Ralf is a Feodor-Lynen Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He has had a distinguished research career in plant virology, which included study leave at the University of California Berkeley and Davis, University of Kentucky and Okayama University. He has published widely with many eminent scholars in the fields of horticultural crop improvement, plant-virus-insect interactions and virus taxonomy. Ralf’s scientific contributions have been recognized through travel awards from the Australian Academy of Science and the Department of Industry, Science and Technology. In 2010, he was awarded a prestigious Queensland International Fellowship, as winner of the Ecosciences category.
Ralf has a strong scientific interest in understanding the molecular interactions of viruses, their plant hosts and insect vectors, aimed at finding novel ways to control plant diseases and reduce their spread. Thrips are economically important insect pests in agriculture that cause significant feeding damage and transmit viruses to hundreds of horticultural and ornamental plant species. In this Fulbright research project, Ralf aims to discover specific genes involved in thrips development and thrips-virus interactions and he will assess their potential as novel targets in thrips management.
Ralf is looking forward to spending the term of his scholarship at Manhattan, Kansas to increase his technical research skills, progress scientific knowledge and learn more about Kansas and its people. He intends to translate the scientific know-how that will be generated to achieve sustainable control of thrips pests and the viruses they transmit to reduce economic losses and increase productivity and global food security. Ralf also aims to develop a long-term collaboration between Kansas State University and the University of Queensland and the research teams involved in this Fulbright research project. More broadly, he wants to foster Australia – USA relations and mutual understanding and networking.