to communicate and share specialist findings in an approachable manner, with the intention of creating open, inclusive, and equitable access to knowledge.

3) What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?

The ways in which people access information and knowledge these days often take on many different forms. During my time as an assistant features editor (AFE), I am keen to explore how we can share and also engage in discussions about new research findings, especially in the form of podcasts and other multimedia platforms. I would also like to take the opportunity to highlight some of the "behind the scenes" aspects of writing and journal publishing. Last, but certainly not least, I am excited to be working with the other AFEs and the core team at MPMI and continue to build a community that promotes diverse and inclusive research.

Personal website: https://www.tiffsmak.com​