Nawaraj Dulal
Position: Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.
I am currently a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), advised by Dr. Richard Wilson. I completed my PhD in Plant Pathology from UNL in December 2025, with dissertation research on the molecular mechanisms governing biotrophic growth, membrane integrity, and unconventional secretion in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.
I earned my MS in Plant Pathology in 2020 from the University of Arkansas, advised by Dr. Martin Egan, focusing on the cellular control of septin organization during appressorium morphogenesis by the blast fungus. Earlier, I completed my BS in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, in 2016.
My current research focus is to elucidate mechanisms of M. oryzae effector secretion into host rice cells. I am investigating how translational speed controls secretion rates of cytoplasmic effectors, as well as the role of Golgi-stacking proteins in their sorting and secretion.
Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?
I was drawn to the AFE opportunity because it offers invaluable hands-on experience with the journal’s editorial team. Having recently begun my postdoctoral training in MPMI, I see this role as ideal for gaining insight into the scientific publishing process. Working closely with editors would sharpen my skills as an early-career researcher preparing manuscripts.
What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?
Being an AFE, I hope to hone my scientific writing and science communication skills. I look forward to the opportunity to be mentored in manuscript review and directly involved in science communication projects, including writing commentaries highlighting articles published in MPMI, press releases, and author spotlights and interviews.
Sandra V. Gomez-Gutierrez
Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.
My name is Sandra V. Gomez-Gutierrez. I am from Bogota, Colombia where I completed my BSc degree in Agronomy at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. After my graduation, I joined the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University, where I earned my Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and a concentration in Computational Life Sciences in May 2025. During my Ph.D. I worked with
Dr. Stephen B. Goodwin
studying effector biology in the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici, integrating computational biology with molecular plant pathology techniques and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. I also worked on collaborative projects within my lab involving comparative genomics of extremophilic fungi, isothermal amplification methods for pathogen detection, and transcriptomics analysis of Phyllachora maydis. Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher with
Dr. Sergio Muñoz-Gómez
in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue, studying the genomic and proteomic changes and the microevolutionary costs associated with the emergence of new functional genes and with their evolutionary refinement in microbial populations.
Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?
I applied to be an assistant feature editor because I want to collaborate with the molecular plant–microbe research community by supporting science communication. After completing my Ph.D., I realized that one of my main goals as an early-career researcher is to translate scientific discoveries in a clear and accessible way.This role felt like a great opportunity to continue developing those skills through writing creative content and short pieces that reach different audiences while highlighting key findings published in MPMI.
I am especially interested in contributing content that emphasizes the real-world relevance of research on issues like food security, climate change, and sustainability. I believe that when we learn how to present the most interesting aspects of a study in a way that resonates with readers, we can share scientific work in a more meaningful way. I was also very interested in this position because it offers a way to stay connected with the plant–microbe interactions community, keep up with recent discoveries in the field, and gain insight into the editorial and publishing side of science, which I find very interesting.
What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?
As an early-career researcher, I look forward to learning from senior editors about the publishing process at MPMI and about practical ways to communicate science clearly, transparently, and reproducibly. During my time as an assistant editor, I hope to share both the scientific value of new findings and the sense of discovery behind them that makes research meaningful and motivating. In this role, I look forward to read articles across different areas of plant–microbe interactions and become more familiar with recent developments throughout the field. I also hope to improve my ability to effectively summarize the main ideas of a research article in a way that remains scientifically accurate while being easier to follow and highlighting why the work matters. Another goal is to highlight the work of graduate students, early-career researchers, and established scientists through interviews and short communications that reflect the range of research happening in our community and offer inspiration to others. On a personal level, I also look forward to meeting peers and experienced researchers, building professional connections, and learning from the different perspectives within the field. I believe that science is nurtured through collaboration, and that establishing a diverse scientific network is key for understanding and addressing the most important challenges in our field.
Unnati Sonawala
Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Introduce yourself—your background, where you are now, and your current research focus.
I am Unnati Sonawala, a molecular biologist and plant geneticist fascinated by the emergent changes in host physiology and immunity that occur when plants interact with microbes. My interest in plant–microbe interactions began while pursuing my MSc in Food Security at the University of Warwick, where I watched probability play out in mapping QTLs conferring resistance to Xanthomonas campestris. That experience sparked a lasting curiosity about how genetic variation shapes disease outcomes. I later moved to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, where I pursued my PhD investigating the role of host amino acid transporters in nutrient acquisition during plant–pathogen interactions. My PhD also kindled my interest in communicating science effectively. My late PhD supervisor, John McDowell, modeled the kind of writing I aspire to — clear, assertive, and succinct. I moved to the University of Cambridge’s Crop Science Centre as a postdoc, where I first encountered the captivating yet underexplored world of plant–parasitic nematodes. I am now deciphering the immune receptor network in sweet potato using root-knot nematodes as a probe.
Why did you apply to be an assistant editor?
I am deeply influenced by the idea that if science is not accessible, it is not truly available. Clear and thoughtful communication is thus just as essential as the discovery itself if new knowledge is to reach the broader community. As a leading journal for foundational advances in plant–microbe biology, MPMI plays a major role in shaping conversations in the field. I was particularly drawn to the AFE role as a way to serve the community by highlighting emerging conceptual shifts in plant–microbe interactions, while also continuing to refine my own scientific communication.
What do you hope to accomplish during your time as assistant editor, and what do you most look forward to in this position?
During my time as an Assistant Feature Editor, I hope to amplify research published in MPMI through thoughtful commentaries that contextualize new discoveries as well as press releases spotlighting the broader relevance of the research to audiences beyond the plant–microbe interaction community. I am particularly excited about engaging with authors across career stages and subfields, and about finding creative ways to tell the stories behind the science. I am also looking forward to working closely with the editorial team and the AFE cohort, learning from their perspectives and collectively finding new ways to connect readers with the science published in MPMI.