Despite its "lace-like" appearance being first described in detail in 1945[1], little is known about the fundamental relationship between the intricate form of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) - its architecture and dynamics- and its function- the biosynthesis, folding and quality control of secretory and membrane proteins. Focusing on the plant ER, my research asks how cellular perturbations caused by exposure to environmental stress, notably pathogen infection, impact on this ER form-function relationship and, ultimately, on the ability of the plant to produce an effective and timely stress response. In addition to its core function as a 'protein factory', the pervasive nature of the ER make it ideally suited as a conduit for intra-organellular signalling. I am therefore also interested in understanding the wider role of the ER in coordinating the cellular response to environmental stress.

*Footnote (1):*Porter KR, Claude A, Fullam EF. (1945) J Exp Med. Mar 1;81(3):233-46.

PhD, Systems Biology, University of Warwick, 2014
BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Applied Biology, University of Wolverhampton, 2001

Member, Society for Experimental Biology

Member, British Society for Plant Pathology