Dr Grace Hoysted

    Biology, Human Health Institute

    Lecturer/Assistant Professor

    Callan Building
    2.25

    Biography

    Grace is an environmental biologist with interests in plant ecology, soil biodiversity, the plant and fungal microbiome and interkingdom interactions. 

    Her research expertise includes plant-insect-soil pathogen interactions and plant mycology specifically the physiology, ecology and evolution of plant-rhizosphere interactions. She is particularly interested in mycorrhizal fungi and interactions with diverse microbes in both natural and agro-ecosystems.

    Grace is a member of the Sustainable Ecosystems Group (SEG) at Maynooth University

    Postdoctoral Researchers

    Please reach out to me if you are interested in pursuing support for collaborative projects. Some options include: 

    Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

    MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship

    Prospective Graduate Students

    Please see below options for competitive PhD studentships: 

    IRC Postgraduate Scholarship Programme

    Please contact me if you are interested in pursuing an MSc or PhD under my supervision. 

    Research Interests

    Ecology, Sustainability, Agriculture, Evolution, Plant-mycorrhizal interactions, Plant-microbe interactions, Bacterial-fungal interactions, Tripartite interactions, Above-below ground interactions, Fungi. 

    Research Projects

    Title Role Description Start date End date Amount
    A microbiome toolkit to optimise the holobiont of commercially important crops Lead PI 20/02/2023

    Book Chapter

    Year Publication
    2021 Tom J Thirkell; Grace Anna Hoysted; Ashleigh Elliott; Katie J Field; Tim Daniell (2021) 'The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to improve root function and nutrient-use efficiency' In: Understanding and improving crop root function. London : Burleigh Dodds. [DOI]

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2024 Williams, A.; Sinanaj, B.; Hoysted, G.A. (2024) 'Plant–microbe interactions through a lens: tales from the mycorrhizosphere'. Annals of Botany, 133 . [Link] [DOI]
    2023 Durant E; Hoysted GA; Howard N; Sait SM; Childs DZ; Johnson D; Field KJ (2023) 'Herbivore-driven disruption of arbuscular mycorrhizal carbon-for-nutrient exchange is ameliorated by neighboring plants'. Current Biology, . [DOI]
    2023 Hoysted GA; Field KJ; Sinanaj B; Bell CA; Bidartondo MI; Pressel S (2023) 'Direct nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon exchanges between Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophyte’ fungi and a flowering plant in novel monoxenic cultures'. New Phytologist, . [DOI]
    2021 Hoysted GA; Kowal J; Pressel S; Duckett JG; Bidartondo MI; Field KJ (2021) 'Carbon for nutrient exchange between Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric CO2'. Mycorrhiza, . [DOI]
    2021 Sinanaj B; Hoysted GA; Pressel S; Bidartondo MI; Field KJ (2021) 'Critical research challenges facing Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophytes’'. New Phytologist, . [DOI]
    2020 Hoysted GA; Bidartondo MI; Duckett JG; Pressel S; Field KJ (2020) 'Phenology and function in lycopod–Mucoromycotina symbiosis'. New Phytologist, . [DOI]
    2019 Hoysted GA; Jacob AS; Kowal J; Giesemann P; Bidartondo MI; Duckett JG; Gebauer G; Rimington WR; Schornack S; Pressel S; Field KJ (2019) 'Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi form nutritional mutualisms with vascular plants'. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, . [DOI]
    2019 Field KJ; Bidartondo MI; Rimington WR; Hoysted GA; Beerling DJ; Cameron DD; Duckett JG; Leake JR; Pressel S (2019) 'Functional complementarity of ancient plant–fungal mutualisms: contrasting nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon exchanges between Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina fungal symbionts of liverworts'. New Phytologist, . [DOI]
    2018 Hoysted GA; Bell CA; Lilley CJ; Urwin P (2018) 'Aphid colonization affects potato root exudate composition and the hatching of a soil borne pathogen'. Frontiers in Plant Science, . [DOI]
    2018 Hoysted GA; Kowal J; Jacob AS; Rimington WR; Duckett JG; Pressel S; Orchard S; Ryan MH; Bidartondo MI; Field KJ (2018) 'A Mycorrhizal Revolution'. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, . [DOI]
    2017 Hoysted GA; Lilley CJ; Field KJ; Dickinson M; Hartley SE; Urwin PE (2017) 'A plant-feeding nematode indirectly increases the fitness of an aphid'. Frontiers in Plant Science, . [DOI]
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    Irish Soil Biodiversity Research Network Member 02/06/2024 -
    British Ecological Society Member 01/06/2023 -
    Irish Fungal Society Member 01/10/2023 -
    Sustainable Ecosystems Research Group Member 04/09/2023 -

    Committees

    Committee Function From / To
    Research Committee Member 01/08/2024 -
    Curriculum Review Committee Member 04/09/2023 -
    Sustainable Ecosystems Research Group Member 04/09/2023 -

    Employment

    Employer Position From / To
    Maynooth University Lecturer/Assistant Professor 04/09/2023 -
    University College Dublin Lecturer/Assistant Professor (Adjunct) 01/01/2023 -
    University of Galway Senior Technical Officer 01/07/2021 - 31/12/2022
    University of Sheffield Postdoctoral Researcher 01/06/2020 - 30/06/2021
    University of Leeds Postdoctoral Researcher 02/01/2017 - 31/05/2020

    Education

    Start date Institution Qualification Subject
    University of Leeds PhD Plant Science
    University of Leeds MSc Plant Science & Plant Biotechnology
    University of Galway BSc Botany

    Languages

    Language Reading Writing Speaking
    English Fluent Fluent Fluent

    Editorial / Academic Reviews

    Amount Role From / To
    Functional Ecology Associate Editor 01/06/2023 -
    PNAS Reviewer 02/12/2024 -
    Communications Biology Reviewer 13/11/2024 -
    Current Biology Reviewer 01/08/2024 -
    New Phytologist Reviewer 01/07/2024 -
    Journal of Applied Microbiology Reviewer 31/01/2024 -
    The Plant Journal Reviewer 01/12/2023 -
    Functional Ecology Reviewer 05/03/2021 -
    Journal of Experimental Botany Reviewer 02/02/2020 -
    Frontiers in Plant Science Reviewer 02/06/2019 -

    Teaching Interests

    Plant and fungal biology; Soil science; Ecology; Sustainability; Plant and soil microbiome 

    I contribute to the following modules at Maynooth University:

    BI102: Biological Function & Diversity

    BI204: Evolutionary Biology

    BI352: Scientific Writing (Biology & Environment) (Module Co-Ordinator)

    BI425/426: Fungal Ecology

    BI425/426: Science Communication & Public Engagement