Desi Utami’s journey in the field of agricultural microbiology is rooted in her childhood curiosity about the natural world. Inspired by her father’s explanation of how microorganisms help plants grow, Desi developed a passion for biology and agriculture.
"I started to love agriculture because of a little creature called a microorganism. When I was little, I asked my father why we could grow fruits in our yard. He was a teacher, and he explained how microbes promote plant growth and crop quality," Desi recalled.
"He explained well how tiny little things could have a huge impact on the plants and environment, which made me interested more in biology," she added.
After graduating from high school in 2007, Desi began studying Agricultural Microbiology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). In this program, she delved deeper into how microbes provide vital functions to promote plant growth, control diseases and pests, and biodegrade organic matter and pollutants. "I feel that my father's story brought me to the right path and passion, which I really love," said Desi.
As a researcher in agriculture, she chose The University of Queensland, which is ranked third in the world of agriculture. Her PhD research was on chilli plant disease, with a thesis entitled "Molecular insights of plant-microbe interactions in chilli bacterial leaf spot caused by Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria". Desi’s passion for chilli and spicy food, combined with the challenges faced by farmers in managing plant disease, made her want to learn more about this topic.
“I am confident that I can now empower Indonesian chilli farmers even better with the knowledge and skills I gained while studying in Australia," Desi concluded.
