In 2019, I obtained a Master in Biology at Ghent University. In 2024, I finished my PhD in plant Interactomics. Currently, I am the coordinator of the Plant Single Cell platform, located within the Vascular Development group of Bert De Rybel.

Staff scientist

Thomas Eekhout graduated as a Master in Biochemistry and biotechnology at Ghent University in 2013 before starting his PhD on plant cell cycle regulation in the group of prof. Lieven De Veylder. After obtaining his PhD in 2018 he did a short postdoc in the same group, after which he joined the plant single cell platform of prof. Bert De Rybel in the summer of 2020. Since then, he has loaded and analyzed over two hundred samples from over 20 species for both internal and external groups on different single cell technology platforms.

In 2008, Jolien obtained her bachelor's degree in Biomedical Laboratory Technology at Hogent. Shortly after, she became a member of Prof. Gerrit Beemster's research group at PSB, focusing on organ growth regulation. When Gerrit Beemster moved on from PSB, the group became part of the Yield lab led by Prof. Dr. Dirk Inzé and Dr. Hilde Nelissen. In 2021, Jolien seized the opportunity to join Prof. Bert De Rybel's plant single cell platform. Here, the team is dedicated to expanding their knowledge and expertise in the exciting but challenging field of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in plants.

Jonah Nolf has been an integral part of Ghent University and VIB since 2006, contributing extensive technical, operational, and managerial expertise to multiple research teams within the Plant Systems Biology department. He began his career in the laboratory of Prof. Ann Depicker, where he developed strong competencies in protein purification and a broad range of molecular biology techniques. His commitment to high‑quality experimental work and his structured approach to laboratory operations led to his transition into the role of lab manager, a position in which he played a key role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the research environment. In his capacity as lab manager, Jonah took on responsibility for training and onboarding new researchers, maintaining and enforcing laboratory safety standards, and overseeing the procurement and supply management essential to supporting day‑to‑day scientific activities. Jonah currently works within the research group of Prof. Bert De Rybel, where he continues to support experimental workflows with a focus on protein-related methodologies and the optimization of laboratory processes. Building on his strong technical foundation, he has expanded his expertise toward next‑generation sequencing technologies. In collaboration with the Single-Cell Platform, he is actively involved in the development, implementation, and optimization of ATAC‑seq and single‑nucleus ATAC‑seq (snATAC‑seq) pipelines.

Bert De Rybel graduated from the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering of Ghent University in 2005 before starting his PhD research in the group of prof. Tom Beeckman, focusing on early lateral root development. For his postdoctoral research, he moved to the lab of prof. Dolf Weijers at Wageningen University in early 2010 funded by Marie-Curie and FEBS postdoc grants. Here, he initiated work on early vascular development. He received a NWO VIDI grant to continue this line of research in an independent manner. Funded by an FWO Odysseus II and an ERC Starting Grant, Bert moved back to Belgium in 2015 to initiate his own lab within VIB and was elected EMBO young investigator in 2019. Bert is currently group leader at VIB of the ‘Vascular Development’ lab and full professor at Ghent University. His group aims at integrating developmental, cell and evolutionary biology to understand how plant vascular tissues develop and is funded by FWO and ERC Consolidator grants.