Ralf J. Sommer elected Fellow of the Society of Nematologists

Ralf J. Sommer, Director of the Department of Integrative Evolutionary Biology at the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, has been elected as Fellow of the Society of Nematologists. 

In her award speech, Professor Dorota Porazinska, Chair of the Honours and Awards Committee, highlighted Ralf Sommer’s contributions to the field of nematology: “In the last two decades, his lab established Pristionchus as the prime model organism for studying developmental (phenotypic) plasticity. Pristionchus can form two alternative mouth forms, one of which allows predation on other nematodes. Sommer´s group investigates the interplay between genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors involved in the mouth-form decision. His work on Pristionchus has founded a school of researchers of nearly 30 labs worldwide studying various aspects of Pristionchus biology.”

This is the first time in the Society’s history that the honour of Fellow of the Society of Nematologists has been bestowed upon a German scientist. The title of Fellow is conferred by the Society on members in recognition of distinguished contributions to the science of nematology.

Ralf Sommer was formally inducted as a Fellow during the awards dinner at the 65th Annual Conference of the Society of Nematologists, held on 7th July 2026 in Baltimore, USA.

About the Society of Nematologists

The Society of Nematologists is an international organisation dedicated to advancing the science of nematology in both its fundamental and economic aspects. To fulfil this purpose, the Society of Nematologists acts as an agency for the exchange of information, holds regular meetings, and promotes and extends knowledge in all phases of nematology.