Youness Assoued is a PhD candidate at Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen (FWO) since November 2020, with prior experience as a PhD candidate at Universiteit Gent from October 2018 to November 2020, focusing on the Department of Plant and Crops. Previously, Youness worked as a scientific assistant and scientific researcher in the Department of Biotechnology. Educational background includes a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology and a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from Ghent University, where studies spanned from 2013 to 2018. Experience also includes developing genetic engineering tools for plant symbiosis as a biochemistry and biotechnology student at LM-Ugent from September 2016 to June 2018, and conducting research as a Bachelor's researcher at VIB in March-May 2016.