Joana Falcao Salles is a professor of Microbial Community Ecology at the University of Groningen (GELIFES), known for her research on soil and host-associated microbiomes. Her work integrates ecological theory with experimental and computational tools to explore how microbial diversity supports ecosystem resilience, disease suppression, and sustainable agriculture. She has advanced the field of microbial invasions and demonstrated how plant genotypes can promote beneficial microbial interactions, thereby reducing chemical input needs. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, Prof Falcao Salles bridges microbiome ecology with sustainable agriculture and connects fundamental science with practical solutions for farmers, policymakers, and the future of microbiome-driven sustainability. Prof Falcao Salles has been a member of the executive board of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) since 2020 and has participated in and coordinated several European and national projects.