Research Interests

We are interested in how an organism interacts with its environment. The mechanisms that facilitate this interaction are particularly important for plants since they are sessile yet still cope with environmental extremes.

Our work investigates the evolution of cell types in determining plant plasticity. This includes using systems analysis to understand the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of nodulation, with the long-term aim of transferring it from legumes to staple crop species.

We use Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) in combination with genomics and gene network inference to analyse the specific root cell types involved in symbiosis and environmental responses. We will use this information to identify how synthetic biology could be used to rewire plant responses to develop crops that can adapt to a changing climate.

Biography

Associate Professor, Systems biology of nitrogen-regulated development, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, July 2014 to present.

Assistant Professor, Systems biology of nitrogen-regulated development, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, 2009 to June 2014.

EMBO post-doctoral fellow, Integrating nitrogen-regulatory networks and development, New York University 2004-2008.

PhD, Cell layer specification during Arabidopsis embryogenesis, University of Edinburgh, 2004,

BSc Hons, Plant Science, University of Edinburgh 2001,

Research Projects

Publications