Vahideh Rafiei has been awarded a prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf's 50-year fund for science, technology and the environment, for her work on biological control of Fusarium species that cause fusarium diseases on cereals. Vahideh received the prize from the hands of King Carl XVI Gustaf, including a scholarship of 100 000 SEK, at a ceremony on June 10 at the Royal Castle in Stockholm.
Vahideh’s research is focused on understanding fungal diseases on cereal to protect the crops and increase food safety. Vahideh is currently a researcher at the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology at SLU.
– The core of my research is dedicated to unravelling the complexities surrounding Fusarium head blight species, especially the Fusarium graminearum species complex, which is one of the most critical threats to cereal crops worldwide. With this award I will investigate the mechanisms behind the disease and how the host and the pathogen interact on a molecular level, says Vahide.
Magnus Karlsson is professor in plant pathology and a close colleague to Vahideh.
– I am proud of Vahideh for her outstanding contributions to our research team and her unwavering dedication to the field of plant pathology. Vahideh's expertise and commitment have significantly enhanced our understanding of plant-fungal interactions. Her ability to seamlessly integrate advanced molecular techniques with practical fieldwork has been invaluable to our projects. Vahideh is not only an exceptional scientist but also a fantastic collaborator and mentor to her colleagues, says Magnus.
