Laura Tünnermann receives the Marschner Young Scientist Award

The Marschner Award was established by the International Plant Nutrition Council in memory of Professor Horst Marschner, a leading expert in plant nutrition and a passionate supporter of students and early-career researchers. It recognises the vital role young scientists play in shaping the future of plant nutrition and was awarded this year to four outstanding individuals: two PhD students and two early-career researchers within six years of completing their PhD, who show exceptional potential to become future research leaders in the field.

“I was deeply honored that the committee recognized my work with such a prestigious award,” says Laura Tünnermann. “Presenting the project to an audience of respected peers in the field of plant nutrition was a challenging but rewarding experience. I’m especially grateful to have been part of a collaborative effort. This achievement would not have been possible without the valuable contributions of my co-authors.”

Laura Tünnermann is currently pursuing her PhD in Torgny Näsholm’s research group at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. As part of the award ceremony, she presented her research at the colloquium in Porto. Her work, published in New Phytologist, explores how different forms of nitrogen influence plant growth and metabolism and how they affect the efficiency with which plants use carbon.

“Plants are capable of taking up different forms of the essential nutrient nitrogen,” explains Laura Tünnermann. “Our research focused on immobile organic nitrogen forms, such as amino acids, and their impact on the plant. We identified extensive root growth with elongated root hairs as an effect of organic nitrogen nutrition, which likely enhances the plant´s ability to acquire organic nitrogen forms. We also found that the plants used carbon more efficiently and took up less nitrogen per unit of root growth.”

Award recipients are selected by a panel of three experienced researchers in plant nutrition. The selection is based on a submitted abstract, CV, list of peer-reviewed publications and a recommendation from the candidate’s supervisor that highlights what makes them exceptional. Awardees receive complimentary registration and are invited to present their research at the colloquium, which is held every three to five years.