Mariya Kozak

I am a biologist with a master’s degree in microbiology. I have experience of working in the industry and academia sectors, in molecular biology and microbiology fields. I am currently a PhD student in the doctoral programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV) at the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C) at the University of Lisbon. My main research interests are the plant-herbivore interactions and the role that the microbiome might play in affecting these interactions. My current project aims to shed light on how the microbiota of spider mites affect the induction of plant defences. In turn, I aim to also determine how the level of host plant defences affects the evolution of the microbiota of spider mites.