Frederic Lens appointed Professor of Biodiversity and Anatomy of Plants
image: Naturalis
The Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL) has a new professor: as of 1 March, Frederic Lens has been appointed Professor of Biodiversity and Anatomy of Plants. For Lens, the appointment feels like a wonderful recognition. ‘I am pleased with Leiden University’s appreciation of my contributions to research and teaching, as well as my role as founder and scientific coordinator of the Leiden Biodiversity Network.’
Lens holds a position at both the IBL and Naturalis. Together with his team, he studies the functional aspects of wood formation, particularly in relation to drought stress tolerance. ‘We often observe that species with more woody stems are also more drought-tolerant than their non-woody relatives, something we have also demonstrated using evolutionary models,’ says Lens.
Detecting illegal timber more quickly
In the coming years, Lens will focus on applied wood research. Together with his team and colleagues in the Netherlands and abroad, he aims to develop methods to identify traded timber species more rapidly and determine their origin. ‘In this way, we can better support customs officers in the Port of Rotterdam in the fight against illegal logging. Alongside the trade in drugs and counterfeit goods, this is the third-largest form of transnational crime.’
Making an impact in education and nature
In his new role, the newly appointed professor hopes to make a greater impact across a range of areas. Lens intends to contribute further to education, improve forest protection through better and faster screening of imported illegal timber, and continue strengthening the Leiden Biodiversity Network. ‘Leiden has so many strengths in the field of biodiversity. It is my ambition for us to join forces to position Leiden as the biodiversity city of the Netherlands.’
Lens’s expertise a valuable addition to research and teaching
Hubertus Irth, Scientific Director of the IBL, considers Lens’s appointment a special recognition of his many years of academic work and his strong commitment to Naturalis and the IBL. He is therefore pleased that Lens will strengthen the research team within the Plant Research cluster. ‘Plant research plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security. Frederic’s specific expertise in plant evolution, drought tolerance and biodiversity represents a valuable and distinctive addition to both research and teaching within the IBL. This appointment deepens interdisciplinary collaboration and further strengthens the ties between the IBL and Naturalis.’