Vittoria Catara is a plant pathologist, in her role as professor currently teaches molecular plant pathology and acts as International and Erasmus departmental coordinator. Since her PhD studies her research focuses mainly on plant associated bacteria. First studies focused on phytopathogenic bacteria and subsequently extended to biocontrol bacteria and the interaction in the microbiome. Main crops of interest are tomato and citrus. She is a fellow of Italian Phytopathological Society and of the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union. She is associated Editor of European Journal of Plant pathology and member of the Editorial board of Phytopathology.