European Conference on Fungal Genetics – Assistant Professor Özlem Sarikaya Bayram
Biology and Food Science Researchers Lead the Prestigious 17th European Conference on Fungal Genetics, Uniting Global Experts The 17th European Conference on Fungal Genetics (ECFG) brought together 852 delegates from 50 countries, marking a significant milestone in advancing research and fostering international collaboration in fungal genetics. The event was held at the Convention Centre Dublin from March 2-5, 2025. Researchers from the Departments of Biology and Sport Science & Nutrition played a leading role in organizing and chairing the conference. Prof. Kevin Kavanagh and Prof. Özgür Bayram (Biology Department) co-chaired the conference, with Prof. Kavanagh delivering the opening speech and chairing the first-day session, while Prof. Bayram led the closing ceremony and presented 15 poster and talk awards to early-career researchers.
Several faculty members played pivotal roles in shaping discussions across various research areas:
Prof. Özgür Bayram (Biology Department) – Co-chair of the ECFG Conference.
Prof. Kevin Kavanagh (Biology Department) – Co-chair of the ECFG Conference.
Prof. Seán Doyle (Biology Department) chaired the Biotechnology concurrent session.
Dr. Özlem Sarikaya Bayram (Sport Science and Nutrition Department) co-chaired the Asperfest satellite meeting.
Prof. Emmanuelle Graciet (Biology Department) co-chaired the Plant Pathology session.
Dr. Rebecca Owens (Biology Department) co-chaired the Fungal Secondary Metabolism session.
PhD students and researchers, including Aaron Curtis (Medical Mycology Lab), Dr. Thuc Bui and Saba Shaber (Fungal Genetics Laboratory), and Pranay Agarwal (Future Foods Laboratory), actively assisted delegates throughout the event.
The local organizing committee, comprising seven additional academics from Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University College Dublin (UCD), Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), University College Cork (UCC), and University of Galway (NUIG), also played a crucial role in the conference’s success.
Spanning four days, the event featured 21 keynote speakers, delivering cutting-edge insights into the field. Researchers presented 533 posters and delivered 377 oral presentations, showcasing the latest breakthroughs and innovations. With 711 abstracts submitted, the conference demonstrated the vibrancy of the fungal genetics research community. Additionally, the participation of 20 sponsors and exhibitors highlighted the growing industry interest, facilitating discussions on emerging technologies and applications. This landmark event reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in fungal genetics and its expanding impact on science and innovation.
Further information can be found here.