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Research group

Plants and food security

Dragonfly on green crops.

We study the response of plants to the environment at the molecular, whole plant and ecological levels. This includes interactions with nematodes, insects and microbes.

Part of Biological sciences

About

Within the group there are 4 main areas of research:

  • Plant molecular biology: we research a wide range of crops from wheat, barley and rice, to crops that are currently underutilised, but have future potential as staple foods.
     
  • Agricultural ecology: we study the interaction of plants and other organisms in the context of agricultural ecosystems.
     
  • Crop pests and pollinators: we focus on the interaction of crops with both beneficial insects such as pollinators, as well as a range of important agricultural pests.
     
  • Human nutrition: we look into the consequences of altered nutrition on human health and development including epigenetic control of gene expression.

Research highlights

Person picking cocoa plant in forest

Securing food for the future

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Health and wellbeing
Future societies and communities
Our researchers are finding ways to provide food security for the future.

People, projects and publications

People

Doctor Daniel Stabler

Lecturer in Plant-Organism Interactions

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Daniel

Email: d.stabler@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Doctor Herman Wijnen Drs, PhD, FHEA

Associate Professor

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Herman

Email: h.wijnen@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

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ORCID
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Twitter

Professor Karen Lillycrop

Professor of Epigenetics

Connect with Karen

Email: k.a.lillycrop@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Google Scholar
ORCID

Professor Lindy Holden-Dye BSc, MSc, PhD, FRSB, FBPhS

Head of School

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Lindy

Email: l.m.holden-dye@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

ORCID
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Doctor Lorraine Williams

Associate Professor

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Lorraine

Email: l.e.williams@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Professor Matthew Terry

Professor of Molecular Plant Biology

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Matthew

Email: mjt@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

ORCID

Doctor Negusse Kitaba

Research Fellow

Connect with Negusse

Email: n.t.kitaba@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

ORCID

Doctor Tomislav Cernava

Assoc Prof in Plant-Microbe Interactions

Connect with Tomislav

Professor Vincent O'connor

Professor of Neurochemistry

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Vincent

Email: v.m.oconnor@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

ORCID
Food security is a very pressing issue; globally, around a billion people are already food insecure.
Professor Guy Baverstock-Poppy
Professor In Biological Sciences
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