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Key Teaching Staff

A number of Warwick University academics teach on our taught Master's courses. Research academics are chosen for particular expertise in each subject area and bring up-to-the-minute research knowledge to their teaching whilst contributing to global research priorities. In addition we have dedicated teaching fellows to bring pedagogical excellence to the teaching faculty. We also utilise selected industrial experts to provide a comprehensive teaching experience.

Key academics teaching on our MSc courses:
Professor Robin Allaby

My group is interested in the evolutionary dynamics associated with the plant domestication process on several levels of organisation: the gene, the genome, the population. We wish to answer questions about where crops come from, and how plants such as crops become locally adapted to environmental conditions. Such information may help us in the future to produce crops which are better adapted to a wider range of conditions: the key to a sustainable future is to understand the past.

I am the module lead for Biodiversity, Conservation & Ecosystem Services.

Dr Guy Barker

My research interests include comparative genomics and genome organisation including exploring the genes and mechanisms underlying traits related to health. I am also developing a novel approach for the recovery of bio-energy from ligno-cellulolytic waste.

I am the module lead for Biochemical Engineering and Bioproduct Plant Design & Economic Analysis.

Professor Gary Bending

My research group studies the structure, diversity and function of microbial communities inhabiting plants, soil and water. We work across a range of natural and agricultural systems and many projects involve collaboration with industry.

I am module lead for Soil Sustainability & the Environment and Environmental Protection, Risk Assessment & Safety.

Dr Dave Chandler

I am a microbiologist and entomologist and my main research interests are insect pathogens and microbial pest control, bee health, biopesticide regulation and governance and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

I am module lead for Biosciences, Politics & Social Acceptability.

Professor John Clarkson

My research focuses mainly on pathogens of vegetable crops. This includes population biology of plant pathogens in wild and agricultural ecosystems and plant disease forecasting and modelling.

I am the module lead for Advances in Crop Protection and Biological Invasions in Changing Environments.

Professor Rosemary Collier

My main research interest is in the development and application of Integrated Pest Management strategies for horticultural crops. I am also interested in food production and consumption and have collaborated with colleagues from a range of disciplines (sociology, geography, statistics, engineering, theatre studies) on projects associated with food and food security.

I am course director for MSc Food Security and module lead for Organic and Low Input Systems and Challenges of Global Food Security

Professor Jose Gutierrez-Marcos
Jose Gutierrez-Marcos

I am interested in understanding a key question in biology: how development and environmental responses are coordinated across diverse cell types in multicellular organisms? We address this question by investigating (i) the role of cell-cell communication in coordinating development and (ii) the role of the environment in influencing developmental plasticity.

I am course director for MSc Biotechnology, Bioprocessing & Business Management and MSc Medical Biotechnology & Business Management. I am module lead for Essentials of Medical Genomics.

Dr Freya Harrison
I research how bacterial pathogens cause chronic, antibiotic-resistant infections, especially the genetic disorder cystic fibrosis. I also seek to identify, reconstruct and test infection remedies from medieval medical books in the hope of finding new agents to treat antibiotic-resistant infections.

I am the module lead for Innovations to Prevent & Treat Infectious Disease.
Dr Stephen Jackson

I am interested in the molecular basis of how flowering is controlled in plants (both Arabidopsis and crop plants), and in the control of flowering by daylength (photoperiod).

I am module lead for Climate Change and Crop Physiology & Production.

Professor Alex Jones

My group uses the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, advanced proteomics, confocal microscopy and biochemistry to identify protein complexes and post-translational modifications at the interface between signal perception and responsive trafficking. My objective is to identify components recruited to responsive trafficking mechanisms and provide targets to uncouple negative impacts on plant growth during adaptation to stress.

I am Director of Postgraduate Taught Studies.

Rob Lillywhite

My principal interest is systems sustainability and my research programme focuses on two sectors: agriculture/food and healthcare. My work uses environmental accounting techniques (life cycle assessment, footprinting, mass balances) to examine the trade-offs and impacts that occur within systems.

I am course director for MSc Sustainable Crop Production: Agronomy for the 21st Century and module lead for Environmental Accounting, Introduction to BASIS Crop Protection and Cereal, Oilseed and Root Crop Agronomy.

Dr Andrew Nelson

My research focuses on gene regulatory control mechanisms underlying cell fate decisions during vertebrate embryogenesis. This help us understand how the placenta develops correctly to maintain a healthy pregnancy, and how defects in placenta formation can lead to complications such as preeclampsia. It also provides key insights into other developmental disorders.

I am module lead for Regenerative Medicine.

Professor Hendrik Schaefer
Hendrik Schafer

My research covers environmental and molecular microbiology, microbiomics and metagenomics.
Also, microbial cycling of atmospheric trace gases, one-carbon (C1) and organic sulfur compounds and degradation of pollutants and microbial ecosystem services.

I am course director for MSc Environmental Bioscience in a Changing Climate and module lead for Microbiomics & Metagenomics.

Dr Graham Teakle

My research focuses on the genetic analysis of crop traits, particularly brassicas and oilseed rape. A key component is the development of genetic resources, particularly diversity sets, which are distributed to users around the world.

I am Deputy Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies and module lead for Plant Breeding & Trial Design for Registration.

Dr Katrine Wallis

Worked on protein structure-function relationships, focussing on protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), an enzyme that is responsible for the incorporation of correct disulphide bonds in proteins going through the secretory pathway.

I am module lead for Medical Diagnostics.

Dr David Arnott (WBS)

My research interests are marketing aspects of e-business, especially internet marketing , interactive consumer behaviour and IT in marketing communications; marketing of services and role of culture in product selection; and marketing pedagogy.

I am module lead for Marketing Management.

Dr Scott Dacko (WBS)

My primary research interests emphasise the important roles of time and timing in marketing strategy development and success for services (e.g., time-of-day services marketing and managing customer lateness) and new products (e.g., explaining follower firm entry timing and imitation strategies).

I am module lead for Business Strategy.

Graham Sara (WBS)

I am a senior teaching fellow in WBS and module lead for Accounting & Financial Management.

Our External Teaching Faculty includes:

Regenerative Medicine
- Dr Achim Rosemann (Research Fellow, University of Exeter).

Biological Invasions in Changing Environments
- Dr Michael Pocock (Ecologist, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology).

Drug Discovery & Biopharmaceutical Development

- Bruce Savage (CEO GFC Diagnostics Ltd)

- Daniel Rabbie (Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs at Achilles Therapeutics Ltd and MSc Biotechnology, Bioprocessing & Business Management alumnus)

- Dr Graham Ladds (Lecturer in Pharmacology, Cambridge University)

 

Organic and Low Input Systems

- Stephen Briggs (Principle Farm Consultant, Abacus Agriculture)

- Dr Matthew Reed (Reader in Food Citizenship, University of Gloucester)