Professor Murray Grant
Professor of Plant Molecular Biology

Profile

My research focuses on the molecular basis of plant microbe interactions, predominately using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and the model bacterial phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae although we also study Brassica juncea and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris.

Our research looks examines four fundamental and interrelated aspects of molecular plant pathology; (i) plant innate immune responses, (ii) pathogen orchestrated suppression of basal defence, (iii) classical gene-for-gene resistance and, (iv) the establishment of systemic immunity.

Current focus:

We use a variety of post-genomic tools to dissect the signalling networks involved and have a strong interest in integrating trasncriptomic and metabolomic data to understand the nature of the host metabolome and how it is modified during establishment of disease. We are particularly interested in how both the plant and pathogen utilise plant hormone signalling pathways in defense and disease.

Qualifications

1983: Bachelor of Science Hons. (1st class), Biochemistry, Otago University, Dunedin, NZ.
1988: Doctor of Philosophy, Biochemistry, Otago University, Dunedin, NZ.

Career

1988-1990: Research Scientist, Applied Biotechnology Division, DSIR, New Zealand.
1990-1992: Royal Society Endeavour Fellow: Cambridge Laboratory, John Innes, Norwich UK.
1993-1995: EEC Human Capital & Mobility Fellow: Max Planck Institute, Cologne, Germany.
1995-1996: Senior Research Associate, Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes, Norwich, UK.
1996-1998: Lecturer, Botany Department, Leicester University, Leicester
1998- 2001: Lecturer in Plant Molecular Biology, Imperial College London, Wye Campus
2001-2004 Senior Lecturer in Plant Molecular Biology, Imperial College London, Wye
2004-2006 Reader in Plant Molecular Biology, Imperial College London, Wye
2006-present Professor of Plant Molecular Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

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