EMBO members are elected for the significant contributions the made in their research areas. The membership is regarded as an honor and, like the Nobel Prizes, researchers can only be nominated by their peers.
Geurts’ election as an EMBO member recognises his research on symbiosis between bacteria and plants, in which bacteria extract nitrogen from the air and deliver it to plants [More information].
Pieterse’s research focuses on how plants defend themselves against harmful microbes and insects. His team maps out the plant’s defense system at a molecular level. This knowledge can help scientists develop stronger crops that need fewer pesticides, potentially leading to more sustainable farming and healthier food [More information].