My name is Jessica Finch and I am a BBSRC-funded PhD student on the Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) program. I have recently completed my PhD research in the Schäfer Lab, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick. Having completed the MIBTP training year – comprising taught courses in Programming in R, Statistics and mathematical approaches to biology, as well as lab skills masterclasses, a three-month internship and two rotation projects – my substantive research project was concerned with elucidating the molecular and cellular basis of immunity-induced growth inhibition in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana and crops, with a particular focus on the role of cell cycle regulation.

Please use the tabs above to find out more about my research, my professional development activities and to see my CV.

Having always had a passion for biosciences and environmental issues, particularly climate change, I read Biological Natural Sciences at the Univerity of Cambridge, where I specialised in Plant Sciences for my final year. It was during my final year research project looking at root-root interactions between wheat and weeds that I first became aware of the importance of plant root research in the wider context of food security and climate change, although I did not at that time envisage doing a PhD; I instead decided to pursue a career in secondary school teaching with the aim of passing on my love for plant sciences.

I completed my teacher training (PGCE) at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, before teaching science full-time in an 11-16 school in Cambridgeshire. Although an excellent and highly formative experience, teaching wasn't for me. I missed studying science and decided to embark upon a PhD at the University of Warwick, where I am now enjoying researching growth-immunity antagonism in plant roots.

Having greatly enjoyed my three-month internship with the Food Climate Research Network (FCRN) during my MIBTP training year, outside of my PhD studies I continued to work part-time for the FCRN until March 2018, helping to develop food sustainability informational resources.