Martin Herde is a research technician in the group responsible for the wet lab – related work. Coming from Germany, he obtained his BSc in Biology and MSc in Microbiology from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Following this he worked as a Scientific Assistant in Jena focusing on the Pathogen – Host interaction of the causal agent for the headsmut disease in corn, the fungus Sporisorium reilianum f.sp. zeae and the influence of epigenetic regulation on host specificity. When not working, he enjoys playing volleyball, badminton, hiking and hanging out with friends.