Luis Alonso Baez
About
I am a Plant molecular biologist with special interest in understanding how physical signals affect plants adaption to the environment. I am currently working as a Postdoctoral researcher in Thorsten Hamann's group in the MultiScale section of the Institut of Biology. The focus of the lab is to understand how the cell wall integrity (CWI) maintenance mechanisms work to mediate responses to cell wall damaging agents. I want to contribute to this research line by developing and implementing novel tools to visualize how CWI works at the cellular and tissue specific level.
We have integrated a Brillouin microscopy setup as an extension to a confocal microscope, marking the first of its kind in Scandinavia. This system allows us to explore the mechanical properties (stiffness and viscosity) of samples and establish correlations with fluorescence images. Successful measurements have been conducted in plant leaves, developing seeds, and roots. This underscores the versatility of the setup for assessing mechanical properties in vivo across various organs, tissues, and cell types in a non-contact, non-invasive, label-free manner.
We have also developed a microfluidics platform to perform live-imaging experiments of multiple samples growing in different conditions in parallel. The microfluidics device can be mounted on a regular confocal microscope to track the develoment of the samples at different times and measure changes in fluorescence.
I obtained my Bachelor Degree in Engineering in Mexico. I have a Master in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and a Master in Molecular BIology from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, both in Belgium. During my Doctoral Degree at the group of Thomas Laux in Freiburg, Germany, I focused on understanding how stem cells in the Arabidopsis thaliana root stem cell niche respond to abiotic stress conditions.
Teaching activities:
BI2012 - Cell Biology
BI2015 - Molecular Biology - Practical course
BI3052 - Study design
BI2014 - Molecular Biology - Theory (examination team)
Supervision of Master and Doctoral students
Publications
2025
-
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Bjørkøy, Astrid;
Saffioti, Francesco;
Morghen, Sara;
Amanda, Dhika;
Ticha, Michaela.
(2025)
The mechanical properties of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> roots adapt dynamically during development and to stress.
bioRxiv (preprint article)
Academic article
-
Woudenberg, Sjoerd;
Plackett, Andrew R.G.;
Hao, Zhaodong;
Suzuki, Hidemasa;
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Borassi, Cecilia.
(2025)
Transgenerational polarity axis inheritance during <i>Ceratopteris</i> embryogenesis.
bioRxiv (preprint article)
Academic article
-
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Bjørkøy, Astrid;
Saffioti, Francesco;
Morghen, Sara;
Ticha, Michaela;
Stokke, Bjørn Torger.
(2025)
Investigating adaptive changes to abiotic stress in plant cell walls using Brillouin microscopy.
Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering
Academic article
-
Fino, Luciano Martin Di;
Anjam, Muhammad Shahzad;
Besten, Maarten;
Mentzelopoulou, Andriani;
Papadakis, Vassilis;
Zahid, Nageena.
(2025)
Cellular damage triggers mechano-chemical control of cell wall dynamics and patterned cell divisions in plant healing.
Developmental Cell
Academic article
2023
-
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Cano, Laura Bacete.
(2023)
Cell wall dynamics: novel tools and research questions.
Journal of Experimental Botany
Academic literature review
2022
-
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Ticha, Tereza;
Hamann, Thorsten.
(2022)
Cell wall integrity regulation across plant species.
Plant Molecular Biology
Academic literature review
2018
-
Baez, Luis Alonso.
(2018)
The Elongator complex regulates hypocotyl growth in darkness and during photomorphogenesis.
Journal of Cell Science
Academic article
Journal publications
-
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Bjørkøy, Astrid;
Saffioti, Francesco;
Morghen, Sara;
Amanda, Dhika;
Ticha, Michaela.
(2025)
The mechanical properties of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> roots adapt dynamically during development and to stress.
bioRxiv (preprint article)
Academic article
-
Woudenberg, Sjoerd;
Plackett, Andrew R.G.;
Hao, Zhaodong;
Suzuki, Hidemasa;
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Borassi, Cecilia.
(2025)
Transgenerational polarity axis inheritance during <i>Ceratopteris</i> embryogenesis.
bioRxiv (preprint article)
Academic article
-
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Bjørkøy, Astrid;
Saffioti, Francesco;
Morghen, Sara;
Ticha, Michaela;
Stokke, Bjørn Torger.
(2025)
Investigating adaptive changes to abiotic stress in plant cell walls using Brillouin microscopy.
Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering
Academic article
-
Fino, Luciano Martin Di;
Anjam, Muhammad Shahzad;
Besten, Maarten;
Mentzelopoulou, Andriani;
Papadakis, Vassilis;
Zahid, Nageena.
(2025)
Cellular damage triggers mechano-chemical control of cell wall dynamics and patterned cell divisions in plant healing.
Developmental Cell
Academic article
-
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Cano, Laura Bacete.
(2023)
Cell wall dynamics: novel tools and research questions.
Journal of Experimental Botany
Academic literature review
-
Baez, Luis Alonso;
Ticha, Tereza;
Hamann, Thorsten.
(2022)
Cell wall integrity regulation across plant species.
Plant Molecular Biology
Academic literature review
-
Baez, Luis Alonso.
(2018)
The Elongator complex regulates hypocotyl growth in darkness and during photomorphogenesis.
Journal of Cell Science
Academic article
Outreach
2024
-
PosterBaez, Luis Alonso; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus; Bjørkøy, Astrid; Stokke, Bjørn Torger. (2024) How are the viscoelastic properties of cell walls in different Arabidopsis roots tissues affected by changes in osmotic levels?. UK Plant Biomechanics day , Cambridge, England 2024-04-18 - 2024-04-18
-
LectureTicha, Michaela; Ticha, Tereza; Baez, Luis Alonso; Cola, Christina Michelle; Vaagland, Henriette. (2024) Illuminating the Green World: Unveiling the Role of Fluorescence Microscopy in Plant Biotechnology. Biology Olympics-training camp , Gløshaugen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway 2024-01-19 - 2024-01-19
-
Academic lectureBaez, Luis Alonso; Bjørkøy, Astrid; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) How do viscoelastic properties differ in Arabidopsis root tissues and zones?. Botaniktangung , Halle, Germany 2024-09-15 - 2024-09-19
-
Academic lectureBaez, Luis Alonso; Bjørkøy, Astrid; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) How do viscoelastic properties differ in Arabidopsis root tissues and zones?. BioBrillouin Conference 2024 , Trondheim 2024-09-11 - 2024-09-13
-
PosterTicha, Michaela; Häger, Wiebke; Baez, Luis Alonso; Schulz, Julia; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2024) PlasmaWall sensors: detecting plasma membrane displacement from the cell wall. UK Plant Biomechanics Day 2024 , Cambridge, United Kingdom 2024-04-18 - 2024-04-18
-
PosterIvanova, Anastasiia; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus; Baez, Luis Alonso; Ticha, Tereza; Ticha, Michaela; Molina, Antonio. (2024) Biotic and abiotic stress effects in the mode of action of the plant cell wall integrity maintenance mechanism. the 34th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR) , San Diego 2024-07-15 - 2025-07-19
-
PosterIvanova, Anastasiia; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus; Ticha, Tereza; Ticha, Michaela; Baez, Luis Alonso; Molina, Antonio. (2024) Biotic and abiotic stress effects at the mode of action of the plant cell wall integrity maintenance mechanism. IV CBGP Workshop New Frontiers in Plant Biology , Madrid 2024-04-17 - 2024-04-19
2023
-
LectureBaez, Luis Alonso; Ticha, Michaela; Zwartkruis, Stephanus Theodorus Wilhelmus. (2023) Photosynthesis in Plants/Energy production. Researchers night 2023 , Realfagbygget, Gløshagen campus, Trondheim, Norway 2023-09-29 - 2023-09-29
-
LectureBaez, Luis Alonso. (2023) Working as a molecular cell biologist. Seminar ‘Biology without borders’ , Gløshagen campu, Norwegian University of Science and Technology 2023-09-28 - 2023-09-28
-
PosterIvanova, Anastasiia; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus; Ticha, Tereza; Zwartkruis, Stephanus Theodorus Wilhelmus; Baez, Luis Alonso. (2023) Characterization of the mode of action of the plant cell wall integrity maintenance mechanism. The 24th International conference on Plant Growth Substances , Gyeongju 2023-07-04 - 2023-07-08
-
PosterIvanova, Anastasiia; Ticha, Tereza; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus; Zwartkruis, Stephanus Theodorus Wilhelmus; Baez, Luis Alonso. (2023) Characterizing the mode of action of the plant cell wall integrity maintenance mechanism. the 12th SPPS PhD student conference , Lund 2023-09-27 - 2023-09-29
-
Academic lectureBaez, Luis Alonso; Bjørkøy, Astrid; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus. (2023) Mapping the mechanical properties of plant cell walls. BioBrillouin 2023 Conference , Dublin, Ireland 2023-12-06 - 2023-12-08
-
Academic lectureBaez, Luis Alonso; Bjørkøy, Astrid; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Dehoux, Thomas. (2023) Studying the mechanical characteristics of plant cells using Brillouin microscopy. XVI Plant cell wall meeting , Malaga, Spain 2023-06-18 - 2023-06-22
2022
-
Academic lectureBaez, Luis Alonso; Bacete, Laura; Bjørkøy, Astrid; Stokke, Bjørn Torger; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus; Dehoux, Thomas. (2022) Studying the mechanical characteristics of plant roots using Brillouin microscopy. 1st Conference on Brillouin Light Scattering for life sciences and biomedical applications , Lyon 2022-11-14 - 2022-11-17
-
PosterIvanova, Anastasiia; Bacete, Laura; Hamann, Thorsten Klaus; Ticha, Tereza; Baez, Luis Alonso. (2022) Characterization of the mode of action of the plant cell wall integrity maintenance mechanism. Summer School for PhDs and post-docs 2022 - Plant cell walls , Versailles 2022-06-19 - 2022-06-25