Corné Pieterse

Corné Pieterse is Distinguished Professor and Chair of Plant-Microbe Interactions at Utrecht University. He began his scientific career investigating the molecular basis of pathogenicity of Phytophthora infestans, the potato late blight pathogen. His research explores how beneficial root microbes stimulate plant growth and immunity, and how plants recruit these microbial partners. This work provides a foundation for harnessing microbiomes to improve crop resilience, including in potato, and reduce dependence on pesticides. A Highly Cited Researcher since 2014, he received the Dutch Spinoza Prize in 2022 and is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and EMBO.