We are thrilled to share some wonderful news from the soil ecology team – our PhD student Sarkal Jyakhwa has been awarded 2nd prize in the poster competition at the conference “MSCA in Estonia: Strengthening Research through International Talent”, held on 20 May 2026 in Tartu, Estonia. This was a landmark event: the very first MSCA conference ever organised in Estonia!
The conference celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – the EU’s flagship programme for researcher career development and mobility – bringing together current, former, and future MSCA fellows and their supervisors to share inspiring stories of international research.
Sarkal’s award-winning poster, titled “Drivers of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Diversity: Role of Rotation, Nitrogen, and Soil Disturbance”, presented findings that are both scientifically compelling and practically important. The work shows that AMF richness and biomass increase with more ley phases in rotation systems, meaning that smarter, less disruptive rotation designs can naturally rebuild AMF communities, reduce dependency on synthetic fertilizers, and improve overall soil health. The research also opens a fresh direction for the field by linking AMF diversity metrics to root traits such as root diameter and specific root length – a connection rarely explored but full of exciting potential for soil ecology research.
Competing at an international stage and walking away with a prize on this milestone occasion is a wonderful achievement. Well done, Sarkal — the whole team is proud of you!