Chhana Ullah

Biography

Chhana Ullah is a Junior Professor of Forest Phytopathobiomes at the University of Göttingen, Germany. His research focuses on tree-microbe-pathogen interactions with particular emphasis on chemical signaling and defense metabolites in woody plants. Before moving to Göttingen, he completed his Ph.D. from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena. He then continued to work as a postdoctoral researcher and lead a research group on the chemical ecology of plant-pathogen interactions. Prof. Ullah has been intrigued by understanding the chemistry, biosynthesis, regulation, and anti-pathogen activities of several classes of plant metabolites in forest trees, especially poplar (Populus spp.). By integrating molecular biology, metabolomics, and microbiological approaches, his group aims to understand how tree metabolites shape the complex pathobiomes (beneficial microbes and harmful pathogens) and ultimately the disease resilience of trees and forest health. The long-term goal of his research is to address fundamental questions in tree immunity while contributing to sustainable forest management under global change.