Curriculum Vitae

PETER CHAERLE

Addresses

• Research address: Ghent University, Dept. of Biology, Lab. Protistology & Aquatic Ecology, Krijgslaan 281 – S8, B. 9000 Ghent, Belgium
• email: peter.chaerle@ugent.be

Degrees

• 1995 Ghent University Candidate Biology
• 1997 Ghent University Licentiate Biology, Botany
• 2003 Ghent University Certificate: Doctoral Training in Biology
• 2006 Ghent University Dr. Science, Botany

Research Interests

• Systematics, taxonomy, anatomy, (micro)-morphology and evolution of vascular plants, especially pteridophytes (Aspleniaceae).
• Anatomy of archaeological plant findings and pharmaceutical interesting plants.
• Biometry and image processing (mainly botanical).
• Identification of recent pollen (honey, aero-allergens).
• Microalgae breeding and culturing.

Professional Experience

• Assistant Botany at the Research Group Pteridology, Ghent University.
• November 1997 - November 2004
• First work experience and a very exiting time. Accepting the challenge to combine own PhD work with organising and teaching practical courses botany for c. 500 students on a yearly basis was rewarding. The interaction with students at various levels of their education, coworkers and professors of different faculties broadened my view on the possible implementations of botanical research significantly. Next to the hands on work, I was member of different committees, councils and the department board.
• Researcher at the Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Ghent University.
• April 2005 - June 2005
• Small mandate to support the team publishing an important article. This work included plant histology studies based on microscopical interpretation of semi-thin sections of resin-embedded generative material of Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Lecturer for the VLIR International Training Programme: Beekeeping for Poverty Alleviation, Ghent University.
• July 2006 - July 2011
• Teaching theoretical and practical courses to an international audience about palynology, pollen and spore morphology. Development of an interactive pollen identification key based on R. Sawyer, 1981. Pollen Identification for Beekeepers. University College Cardiff Press, Cardiff and created with PHP and SQLite.
• Researcher at the Research Group Spermatophytes, Ghent University.
• August 2006 - September 2007
• Creator of WiSiWiS (Where Stands Which Species) a DKB-project of the Ghent University. WiSiWiS is a digital and searchable database (based on html, css, php, sqlite, vb, js (es), svg, and ActiveX) including a diverse range of specifications and information (e.g., location in the botanical garden, phylogenetic position, morphology, ecology, anatomy, etc.) in order to facilitate the accessibility (for students as well as for the common visitor) of the c. 10000 plant species in the Botanical Garden of the Ghent University. In addition, coaching PhD students, teaching practical courses botany and participating V.B.T.A. (Vereniging voor Botanische Tuinen en Arboreta) meetings enriched my days substantially next to the already very interesting and challenging project work.
• Researcher at the R&D department of SBAE-industries.
• January 2008 - September 2011
• Development of microalgae breeding and culturing techniques, including large volume (up to c. 75000 l) experiments. These techniques were successful implemented for indoor open and closed photobioreactors and for outdoor open pond systems. Next to the research activities, I was generating the harvest schedules, following up on the algae during growth and monitoring the quality of the algae cultures in the production units and the algal paste after centrifugation.
• Honorary post-doctoral researcher at the Botanical garden.
• November 2008 - present
• Supporting the Botanical garden staff and further development of WiSiWiS.
• Groupleader of the Seed Evaluation Group at Cropdesign N.V..
• October 2011 - October 2016
• Leading 8 - 16 lab technicians at 3 labs situated at 2 different locations: Zwijnaarde and Nevele. Responsible for 6 seed storages (c. 1.8 million seed samples). As a supervisor, I ensured the development and evaluation of lab technicians, improved the financial backbone (submitting Capex and Opex requests), trained and improved RC and QS rules and took care of the general administration (TBF, absences, etc.) for my unit. Next to those tasks, I was coordinating several work packages, head of the BASF Plant Science Global Expert Team Seed Storage, member of the BASF Plant Science Global Expert Team Stewardship and co-author of seed and storage related SOPs and WIs.
• Scientist, curator and manager for BCCM/DCG.
• July 2017 - present
• Day-to-day management of the biological material of the collection. This includes contributing to and supervising the implementation of the high standard of the collection in terms of diversity and quality of strains, their characterization and supporting resources (molecular, physiological, ecological, biotechnological). Contribute to the development of a portfolio of basic/applied research within the culture collection based on external funding sources, as well as scientific services to the customer community. This involves applying for external funding and writing scientific papers based on materials from the collection. Support the technical staff in daily collection activities and client contacts. Actively participate in the day-to-day working of the overall BCCM consortium and its working groups, including regular meetings with the curators and managers of the other BCCM collections.

IT Skills

• Operating systems: DOS, Windows and Linux.
• Coding languages: HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, SVG, SQLite, MySQL, R.
• Productivity software: Microsoft Office, LibreOffice, EndNote, Adobe Photoshop, SPSS, SYSTAT, PAST, ImageJ, IDEAS®, PAUP, ModelGenerator, CLUSTAL X.
• Hardware: computer assembly and maintenance, installing and configuring peripherals, components and drivers.
• Problem solving: troubleshooting hardware and software problems, installing software according to user standards.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Van Wichelen, J., Camelbeke, K., Chaerle, P.,Goetghebeur, P. and Huysmans, S. (1999). Comparison of different treatments for LM and SEM studies and systematic value of pollen grains in Cyperaceae. Grana 38: 50 - 58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/001731300750044708.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2002). Additions to the fern flora of Ethiopia. Willdenowia 32(1): 55 - 60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.32.32104.
• De Smet, I., Chaerle, P., Vanneste, S., De Rycke, R., Inzé, D. and Beeckman, T. (2004). Easy and versatile embedding method for transverse sections. J. Microscopy 213: 76 - 80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.2004.01269.x
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R.L.L. (2004). Leaf anatomy and the occurrence of false veins in Asplenium (Aspleniaceae, Pteridophyta). Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 145(2): 187 - 194. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00272.x.
• Storozhenko, S., Navarette, O., Ravanel, S., De Brouwer, V., Chaerle, P., Zhang, G.-F., Bastien, O., Lambert, W., Rébeillé, F. & Van Der Straeten, D. (2007). Cytosolic HPPK/DHPS from Arabidopsis thaliana: A specific role in early development and stress response. J. Biol. Chem. 282(14): 10749 - 10761. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M701158200.
• Bellefroid, E., Chaerle, P., Leroux, O. & Viane, R.L.L. (2007). Additions to the Pteridophyte Flora of Kalimantan, indonesian Borneo. Am. Fern J. 97(1): 1 - 18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1640/0002-8444(2007)97[1:ATTPFO]2.0.CO;2.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2007). A new species of Asplenium (Aspleniaceae, Pteridophyta) from Ethiopia. Novon 17(2): 148 - 153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3417/1055-3177(2007)17[148:ANSOAA]2.0.CO;2.
• Depypere, L., Chaerle, P., Vander Mijnsbrugge, K. & Goetghebeur, P. (2007). Stony endocarp dimension and shape variation in Prunus L. section Prunus. Ann. Bot. (Oxford): 100(7): 1585 - 1597. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcm260.
• Samain, M.S., Vanderschaeve, L., Chaerle, P., Goetghebeur, P., Neinhuis, C. & Wanke, S. (2009). Is morphology telling the truth about the evolution of the species rich genus Peperomia (Piperaceae)? Plant Syst. Evol. 278: 1 - 21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-008-0113-0.
• Depypere, L., Chaerle, P., Breyne, P., Vander Mijnsbrugge, K. & Goetghebeur, P. (2009). A combined morphometric and AFLP based diversity study challenges the taxonomy of the complex Prunus L. section Prunus. Plant Syst. Evol. 279: 219. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-009-0158-8.
• Depypere, L., Chaerle, P., Vander Mijnsbrugge, K. & Goetghebeur, P. (2009). Classification trees and plant identification: a case study of European Prunus section Prunus taxa. Belg. J. Bot. 142(2): 163 - 176. DOI: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41427184.
• Chepurnov, V.A., Chaerle, P., Roef, L., Van Meirhaeghe, A. & Vanhoutte, K. (2011). Classical breeding in diatoms: scientific background and practical perspectives. In: J. Seckbach and P. Kociolek (eds.) The Diatom World. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology, Vol. 19. Springer: Dordrecht, XXI, 534 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1327-7_7.
• Chepurnov, V.A., Chaerle, P., Vanhoutte, K. & Mann D.G. (2012). How to breed diatoms: examination of two species with contrasting reproductive biology. In: R. Gordon and J. Seckbach (eds.) The Science of Algal Fuels. Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology Vol. 25. Springer: Dordrecht, XXXIII, 506 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5110-1_18.
• Vander Mijnsbrugge, K., Depypere, L., Chaerle, P., Goetghebeur, P. & Breyne, P. (2013). Genetic and morphological variability among autochthonous Prunus spinosa populations in Flanders (northern part of Belgium): implications for seed sourcing. Plant Ecol. Evol. 146(2): 193 - 202. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2013.762.
• Becker, P., Bosschaerts, M., Chaerle, P., Daniel, H.-M., Hellemans, A., Olbrechts, A., Rigouts, L., Wilmotte, A. & Hendrickx, M. (2019). Public microbial resources centres: key hubs for FAIR microorganisms and genetic materials. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 85(21). DOI: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/AEM.01444-19.
• Seelam, J.S., Fernandes de Souza, M., Chaerle, P., Willems, B., Michels, E., Vyverman, W. & Meers, E. (2022). Maximizing nutrient recycling from digestate for production of protein-rich microalgae for animal feed application, Chemosphere. 290 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133180.
• Petrucciani, A., Chaerle, P. & Norici, A. (2022). Diatoms versus Copepods: Could Frustule Traits Have a Role in Avoiding Predation? Front. Mar. Sci. 8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.804960.
• Filek, K., Lebbe, L., Willems, A., Chaerle, P., Vyverman, W., Žižek M. & Bosak, S. (2022). More than just hitchhikers: a survey of bacterial communities associated with diatoms originating from sea turtles, FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 98(10). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiac104.
• Verwee, E., Van de Walle, D., De Bruyne, M., Mienis, E., Sekulic, M., Chaerle, P., Vyverman, W., Foubert, I. & Dewettinck, K. (2024). Visualisation of microalgal lipid bodies through electron microscopy. J. Microsc. 293(2): 118 - 131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.13259.
• Verwee, E., Chaerle, P., Verduijn, J., Mienis, E., Sekulic, M., De Keersmaecker, H., Vyverman, W., Foubert, I., Skirtach, A. G. & Van Damme, E. J. (2024). Microalgal lipid bodies: Detection and comparative analysis using imaging flow cytometry, confocal laser scanning and Raman microscopy. Algal Res. 80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2024.103553.
• Vaulot, D., Bilcke, G., Chaerle, P., Falciatore, A., Gourvil, P., Lomas, M.W., Probert, I. & Vyverman, W. (2024). Culturing Diatoms. In: J.W. Goessling, J. Serôdio and J. Lavaud (eds) Diatom Photosynthesis: From Primary Production to High‐Value Molecules. Scrivener Publishing LLC: Beverly, 618 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119842156.ch14.

Abstracts, Posters and Presentations at Professional Meetings

• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (1997). Micromorphological study of some Asplenium taxa from the African tropical high mountain flora. Dodonaea Symposium: "Populations: natural and minipulated". Belgium.
• Chaerle, P. (2000). Chromosome counting in ferns: aceto-carmine squash technique to study meiotic and mitotic figures. XVIth AETFAT International Congres: "Plant systematics and phytogeography for the understanding of African biodiversity". Belgium.
• Chaerle, P., & Viane, R. (2000). Study of five Afro-alpine Aspleniums from Ethiopia. Scripta Bot. Belg., 20, 20–21.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2001). Biosystematic study of Afro-alpine Asplenia. Doctoraatssymposium. Belgium (Certificate for best poster in Biology).
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2001). Is the widespread Asplenium aethopicum (Burm. F.) Bech. worth preserving? Fern Flora Worldwide Threats and Responses. United Kingdom.
• Viane, R., Chaerle, P., Constandt, K. & Van den Heede, C. (2001). Botanical biodiversity and the Belgian expertise (BBB). Belgium.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2001). Biosystematic study of some afro-alpine Asplenia. Young Botanists Day. Belgium.
• Viane, R., Chaerle, P., Constandt, K. & Van den Heede, C. (2003). Taxonomic pteridophyte research in Belgium. Scripta Bot. Belg. 24: 177.
• Depypere, L., Chaerle, P., VanderMijnsbrugge, K. & Goetghebeur, P. (2007). Doctoraatssymposium. Belgium.
• Storozhenko, S., Navarette, O., Ravanel, S., De Brouwer, V., Chaerle, P., Zhang, G.-F., Bastien, O., Lambert, W., Rébeillé, F. & Van Der Straeten, D. (2007). Doctoraatssymposium. Belgium.
• Vanhoutte, K., Chaerle, P. & Chepurnov, V.A. (2008). Towards better understanding of basic biological traits of microalgae used in aquaculture. International Conference ‘Aquaculture Europe 2008’. Poland.
• Chaerle, P. (2018). BCCM/DCG, the reliable source and destination for all your microalgae. VLIZ Marine Science Day. Belgium.
• Chaerle, P. & Van de Perre, V. (2018). Implementation of a Quality Management System based on ISO 9001 standard for microalgae BRCs. Les Journées scientifiques Université de Nantes. France.
• Santoro, M., Chaerle, P., Lara, P., Durieux, B., Beets, K., Chepurnova, O., Simons, V., Vyverman, W. & Wilmotte, A. (2018). Algal Research for Policy-Making and Biotech (ARPMB). United Kingdom.
• Eijkelhof, Y.M., Chaerle, P., Schepers, O. & Vyverman, W. (2019). Cultivating Galdieria sulphuraria on human urine for production of C-phycocyanin. VLIZ Marine Science Day. Belgium.
• Seelam, J.S., Fernandes De Souza, M., Chaerle, P., & Erik Meers. (2019). Exploring microplate assay as a quick tool to assess the suitability of anaerobic effluents as microalgal growth media. 24th National Symposium for Applied Biological Sciences (NSABS). Belgium.
• Belišová, D., Audoor, S., Pargana, A., Bulankova, P. Chaerle, P., Poulsen, N., De Veylder, L. & Vyverman, W. (2019). Cylindrotheca closterium - a new pennate model diatom for life cycle studies using forward and reverse genetics. The molecular life of diatoms. United Kingdom.
• Chaerle, P, Sabbe, K., & Vyverman, W. (2019) The Diatom Collection Gent - A biological research centre for basic and applied diatom research. Seventh European Phycological Congress. Croatia.
• Becker, P., Chaerle, P., Hendrickx, M., Vyverman, W., Ahn, A-C & Wilmotte, A. (2019). A plea to preserve microalgae and cyanobacterial diversity in public microbial resource centres. Seventh European Phycological Congress. Croatia.
• Seelam, J.S., Fernandes De Souza, M., Chaerle, P. & Meers, E. (2019). Mimicking sunlight like photoperiod with colored LEDs to boost productivity of greenhouse protein farming during unfavorable weather conditions : a microalgae based study. AlgaEurope Conference. France.
• Seelam, J.S., Fernandes De Souza, M., Michels, E., Chaerle, P., Vyverman, W. & Meers, E. (2020). Maximizing the valorization of nutrient-rich digestate in North-West Europe: a microalgae-based nutrient recovery study. European Waste Water Management Virtual Conference & Exhibition. United Kingdom.
• Wilmotte, A. M. R., Becker, P., Chaerle, P., Vyveman, W., Ahn, A-C., Rigouts, l., Bosschaerts, M-H., Daniel, H-M., Hellemans, A., Olbrechts, A. & Van De Perre. V. (2021). Public Deposits in Biological Resource Centres Is an Essential Part of Fair Science. World Microbe Forum. Virtual Conference.
• Filek, K., Chaerle, P., Lebbe, L., Vyverman, W., Willems, A. & Bosak, S. (2021). From Sea Turtle Associated Microbial Biofilms to Diatom Monocultures: A Bacterial Perspective. World Microbe Forum. 2021. Virtual Conference.
• Filek, K., Kanjer, L., Chaerle, P., Vyverman, W. & Bosak, S. (2021). Kokultivacija dijatomeja: bliski susreti Achnanthes elongata i Psammodictyon sp. Simpozij studenata doktorskih studija PMF-a. Croatia.
• Filek, K., Kanjer, L., Chaerle, P., Vyverman, W. & Bosak, S. (2021). Growth dynamics of epizoic Achnanthes elongata and non-epizoic Psammodictyon panduriforme in co-cultures. Molecular Life of Diatoms 6. Virtual Conference.
• Filek, K., Kanjer, L., Žižek, M., Chaerle, P., Vyverman, W. & Bosak, S. (2021). Loggerhead sea turtle-associated epizoic vs. non-epizoic diatoms: isolation, identification, and co-cultivation experiments. International Diatom Symposium. Virtual Conference.
• Chaerle, P. (2023). Diatoms Collection Gent, partner of the Belgian Coordinated Collections of Micro-organisms. Greenday. Belgium.
• Chaerle, P. (2023). Diatoms Collection Gent, a BRC specialized in diatoms. Algendag. Belgium.
• Sun, Q., Fournier, G., Beunis, F., Chaerle, P., Chepurnova, O., Dana, D., Neyts, K., Pottsmith, C., Slade, W., Vyverman, W. & Neukermans, G. (2023). An optical sensor or autonomous detection of particulate inorganic carbon concentration in seawater. VLIZ Marine Science Day. Belgium.
• Rijsdijk, N., Bilcke, G., Chaerle, P., Vandepoele, K. & Vyverman, W. (2023). Identification and validation of diatom sex marker genes. Molecular Life of Diatoms 7. USA.
• Kayacan, Y., Mindiola, K., Chaerle, P., D'hondt, S., Underwood, G.J.C., Vyverman, W. & Sabbe K. (2023). Phosphate limitation drives changes in relative abundance of generalists in benthic diatom microbiomes. Molecular Life of Diatoms 7. USA.
• Marec, G., Lukicheva, S., Bilcke, G., D’hondt, S., Chaerle, P., De Cock, L., Devreese, B., Vyverman, W., Vandepoele, K., Asselman, J. & Sabbe, K. (2023). Use of omics approaches to identify novel enzymes in marine diatoms. Molecular Life of Diatoms 7. USA.
• Madeo, M.L., Ferrari, M., Greca, T., Bruno, L., Chaerle, P. ,Chepurnova, O. ,Vyverman, W., Montresor, M., Romano & G., Cozza, R. (2023). Preliminary study of Mediterranean diatoms species to improve the production of fucoxanthin and the challenge to their long-term preservation. Riunione annuale dei Gruppi di Lavoro SBI, Biologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Biotecnologie e Differenziamento. Italy.
• Chaerle, P. & Wilmotte, A. (2023). Microalgal culture collections: their roles and challenges in the 21th century. 8th European Phycological Congress. (Peter Chaerle is Coconvener). France.
• Rijsdijk, N., Bilcke, G., Chaerle, P., Vandepoele, K. & Vyverman, W. (2023). Application of marker genes to track sexual reproduction events in diatoms. 8th European Phycological Congress. France.
• Kayacan, Y., Reyes, K.A.M., Chaerle, P., D'hondt, S., Underwood, G.J.C., Vyverman, W. & Sabbe K. (2023). Assembly of diatom-associated bacterial communities under phosphate stress. 8th European Phycological Congress. France.

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Chaerle, P. (2007). WiSiWiS: het prille begin van een virtuele Botanische tuin? De Vrienden van de Plantentuin 26(2): 52 - 61.

Teaching

• Ghent University: practical courses botany (average amount of students each year: c. 500).
• November 1997 - June 2005
• Ghent University: nectar and pollen sources: palynology, pollen and spore morphology. VLIR International Training Programme: Beekeeping for Poverty Alleviation (c. 15 students).
• July 2006 - July 2011
• Ghent University: co-promoter of the PhD thesis, Floral entomofauna and its impact on yield of Lophira lanceolata, Daniellia olivieri and Nauclea latifolia in Ngaoundal (Adamawa-Cameroon).
• August 2013 - present
• Ghent University: co-promoter of the PhD thesis, Creating value from waste nutrients by integrating algal and anaerobic digestion technology.
• January 2018 - present