About MicrobeNet^Net
MicrobeNet^Net emerged from the shared vision of four renowned microbial ecologists—Drs. Benjamin Sikes, Amy Zanne, Aimée Classen, and Stephanie Kivlin—who recognized an urgent need to bridge communication and research gaps within the global scientific community. With extensive experience running their own organizations and contributing to international research networks, these academic leaders have long understood that effective collaboration across disciplines, borders, and scientific cultures is essential to tackle pressing challenges in microbial ecology.
The inspiration for MicrobeNet^Net sparked when the four founders met at an Ecological Society of America conference, where they discussed the fragmented nature of knowledge-sharing within microbial science. Despite vast advancements in microbial ecology, many researchers were still operating in silos, missing opportunities to leverage each other’s insights. Motivated to create a more integrated platform, they sought funding through the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) AccelNet program to make their vision a reality.
A successful NSF AccelNet grant award in 2024 paved the way for MicrobeNet^Net to serve as a “network of networks” that connects and amplifies the work of microbial ecologists worldwide. With this support, MicrobeNet^Net aims to foster open communication, streamline data sharing, and encourage cross-continental collaborations that will accelerate scientific discovery and advance our understanding of plant-fungal interactions.
MicrobeNet^Net Plan
Scientific Goal – Our scientific goal is to create a unified network of researchers and a harmonized workflow to harness the growing data on plant and mycorrhizal fungal interactions across diverse environments, spatial scales, and ecological and evolutionary timelines. This integrated approach enables us to address critical challenges in understanding these interactions, including their traits, evolutionary histories, genetic connections, and geographic distributions—insights that are difficult to achieve within the current siloed systems. We aim to develop advanced climate response models, enhance agricultural sustainability, and tackle other pressing global issues.
Networking Goal – Our networking goal is to build an engaged international community spanning plant and fungal ecologists, evolutionary biologists, computational biologists, and Earth system modelers from diverse career stages and countries. Through research exchanges, collaborative meetings, and shared training initiatives, MICROBENet^Net seeks to bridge siloed research groups and lay the foundation for innovative, cross-disciplinary studies. A central Slack platform will facilitate global collaboration, enabling seamless communication across time zones and offering shared resources such as unifying language guides, data harmonization tools, and mentoring frameworks. This interconnected community will drive progress in understanding plant-microbial relationships on a global scale.
Training Goal – Our training goal is to equip the next generation of biologists and modelers to lead cross-disciplinary international collaborations and develop innovative, harmonized tools and datasets. Through MICROBENet^Net, researchers will gain the skills to build their own scientific networks and address complex, transdisciplinary questions. By fostering effective communication across disciplines, enhancing fluency in diverse data and tools, and strengthening connections with international research groups, we aim to empower these collaborations to thrive and expand. Future events at scientific conferences and working groups will sustain and grow this network. MICROBENet^Net will also serve as a blueprint for future transdisciplinary research, supporting the exploration of emerging fields like the “dark microbiome” and advancing practical applications in areas such as restoration, agriculture, and forestry.
How to Get Involved
Over the next four years, MicrobeNet^Net will host virtual and in-person activities that build our collaborative plant-microbial network. Activities may include webinar series, workshops, small group meetings, research exchanges, and colloquia. We need your collaboration and leadership to facilitate these events. This AccelNet will include numerous opportunities for education, reciprocation, network and professional development, and leadership training activities. Please, click here if you wish to be involved in this AccelNet.