Research Interests

My expertise is in quantifying and characterising post-translational modifications on proteins to identify components of signalling pathways, especially phosphorylation in plant receptor complexes. Phosphorylation is the reversible addition of a small phosphate group to a protein that can act like a switch to control protein activity or its interactions. My early work focused on plant-pathogen interactions, especially the flagellin receptor in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, and its interactions with co-receptors. I have collaborated extensively throughout my career and worked with proteins from a wide range of organisms from yeast to starfish. More recently I have become fascinated by membrane trafficking and secretion, primarily from plants roots but also in wider aspects of plant development and interactions with microorganisms.

Current research projects focus on comparing immune signalling pathways in several species of plants and understanding how plants modify root growth (and secretions) to improve uptake of phosphate from the soil.