PhD Researchers

Geckem Dambo

	Remote sensing of photo protective pigments in climate change adapted wheat genotypes My PhD project is titled “Remotely sensed spectral indices as indicators of climate resilience in a wheat breeding context” the focus is on the identification and validation of spectral reflectance indices for the assessment of photoprotection and hydration status in wheat as adaptation mechanisms in heat and drought environments. The PhD is being funded by ATSAF Academy, and my supervisors are Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch, University of Hohenheim and Prof. Dr. Mathew Reynolds from CIMMYT Mexico.
Contact	geckem.dambo@uni-hohenheim.de

Theresa Detering

	Nutrient uptake and growth of hydroponically cultivated crops under variable environmental conditions I am a PhD student and scholarship holder of the Anton and Petra Ehrmann Research Training Group "Water - People - Agriculture". The research questions I proposed are integrated in the BMBF funded multidisciplinary project HypoWave+ comprising 10 partners. The main objective is to investigate the nitrogen and phosphorus uptake dynamics of vegetable plant species from a low concentrated nutrient solution as affected by abiotic factors, either individually or in combination. I am currently conducting experiments at the Phytoteknikum of the university. My research interests are hydroponic plant production, sustainable wastewater reuse, and plant nutrition and physiology.
Contact	theresa.detering@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0)711 459 23606

Kristian Johnson

	Interactive effects of water saving irrigation and salinity on rice genotypes in the Mekong My general field of interest is ecophysiology with a focus on abiotic stress, and over the past few years this has been centered around rice (Oryza sativa L.). My PhD project is investigating mitigation strategies to salinization and water scarcity due to unpredictable rainfall in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. Despite these challenges, with a few simple farmer led interventions we hope to protect rice cultivation and by extension regional food security.
Contact	k.johnson@uni-hohenheim.de +33 7 89 00 57 39

Shimul Mondal

	Salinity effects on sweet potato I am pursuing my PhD research under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch, at the department in the management of crop water stress, Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics Hans-Ruthenberg-Institute, 490g, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. The title of my research work is “Salt tolerance mechanisms in sweet potato subjected to salinity”. I submitted my thesis last December 5, 2022.
Contact	shimul.mondal@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0) 1794321148

Van Hong Nguyen

	Effects of land-use change on salt intrusion in rice production systems in the Vietnam Mekong Delta Msc. Van Nguyen studied hydrology and is particularly interested in tidal dynamics and saline intrusion in coastal areas. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics as part of the RiSaWa project. Her doctoral research focuses on salinity assessment of topsoil and subsoil under rice fields in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Through her doctoral work, she has developed an interest in the applications of geophysics in agricultural sciences.
Contact	van.nguyen@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0) 711 459 23364

Hemanth Kumar Puppala

	Salinity effects on nutrient uptake dynamics in hydroponically grown crops MSc. Hemanth Kumar Puppala studied Organic Agriculture and received his Master’s degree from the University of Hohenheim. His master's thesis investigated the effects of salinity and vapour pressure deficit on transpiration and leaf area development in sweet potato plants. He studied agriculture and received a Bachelor's degree from Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University, India. Mr. Puppala joined the EXALT project as a PhD student at the University of Hohenheim. He researches on the interaction of salinity, vapour pressure deficit and plant nutrient uptake in hydroponic plant production.
Contact	hemanthkumarpuppalarmp@gmail.com +49 (0) 1794031229

Thi Bach Thuong Vo

	Varietal effects of rice on greenhouse gas emission under varying water management in the Vietnam Mekong Delta MSc. Thi Bach Thuong Vo is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics of the University of Hohenheim- in the Management of Crop Water Stress in the Tropics and Subtropics working group. She will be working on her PhD with the thesis title "Varietal effects on Greenhouse Gas emission under varying water management in the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam". She has a strong interest in climate change research, particularly, assessing impacts and developing adaptation/ mitigation strategies for rice production in the context of climate change.
Contact	thibachthuong.vo@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0) 711 45923364

Johanna Volk

	Modelling of sweet potato responses to salinity Investigating mechanisms of salinity tolerance in sweetpotato at the University of Hohenheim and the International Potato Center (CIP) in Maputo, Mozambique. Collaborative research project funded by the ATSAF Academy.
Contact	johanna.volk@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0) 1783234233 linkedin.com/in/johanna-volk

Tanja Weinand

	Bacterial mitigation of iron toxicity symptoms in rice I am interested in the interaction between soil microbiota and plants under stress conditions. In the frame of my PhD project I am studying the effects of Bacillus isolates on the tolerance against iron toxicity in different lowland rice cultivars. With my results I am hoping to add to the understanding on how differences in the composition of microbiomes in lowland rice cultivars influence the tolerance against iron toxicity and other abiotic and biotic stresses. Furthermore, I find the complex interactions between plants, microorganisms and the environment within agroecosystems fascinating. In this context, I am particularly interested in sustainable farming methods such as agroforestry, crop rotations with legumes or no-till and their impact on soil, soil-dwelling organisms and plant health.
Contact	tanja.weinand@uni-hohenheim.de +49 (0)711 459 24189
Publications: Weinand, T., Asch, J., Asch, F. 2022. "Effect of Bacillus spp. on enzyme activity and potassium uptake in lowland rice (Oryza sativa) under iron toxicity." Tropentag conference 2022, September 14-16, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic. Weinand, T., Schierling, T., Asch, J., Kaufmann, B., El-Hasan, A., Voegele, R. T., Asch, F. 2021. "Bacillus-mediated cross-protection against iron toxicity and brown spot disease (Bipolaris oryzae) in lowland rice." Tropentag conference 2021, September 15-17, University of Hohenheim, Germany. Weinand, T., Zeeshan, I.G., Hartmann, J., Asch, F. 2020. "Bacillus-mediated changes in iron partitioning and sequestration in lowland rice under iron toxic conditions." Tropentag conference 2020, September 9-11, Virtual Conference, Germany. Poghossian, A., Bronder, T.S., Schejaa, S. Wua, C. Weinand, T. Metzger-Boddien, C. Keusgen, M., Schöning, M.J. (2016) Label-free electrostatic detection of DNA amplification by PCR using capacitive field-effect devices. Procedia Engineering 168 Dimkpa. C., Weinand, T, Asch, F. 2009 “Plant-rhizobacteria interactions alleviate abiotic stress conditions.” Plant Cell Environ. 32(12):1682-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2009.02028.x. Epub 2009 Aug 11. PMID: 19671096. Wahl, V. Weinand, T., Schmid, M. 2005 “The UGF Protein Family: analysis of Gene Expression and Protein Interactions.” 16th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research