I am a Molecular Ecologist at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in the interactions between plants and herbivores. My research group is part of the Department of Evolutionary and Population Biology at the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED, UvA). In my group we focus on two major research lines: (1) The eco-physiology of plant-defense induction and suppression by herbivores, primarily spider mites and (2) Aligning plant physiology with biological control of pests to improve crop protection.

Our overarching theme is agroecology, with a specific focus on integrated crop management. We primarily use tomato as our model plant and approach our research from both community ecology and evolutionary perspectives. Our methodologies span molecular biology, behavioral biology, and population ecology.

A central question in my research is: why do pest outbreaks occur frequently in agriculture but not in nature? By adopting a 'learning from nature' approach, I aim to utilize natural defense mechanisms to reduce pesticide use by combining knowledge-driven resistance breeding and biological pest control. Additionally, I seek to understand the evolutionary potential of natural host plants and their pests for ecological risk assessment, particularly concerning invasive pest species i.e., parasites and pathogens, and the introduction of (genetically) modified crops.

For more information visit the website of my group: www.kantlab.org