3 Questions to ...

Ann-Kathrin Rößling

In our series #NextGen Signalling Scientists, we spotlight Early Career Researchers shaping the future of signalling science at CIBSS. This feature highlights molecular plant biologist Ann-Kathrin Rößling, a researcher at the Institute of Biology II at the Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg in the research group of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kleine-Vehn.



Just like a lens focuses on hidden details, my research uncovers the invisible signals shaping plant growth

If your research in biological signalling studies were an object, image, or even a metaphor, what would it be?

If my research into biological signalling studies were an object, it would be the objective lens of a microscope. Just as a lens allows us to focus on intricate details invisible to the naked eye, my work sheds light on the hidden molecular conversations taking place inside plant roots. I use advanced imaging techniques to investigate how plants perceive and respond to their environment at the cellular level and how these signals are transported within a cell. For example, I often study how plant cell walls behave and change their dynamics during certain treatments, which really fascinates me. We ask ourselves questions like: What signals are perceived at the cell surface and how are these signals then conveyed to organelles inside the cell? The lens symbolises both the tools I use and the clarity I seek to uncover signalling mechanisms in plants, one cell at a time.

Research is full of surprises, setbacks, and breakthroughs: What moment in your work, which discovery, challenge, or unexpected twist has been especially surprising or shaped your perspective? And what keeps you motivated to explore biological signalling further?

As I prepared for my first conference early in my PhD, I felt stuck trying to figure out how to share my research and explain ideas that seemed so clear in my head. To my surprise, one of the most rewarding aspects of my research turned out to be finding creative ways to illustrate complex biological signalling pathways. I always used to scribble nearby when I was reading papers and trying to understand them, so I turned those scribbles into graphics that I use to communicate what I am working on. This went so well that I had the privilege of illustrating our latest publication with a scheme (Rößling et al., 2024 (eLife), DOI: 10.7554/eLife.96943.3).

Figure 5 I, J summarises the findings of the paper Rößling et al., 2024 (eLife). In a nutshell: at the cell surface, a receptor (FERONIA) perceives signals from the cell wall matrix. There is an interaction between the cell wall component pectin and a ligand of FER (a peptide hormone called RALF1). Together they inform FER about the cell wall status, which leads to further transport of the message downstream within the plant cell.

Graphic: Ann Kathrin Rößling, Open Access Publication

I realised that clear, engaging visuals could change the way others understood and connected with my research. Since then, creating my own illustrations and graphics has become a key part of how I present my work, and also helps me brainstorm new ideas for upcoming experiments. Every time I create an illustration, I am trying to build a bridge between the invisible molecular world and the people who are curious to explore it.

Looking Forward: What’s next in your research journey? If you could fast-forward to 2025 and beyond, what milestone or discovery would you most hope to achieve?

For next year, I am very excited to see where my projects and research will take me. I usually have an idea and a rough plan, but sometimes it’s not you who decides where to go next. You can plan the most detailed experiments, but often you will spend the year doing something you never anticipated. This unpredictability can be fun, you never know where you’ll end up—and this openness towards different research journeys often leads to unexpected, fortunate discoveries! But so far, I am looking forward to shifting my focus more towards vacuoles (organelles inside the cells of plants) and how their morphology is affected by the signals perceived and integrated at the cell surface. Vacuoles have a great influence on root growth in general and this is an aspect of my project that I really enjoy working on.

Outside of research, I’m excited to see what new skills I’ll pick up next year. This year, I learned how to bake sourdough bread as a way to unwind after work, and it turned out to be a lovely and rewarding experience. I’m curious what next year’s small personal project will be—it’s the little things that bring balance and joy to the journey.