Research

Our research explores how plants interact with beneficial microorganisms and changing environments, connecting molecular mechanisms with physiological and ecological outcomes.

Plant–microbe interactions

We investigate beneficial interactions in the rhizosphere, from molecular signaling and microbial traits to their consequences for plant performance.

Plant stress & adaptation

We study how nutrient limitation and other abiotic stressors shape plant physiology, plasticity and adaptive responses.

Ecological interactions & global change

We integrate molecular biology, physiology and ecology to understand organismal responses to changing environmental conditions.

MJP Lab research
MJP Lab research
MJP Lab research

Research funding

  1. 2025–2029 — FONDECYT Regular 1250589: Ecological Dynamics and Functional Diversity of Rhizospheric Microbial Interactions: Impact on Plant Fitness and Adaptation. Poupin MJ (Principal Investigator), González B (Co-investigator), Aguilera M (Co-investigator).
  2. 2025–2029 — FONDECYT Regular 1251132: Unraveling the interplay of nitrogen and phosphate plant nutrition in modulating Solanum lycopersicum immune response against Botrytis cinerea. Vega A (Principal Investigator), Poupin MJ (Co-investigator).
  3. 2023–2027 — FONDECYT Regular 1230472: Good things come in small doses: Natural low abundance within the rhizosphere microbiome as a critical trait to successful Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria. González B (Principal Investigator), Ledger T (Co-investigator), Poupin MJ (Co-investigator).
  4. 2024–2025 — Principal Investigator, ANID PIA/BASAL AFB240003 bridge funding project for the Centro de Ecología Aplicada y Sustentabilidad.
  5. 2021–2024 — Understanding the connections between abiotic stress and forest vulnerability to fires (ACT210052).
  6. 2021–2024 — Principal Investigator, Millennium Nucleus for Super Adaptable Plants (MN-SAP; NCN2021_010).
  7. 2019–2024 — Co-investigator, second stage of ANID PIA/BASAL FB-0002 for the Centro de Ecología Aplicada y Sustentabilidad.
  8. 2019–2023 — FONDECYT Regular 1190634: Disentangling the role of phenotypic plasticity and mutualistic interactions in the rhizosphere: plant-growth promoting bacteria as drivers of plant adaptive evolution. Principal Investigator.
  9. 2018–2020 — CORFO 17COTE-83081: predictive models for blueberry production under current and projected climate-change conditions. Principal Investigator.
  10. 2017–2019 — Instituto Antártico Chileno, Regular Project RT_08-16. Associate Investigator.
  11. 2014–2019 — Co-investigator, CONICYT Basal Project FB-0002, Centro de Ecología Aplicada y Sustentabilidad.
  12. 2014–2017 — Associate Investigator, Millennium Nucleus in Synthetic Biology and Plant Systems Biology (NC130030).
  13. 2012–2015 — FONDECYT Initiation: plant developmental stage and beneficial effects mediated by plant growth-promoting bacteria.
  14. 2009–2014 — Investigator, Millennium Nucleus in Plant Functional Genomics P10-062-F.
  15. 2009–2012 — FONDECYT Postdoctoral 3100040: gene-expression changes in Arabidopsis in response to Burkholderia phytofirmans PsJN.
  16. 2010–2012 — CONICYT Postdoctoral Researcher Insertion Project 79090016.