PLANT SIGNAL RESEARCH GROUP
The focus of our research is to understand the interactions between plants and environment on a molecular level.
We develop state-of-the art systems for plant phenotyping.
See what we are doing outside the lab
Meet The Team
Hannes Kollist
Professor of molecular plant biology
I am fascinated in researching mechanisms by which guard cells integrate information from outside as well as inside the leaf to adjust plant gas exchange. I am also excited in developing technologies that allow studying plant behavior in various growth conditions.
Ebe Merilo
Senior research fellow
My research focus is on stomatal regulation of model plants and crops. The interplay between water loss and leaf cooling which both depend on stomatal conductance is risingly important in terms of grain yield as well.
Joachim M. Gerhold
Senior research fellow
My major interest lies on biochemistry of organelles, especially mitochondria, their metabolism, and related protein interactions. I am fascinated about the synchronisation and signalling between the different organelles like e.g. the ER and mitochondria or chloroplasts and mitochondria.
Bahtjor Rasulov
Senior research fellow
I have headed the construction of over 10 unique gas-exchange systems for the study of physiological and biochemical processes in higher plants. Within past 11 years, my research interests include the study of the mechanisms of biochemical regulation of photosynthesis and secondary metabolism.
Yuh-Shuh Wang
Senior researcher
I’m interested in studying gene functions underlying particular phenotypes. I enjoy designing and assembling gene constructs for plant transformation, including those for plastid transformation and genome editing.
Dmitry Yarmolinsky
Senior research fellow
I have done a long way from my PhD studies of thyroid cancer, research of plant sulfur metabolism to our current project on identification of new stomatal regulators. I am interested in roles of stomatal signaling in plant adaptation to ever-changing environmental conditions.
Ingmar Tulva
Research fellow
Research interests are plant water relations in natural conditions and the underlying mechanisms
Ashutosh Pandey
Post-doctoral fellow
My research interest includes study of impact of changing climate on different crop plants e.g. high ozone, CO2 and ABA in single and in combination. Currently,I am interested in stomatal behaviour and signalling pathways in ozone-sensitive mutants in guard cells under different abiotic stress.
I love nature and research.
Kadri Tõldsepp
Research fellow
My research project is focused on the molecular mechanisms of CO2 signaling in guard cells.
Maris Nuhkat
Junior research fellow
I am interested in the responses of plant membranes to abiotic environmental stimuli, specifically the effect of tropospheric ozone and variations in carbon dioxide concentration on the workings of proton pumps and anion channels, as well as calcium signalling.
Pirko Jalakas
Research fellow
Olena Zamora
PhD-student
I am involved in the project that is aimed at the identification of new components in O3/ROS-induced stomatal closure. In addition, I am interested in studying roles of plant hormones in adaptation of stomatal aperture to environmental conditions.
Koit Aasumets
PhD student
I am studying the mechanisms of human mitochondrial genome (nucleoids) maintenance in dynamic mitochondrial network. This includes studying the physical connections between ER-mitochondria that seem to an important role in these processes.
Chung-Yueh Yeh
PhD student
I enjoy doing everything with plants.
Kaspar Koolmeister
PhD student
I am studying plant stomatal reactions in response to light at different wavelengths.
Egon Meigas
Master's student
Plants are fundamental to the existence of complex life on earth, and I also happen to enjoy studying them.
Jaanika Unt
Master's student
I love nature and research.
Triinu Arjus
Master's student
I love nature and research.
Mikk Välbe
Lab assistant
I assist. I have the best job in the lab, because I am involved in almost everything happening in the lab and I enjoy that versatility.
I have a long-term experience in the development of the scientific instrumentation. To me is a big challenge to find solutions, and get accurate measurement data in all conditions.
Roman Leinus
Engineer
Helen Parik
Master's student
I hope that gaining a better understanding of how plants work will help make the world a better place.
Heikko Rämma
Engineer
I have over 30 year experience in designing and construction of instruments used for measuring plant gas exchange and photosynthesis.
Irina Rasulova
Lab assistant
I take care that all plants would be happy and dishes + glassware would shine.
ALUMNI
Liina Jakobson
Research fellow
During my Master’s studies I fell in love with the most important organisms on our planet - the plants. I enjoy microscopy work, precise pipetting such as qPCR and everything else related to plant biology studies. I also like to be organised and to manage different projects.
Karin SL Johansson
Research fellow
Currently I am interested in stomatal physiology, the methods that enable to measure related traits in whole plant context (gas exchange, thermal imaging, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging) and the interactions of signalling pathways controlling stomatal development and movements.
Hanna Hõrak
Research fellow
My research is focused on factors that regulate plant water economy. I study natural variation in the stomatal response to elevated CO2 concentration, which is predicted to have a large impact on plant water use in a future climate. Recently I have also become interested in cuticle formation, which is an important process for the development of more drought-tolerant plants.
Jenni Katri Pedor
Master's student
I am studying the regulation of proton pumps involved in stomatal signaling.
Priit Prechter
Research fellow
I love nature and research.
Ove Lindgren
Research fellow
I love nature and research.