PhD graduations and PhD theses
Jirka Manuel Petersen graduated from Wageningen University and Tours University
Published March 24, 2025
Jirka Manuel Petersen defended his PhD degree at Wageningen University, March 20, 2025. The examining committee evaluated his thesis as excellent. Jirka’s e thesis is entitled: Nudivirus Nexus: Synthesis of diversity, evolution and p[athology within the family Nudiviridae. Jirka was supervised by Monique van Oers (WU), Jean-Michel Drezen (CNRS) and Annie Bézier.(CNRS).
Robert Pienaar received PhD degrees from the University of Tours and the University of Valencia
Published March 24, 2025
In September 2024., Robert Pienaar, succesfully defended a thesis entiteld: Discovery and pathology of novel viruses associated with the unexplored model, Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) Robert was supervised by Elisabeth Herniou (CNRS) and Salvador Herrero (UVEG) .
PhD defence by Anna Slowik (29th April 2024)
Published March 24, 2025
Anna Slowik graduated on a PhD thesis entitled: Ecological considerations of thermal and nutritional interactions in Metarhizium host range evolution: A multidimensional analysis of niche width in insect-pathogenic fungi. Anna was supervised by Henrik de Fine Licht (UCPH), Steve Sait (UNIVLEEDS) and Helen Hesketh (UKCEH)
Alessandro Roman received his WU degree after a public defence at the Penryn Campus (UNEXE)
Published October 19, 2024
On the 7th of October a public defence was organized in Penryn (UK) to allow Alessandro Roman to defend his PhD thesis in public, a prerequisite for obtaining a Dutch PhD degree. Before, he had already successfully defended the thesis in a private viva. His theis is entiteled: Improving mass rearing of mosquito for pest management: impact of Asaia on host growth and vector competence. (published under embargo). His supervisors were Ben Raymond (UNEXE) and Sander Koenraadt (WU),
Eduard Bessette graduated from UNEXE and UCPH
Published, October 19, 2024
On the 30th of September Edouard sucesfully defended his PhD thesis in Copenhagen, DK. His thesis is entitled: Investigation of Microsporidia and Protist Symbionts in Reared Insect Hosts – Insights from Nanopore Sequencing and Host-Parasite Interaction. (Currently under embargo). Edouard was supervised by Bryony Williams (UNEXE) and Nicolai Vitt Meyling (UCPH).
Loretta Mugo-Kamiri graduated in Tours
Published, June 2024
Loretta defended her thesis in Tours, France, on her thesis entitled: Contribution of gut microbiota to infection progression in Lepidoptera. Loretta was supervised by Elisabeth Herniou (IRBI/CNRS) and Ben Raymond (UNEXE).
Luis Hernandez Pelegrin graduated in Valencia
Published May 21, 2024
Luis Hernandez Pelegrin defended his thesis in Valencia (UVEG) and received his doctors title based on a thesis entitled: “Covert infections with RNA viruses in the Mediterranean fruit fly“. He was supervised by Salvador Herrero (UVEG), Vera Ros (WU) and Monique van Oers (WU).
Jozsef Takacs’ successful defence in Wageningen
First published March 20, 2024
Jozsef Takacs received his PhD degree February 28, 2024, on his thesis entiteld: Viral and fungal pathogens in house cricket rearing: Effects of temperature, density and co-infection. His PhD supervisors were Joop van Loon (WU) Annette Bruun Jensen (UCPH) and Vera Ros (WU).
PhD graduation Sam Edwards
First published March 15, 2024
Sam Edwards graduated in Exeter and Copenhagen on a PhD thesis entitled: Evolutionary ecology of obligate fungal and microsporidian invertebrate pathogens. HIs supervisors are Henrik de Fine LIcht (UCPH) and Bryony Williams (UNEXE).
Pascal Herren’s PhD thesis on host-parasite interactions in Tenebrio molitor
Published February 26, 2024
Today, February 26, 2024, Doctoral candidate Pascal Herren passed his PhD thesis defence at UCPH in Denmark, after already successfully defending at UNLEEDS in December 2023. He graduated on a thesis entitled: Impact of environmental stressors on host-parasite interactions in mass-reared Tenebrio molitor. His supervisors are Hellen Hesketh (UKCEH), Alison Dunn (UNIVLEEDS) and Nicolai Vitt Meyling (UCPH).
Carlotta Savio’s PhD thesis about Tenebrio molitor
Graduated 20 Nov 2023
Carlortta’s thesis is entitled: “”Impact of feed composition and probiotics on Tenebrio molitor fitness and immune responses against the pathogens Bacillus thuringiensis serovar tenebrionis and Metarhizium brunneum“. Carlotta was supervised by Joop van Loon (WU) and Christina Nielsen-Leroux (INRAe).
Jennifer Upfold on Galleria mellonella gut microbiota
Defended 17 November, 2023
Jennifer Upfold succesfully defended her PhD thesis in Paris at AgroParis Tech. The thesis is entitled: An analysis of the interaction between the gut microbiota and host gut immunity in Galleria mellonella during infection by Bacillus thuringiensis and Metarhizium robertsii
Jennifer was supervised by Vincent Sanchis (INRAe) and Annette Bruun Jensen (UCPH).