Carl was born and raised in the small town of Casterton, Australia, and completed a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology at Flinders University. He earned his PhD from The Australian National University in 2024 under the supervision of Prof Simon Williams, where he characterized effector proteins from pathogenic fungi. Carl’s research identified a conserved family of fungal enzymes that manipulate phosphate signaling in plants to promote disease. In the Demirer Lab, Carl will investigate plant interactions with beneficial soil microbes. When he’s not in the lab, Carl enjoys running, exploring hiking trails, and watching basketball.