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, 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. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiac104.

Abstracts and Papers at Professional Meetings

• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (1997). Micromorphological study of some Asplenium taxa from the African tropical high mountain flora. Biol. Jb. Dodonaeae 65: 116.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2000). Study of five Afro-alpine Aspleniums from Ethiopia. Scripta Bot. Belg. 20: 20 - 21.
• Chaerle, P. (2000). Chromosome counting in ferns: aceto-carmine squash technique to study meiotic and mitotic figures. AETFAT Bulletin. 46: E45
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2002). Biosystematic study of some Afro-Alpine Asplenia. Belg. J. Bot. 135(1-2): 117.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. (2002). Is the widespread Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. worth preserving. Fern Gazette 16(6,7&8): 432.
• Viane, R., Chaerle, P., Constandt, K. & Van den Heede, C. (2003). Taxonomic pteridophyte research in Belgium. Scripta Bot. Belg. 24: 177.
• Vanhoutte, K., Chaerle, P. & Chepurnov, V.A. (2008). Towards better understanding of basic biological traits of microalgae used in aquaculture. Short communications of contributions presented at the International Conference ‘Aquaculture Europe 2008’, Krakow, Poland, September 15-18, 2008, pp. 665 - 666.
• Darja 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. EMBO Workshop: The molecular life of diatoms, Norwich, United Kingdom, 14 – 18 July 2019, Programme and Abstract Book: p. 100.
• Chaerle, P, Sabbe, K., & Vyverman, W. (2019) The Diatom Collection Gent - A biological research centre for basic and applied diatom research. Eur. J. Phycol., 54, sup1: 226.
• Becker, P., Chaerle, P., Hendrickx, M., Vyverman, W. & Wilmotte, A. (2019). A plea to preserve microalgae and cyanobacterial diversity in public microbial resourse centres. Eur. J. Phycol., 54, sup1: 232.
• 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. In AlgaEurope Conference 2019, Abstracts.

Posters and Presentations at Professional Meetings

• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. Dodonaea Symposium: "Populations: natural and minipulated" (29/10/97); Universiteit Gent, Ledeganckstraat 35, Gent, Belgium.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. XVIth AETFAT International Congres: "Plant systematics and phytogeography for the understanding of African biodiversity" (28/08/00 - 1/09/00); National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Domein van Bouchout, B-1860 Meise, Belgium.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. Doctoraatssymposium (24/04/2001); Faculteit Wetenschappen, Het Pand, Gent, Belgium (Certificate for best poster in Biology).
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. Fern Flora Worldwide Threats and Responses (23/07/01 - 26/07/01); University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom.
• Viane, R., Chaerle, P., Constandt, K. & Van den Heede, C. Botanische biodiversiteit en de Belgische expertise (19/10/01 - 20/10/01); National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Domein van Bouchout, B-1860 Meise, Belgium.
• Chaerle, P. & Viane, R. Young Botanists Day (10/11/01); Auditoire SUD 09, Croix-du-Sud, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
• Depypere, L., Chaerle, P., VanderMijnsbrugge, K. & Goetghebeur, P. Doctoraatssymposium (24/04/07); Faculteit Wetenschappen, ICC (International Convention Center), Gent, 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. Doctoraatssymposium (24/04/2007); Faculteit Wetenschappen, ICC (International Convention Center), Gent, Belgium.
• Chaerle, P. VLIZ Marine Science Day (21/03/18); MEC Staf Versluys, Bredene, Belgium.
• Santoro, M., Chaerle, P., Lara, P., Durieux, B., Beets, K., Chepurnova, O., Simons, V., Vyverman, W. & Wilmotte, A. Algal Research for Policy-Making and Biotech (ARPMB) (14/05/18 - 18/05/18); Scottish Association for Marine Science; Oban, United Kingdom
• Chaerle, P. & Van de Perre, V. Implementation of a Quality Management System based on ISO 9001 standard for microalgae BRCs. Les Journées scientifiques Université de Nantes (01/07/18), La Cité des Congrès de Nantes, Nantes, France.
• Seelam, J.S., Fernandes de Souza, M., Chaerle, P. and Meers, E. 24th National Symposium for Applied Biological Sciences (NSABS) (04/02/19); Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Coupure links 653, Gent, Belgium
• Eijkelhof, Y.M., Chaerle, P., Schepers, O. & Vyverman, W. VLIZ Marine Science Day (13/03/19); MEC Staf Versluys, Bredene, Belgium.
• Becker, P., Chaerle, P., Hendrickx, M., Vyverman, W., Ahn, A-C & Wilmotte, A. 7th European Phycological Congress (25/08/19 - 30/08/19); Esplanade Hotel, Zagreb, Croatia.
• Darja Belišová, D., Audoor, S., Pargana, A., Bulankova, P., Chaerle, P., Poulsen, N., De Veylder, L. & Vyverman, W. EMBO Workshop: The molecular life of diatoms (14/07/19 - 18/07/19); The Enterprise Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom.
• 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.” In Applied Biological Sciences, 24th National Symposium, Posters.

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