Профессор Университета Огайо Неха Потнис удостоена престижной премии Синджента за исследования фитопатогенов

The endowed associate professor was recognized for pioneering research into plant pathogens, microbiomes and climate-driven disease dynamics Neha Potnis, an endowed associate professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, recently received the Syngenta Award from the American Phytopathological Society, recognizing her outstanding contributions to plant pathology research. The award recognizes a mid-career professional in plant pathology who has made a recent outstanding contribution to research, extension or teaching. Potnis was recognized for pioneering research that has expanded understanding of pathogen diversity, microbial interactions and climate-driven changes in plant-pathogen-microbiome dynamics. “Receiving the Syngenta Award was both an honor and a gratifying recognition of the research, teaching and outreach efforts our team has built at Auburn,” Potnis said. “It was especially meaningful to see our work acknowledged on a national stage by leaders in the field.” People are also reading… Since joining Auburn in 2016, Potnis has built a nationally and internationally recognized research program focused on plant disease ecology and pathogen evolution. Her work uses advanced genomic and metagenomic approaches to study bacterial pathogens, particularly Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas, and to better understand how pathogens adapt to their hosts and changing environments. A central theme of Potnis’ research is looking beyond the traditional model of a plant interacting with a single pathogen. Her research examines the complex interactions among plants, pathogens, resident microbes and environmental conditions to understand why diseases emerge, persist and vary in severity. Her research also has demonstrated that other organisms can influence the progression of plant disease. Studies by Potnis and her collaborators have shown that co-occurring Pseudomonas species can alter bacterial spot disease caused by Xanthomonas, while interactions between foliar pathogens and below-ground organisms such as root-knot nematodes can also affect disease outcomes. Potnis has extended this work to examine how environmental stressors, including changing ozone levels, influence plant physiology, pathogen virulence and the plant microbiome. Her research is now helping inform multidisciplinary efforts to use plant-associated microbes to improve plant resilience and strengthen controlled-environment agriculture. Her research accomplishments include nearly $4 million in extramural funding since joining Auburn and more than 65 peer-reviewed publications. She was the first College of Agriculture faculty member to receive an NSF CAREER Award and was among the first recipients of a Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research New Innovator Award. She also was named an Auburn College of Agriculture Endowed Professor in 2022 and again in 2025. Potnis’ influence extends beyond her research program. She developed and teaches Omics in Agriculture, a hands-on course that gives students practical experience analyzing and interpreting next-generation sequencing data. She also developed Plant Microbial Ecology, which applies ecological and evolutionary principles to the study of plant-microbe interactions and disease management. Her commitment to developing the next generation of scientists extends to outreach. Potnis established Auburn’s Microbial Genomics and Evolution Summer Research Fellowship program for high school students and teachers, providing opportunities to explore plant pathology, microbiology and the importance of plant health. Between 2021 and 2023, the program included 14 students and five teachers. Potnis, who is originally from Pune, Maharashtra, India, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in microbiology from the University of Pune before earning her Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Florida in 2011. She joined Auburn as an assistant professor in 2016 and was promoted to tenured associate professor in 2022.