CEPLAS Women in Plant Sciences Day 2026

02/10/2026 Equity and Diversity

On 1 October, CEPLAS hosted its annual Women in Plant Sciences Day, celebrating women in science and supporting the career development.

Combining scientific inspiration, practical training and informal exchange, the event welcomed PhD students, postdocs and professors for a day of shared learning and new connections.

Special guest: Prof. Rosa Lozano-Durán

This year’s special guest, Prof. Rosa Lozano-Durán, became Director of the new Department of Plant Virology at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research earlier this year. We warmly congratulate her on her new position and wish her every success!

During her talk, she shared insights into her research and the international career that led her to this role, from her PhD at the University of Málaga and a postdoc at the Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich to establishing her own research group in Shanghai in 2015 and joining the University of Tübingen in 2021. Her talk offered a fascinating look at the molecular interactions between plants and gemini-viruses. These insect-transmitted viruses have small, circular DNA genomes, yet can reshape plant gene and hormonal networks to support their replication and spread. Studying how viral proteins manipulate their hosts also helps her group uncover new mechanisms in plant development and defence.

Alongside her research, Rosa spoke openly about her career, its turning points and how she found her own direction among the many possibilities in academia. Her reflections offered encouragement, particularly to researchers beginning to consider their next steps, and highlighted that there is no single route to a successful scientific career.

Time to connect and step in front of the camera

An informal lunch gave participants time to continue the conversations and get to know one another. The afternoon workshop, “Picture perfect: self-presentation for women scientists”, led by a professional photographer, combined practical tips with playful exercises on posture and feeling comfortable in front of the camera. Participants put these into practice during a photo session, leaving with professional portraits for their own use.

Thank you to Rosa and everyone who joined us for a day of inspiration, conversation and shared experiences. We are already looking forward to next year’s edition!

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