Sophie started as a PhD Candidate at the Environmental Biology department of CML in January 2023.

More information about Sophie Planchenault

Professional experience

Sophie received her BSc in Natural Sciences in 2020 from Université Claude Bernard (Lyon, France) and her MSc in Ecology and Evolution in 2022 from Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse, France).She conducted her Master's thesis at the Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Sciences (LEFE, Toulouse, France), where she focused on the role of photosynthetic microorganisms in peatland carbon dynamics. More specifically, how their presence, secondary metabolites (exudates) and necromass affect soil microbial communities, trophic interactions within the soil food web and biogeochemical processes.
In January 2023, Sophie moved to the Netherlands to join the Environmental Biology department of CML to start her PhD on the role of microbial diversity in soil carbon dynamics.

Research topic

Sophie's PhD research project aims to unravel the role of microbial diversity in soil organic matter formation and stabilization, and therefore its outcome on carbon dynamics. She wants to put an emphasis on studying the intricate link between microbial community composition, food web interactions and carbon cycling.