Within the framework of the COST Action MiCropBiomes, Dr Gordana Racić, Senior Research Associate at the Research and Development Institute Tamiš, visited the laboratory of Caroline De Tender at Ghent University, Belgium, in the period February 10–14, 2025. This visit was enabled through the STSM (Short-Term Scientific Mission) program, which supports short-term scientific visits between laboratories and institutions participating in COST Actions. The aim of this visit was to acquire knowledge and skills in two key areas:
- Metabarcoding of DNA samples isolated from soils contaminated with microplastics (Illumina sequencing)
- Extraction of microplastics from soil: understanding and adopting techniques for isolating microplastics from soil samples, which is crucial for assessing the impact of microplastics on the environment.
The visit included laboratory work, presentation of institutions, as well as discussions and exchange of knowledge and experience with Caroline De Tender and her team, along with networking with other researchers in the laboratory.
This visit contributed to:
- Acquiring new knowledge and skills
- Establishing new collaborations
- Contributing to the COST Action MiCropBiomes, which aims to improve knowledge about plant–microbe interactions and their impact on the environment.
