Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Professor John Love

Professor John Love

Professor of Synthetic Biology

 J.Love@exeter.ac.uk

 5169

 Biocatalysis Centre BC2.1

 

Biocatalysis Centre, University of Exeter, The Henry Wellcome Building for Biocatalysis, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD , UK

Overview

John Love is Professor of Synthetic Biology at the University of Exeter, which he joined as a lecturer in 2003. John’s research team is diverse and employs a multidisciplinary combination of technologies to investigate a range of questions, including – 

  • The production of “Fourth Generation” biofuels that can directly substitute for fossil petroleum-based products in modern car and jet engines; 
  • The biology of the hydrocarbon producing planktonic alga, Botryococcus braunii.
  • The integration of algal cultivation platforms for waste-nutrient recycling in the water purification industry; 
  • AI and machine-guided experimentation to engineer novel functions in bacteria; 
  • Cell-free genetic systems, and;
  • The forensic characterisation of anthropogenic microparticle pollutants since the industrial revolution in NW England.  

Industrial engagement and knowledge transfer is a leitmotif of our research; We have close partnerships with several businesses, from local SME’s to multinational companies.  John has held a BBSRC Industry Interchange Partnership with Shell where he led the photosynthetic microbial biofuels research programme.  He won the Industry Outstanding Impact in Science and Technology R&D Award for his research into innovative optics for flat-panel photobioreactors and the European Biophysics Award at the Società Italiana di Fisica International School of Physicsfor a paper entitled “Perfluorodecalin as an In-VivoMounting Medium”. In 2013, he won the Exeter Impact Award for Outstanding Impact in Technology and was a finalist in the 2014 BBSRC Innovator of the Year Award for the production of retail-grade diesel in bacteria.  

Since 2012 John’s laboratory has hosted the Exeter University iGEM team, going from Bronze to silver to four gold medals; in 2017, the team also won Best Environmental Project and Best Applied Design for a Synthetic Biology solution to remediate pollution from legacy of mining in the South West. 

Over the last decade, I have developed a unique expertise that fuses skills from academia and industry.  This unconventional course meant that I am unable to publish as freely as warranted by the ground-breaking nature of my research; rather I have an unusually large impact within relevant industries, as evidenced by the sources that fund my laboratory, by the number of industry-focused reports and patents that I have authored and by my ability to work productively with large and small companies to solve problems, as a research leader, collaborator and innovator.

Qualifications

1991-1994 PhD Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh
1986-1990 BSc Biological Sciences, University of St Andrews

Career

2014-Current Professor of Synthetic Biology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter

2011-2014 Associate Professor in Plant and Industrial Biotechnology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter

2007-2011 Senior Lecturer in Plant Molecular Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2003-2007 Lecturer in Developmental Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter

2001-2003 Independent Broodbank Research Fellow, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge

1996-2001 Postdoctoral Research Associate, NASA Specialized Center for Research & Training, North Carolina State University

1995-1996 Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Institute of Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh

Research group links

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Research

Research interests

Synthetic Biology os a multidisciplinary endeavour that aime to rapidly translate cutting edge research into practicsal applications.  Our research programm,es reflect that impetus, and include,  

  • The production of “Fourth Generation” biofuels that can directly substitute for fossil petroleum-based products in modern car and jet engines by bacterial re-coding.
  • Machine-guided experimentation to engineer novel functions in bacteria.
  • The development and integration of algal cultivation platforms for waste-nutrient recycling in the water purification industry.
  • Cell-free genetic systems for field detection of diseases.
  • Forensic characterisation of anthropogenic microparticle pollutants and their effects on wellbeing.  
  • The biology of the hydrocarbon producing planktonic alga, Botryococcus braunii.

We have close partnerships with several businesses, from local SME’s to multinational companies.  Please do get in touch (J.Love@Exeter.ac.uk) if you believe that we can help you achieve your goals or simply want more information about what we do.

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Publications

Journal articles

Tennant RK, Jones RT, Brock F, Cook CG, Love J, Turney CSM, Lee R (In Press). A New Flow Cytometry Method Enabling Rapid Purification of Fossil Pollen from Terrestrial Sediments for AMS Radiocarbon Dating. Journal of Quaternary Science
Tennant RK, Jones RT, Love J, Lee R (In Press). A new flow cytometry method enabling rapid purification of diatoms from silica- rich lacustrine sediments. Journal of Paleolimnology Abstract.
Wagley S, Morcrette H, Kovacs-Simon A, Yang Z, Power A, Tennant R, Love J, Murray N, Titball R, Butler C, et al (In Press). Bacterial dormancy: a subpopulation of viable but non-culturable cells demonstrates better fitness for revival. PLoS Pathogens
Wojcik E, Singleton C, Chapman L, Parker D, Love J (In Press). Plant Biomass as Biofuels. eLS
Heeley K, Orozco RL, Shah Z, Macaskie LE, Love J, Al-Duri B (2024). Supercritical water gasification of microalgae: the impact of the algal growth water. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 205 Abstract.
Heeley K, Orozco RL, Macaskie LE, Love J, Al-Duri B (2024). Supercritical water gasification of microalgal biomass for hydrogen Production-A review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 49, 310-336. Abstract.
Barnes CM, Power AL, Barber DG, Tennant RK, Jones RT, Lee GR, Hatton J, Elliott A, Zaragoza-Castells J, Haley SM, et al (2023). Deductive automated pollen classification in environmental samples via exploratory deep learning and imaging flow cytometry. New Phytol, 240(3), 1305-1326. Abstract.  Author URL.
Power AL, Tennant RK, Stewart AG, Gosden C, Worsley AT, Jones R, Love J (2023). The evolution of atmospheric particulate matter in an urban landscape since the Industrial Revolution. Sci Rep, 13(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Porter A, Barber D, Hobbs C, Love J, Power AL, Bakir A, Galloway TS, Lewis C (2023). Uptake of microplastics by marine worms depends on feeding mode and particle shape but not exposure time. Sci Total Environ, 857(Pt 1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Winder JC, Hewlett M, Liu P, Love J (2022). Conversion of Biomass to Chemicals via Electrofermentation of Lactic Acid Bacteria. Energies, 15(22), 8638-8638. Abstract.
Tennant RK, Power AL, Burton SK, Sinclair N, Parker DA, Jones RT, Lee R, Love J (2022). In-situ sequencing reveals the effect of storage on lacustrine sediment microbiome demographics and functionality. Environmental Microbiome, 17(1). Abstract.
Love J (2022). Microbial pathways for advanced biofuel production. Biochem Soc Trans, 50(2), 987-1001. Abstract.  Author URL.
Baugh AV, Howarth TM, West KL, Kerr LEJ, Love J, Parker DA, Fedenko JR, Tennant RK (2021). Draft Genome Sequence of Weissella paramesenteroides STCH-BD1, Isolated from Ensiled Sorghum bicolor. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 10(7). Abstract.
Scott A, Sueiro Ballesteros L, Bradshaw M, Tsuji C, Power A, Lorriman J, Love J, Paul D, Herman A, Emanueli C, et al (2021). In Vivo Characterization of Endogenous Cardiovascular Extracellular Vesicles in Larval and Adult Zebrafish. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 41(9), 2454-2468. Abstract.  Author URL.
Banks AM, Whitfield CJ, Brown SR, Fulton DA, Goodchild SA, Grant C, Love J, Lendrem DW, Fieldsend JE, Howard TP, et al (2021). Key reaction components affect the kinetics and performance robustness of cell-free protein synthesis reactions. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 20, 218-229.
Power AL, Barber DG, Groenhof SRM, Wagley S, Liu P, Parker DA, Love J (2021). The Application of Imaging Flow Cytometry for Characterisation and Quantification of Bacterial Phenotypes. FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY, 11  Author URL.
Langley B, Halloran PR, Power A, Rickaby REM, Chana P, Diver P, Thornalley D, Hacker C, Love J (2020). A new method for isolating and analysing coccospheres within sediment. Scientific Reports, 10(1). Abstract.
Morcrette H, Kovacs-Simon A, Tennant RK, Love J, Wagley S, Yang ZR, Studholme DJ, Soyer OS, Champion OL, Butler CS, et al (2020). Campylobacter jejuni 11168H Exposed to Penicillin Forms Persister Cells and Cells with Altered Redox Protein Activity. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 10 Abstract.
Whitfield CJ, Banks AM, Dura G, Love J, Fieldsend JE, Goodchild SA, Fulton DA, Howard TP (2020). Cell-free protein synthesis in hydrogel materials. Chem Commun (Camb), 56(52), 7108-7111. Abstract.  Author URL.
Fogwill CJ, Turney CSM, Menviel L, Baker A, Weber ME, Ellis B, Thomas ZA, Golledge NR, Etheridge D, Rubino M, et al (2020). Southern Ocean carbon sink enhanced by sea-ice feedbacks at the Antarctic Cold Reversal. Nature Geoscience, 13(7), 489-497. Abstract.
Welsh C, Pike L, Elliott J, Bailey J, Quintin-Baxendale R, Billington J, Matousek A, Matthews C, Dumitrescu D, Murphy JF, et al (2020). Why is it so hard to enact responsible change?: Scientists need to work more closely with other social groups to implement sustainable innovation. EMBO Rep, 21(4). Abstract.  Author URL.
Tennant RK, Ayine M, Power A, Gilman J, Hewlett M, James P, Singleton C, Parker D, Love J (2019). A Hybrid Sequencing Approach Completes the Genome Sequence of Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW 200. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 8(3).
Singleton C, Gilman J, Rollit J, Zhang K, Parker DA, Love J (2019). A design of experiments approach for the rapid formulation of a chemically defined medium for metabolic profiling of industrially important microbes. PLoS One, 14(6). Abstract.  Author URL.
Zhang K, Wells P, Liang Y, Love J, Parker DA, Botella C (2019). Effect of diluted hydrolysate as yeast propagation medium on ethanol production. Bioresour Technol, 271, 1-8. Abstract.  Author URL.
Tennant RK, Holzer B, Love J, Tchilian E, White HN (2019). Higher levels of B-cell mutation in the early germinal centres of an inefficient secondary antibody response to a variant influenza haemagglutinin. Immunology, 157(1), 86-91. Abstract.  Author URL.
Tennant RK, Lux T, Sambles C, Kuhn N, Petticrew E, Oldfield R, Parker D, Hatton J, Moore K, Lee R, et al (2019). Palaeogenomics of the Hydrocarbon Producing Microalga Botryococcus braunii. Scientific Reports, 9
Gilman J, Singleton C, Tennant RK, James P, Howard TP, Lux T, Parker DA, Love J (2019). Rapid, Heuristic Discovery and Design of Promoter Collections in Non-Model Microbes for Industrial Applications. ACS Synth Biol, 8(5), 1175-1186. Abstract.  Author URL.
Brown SR, Staff M, Lee R, Love J, Parker DA, Aves SJ, Howard TP (2018). Design of Experiments Methodology to Build a Multifactorial Statistical Model Describing the Metabolic Interactions of Alcohol Dehydrogenase Isozymes in the Ethanol Biosynthetic Pathway of the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ACS Synth Biol, 7(7), 1676-1684. Abstract.  Author URL.
Power A, Tennant RK, Jones RT, Tang Y, Du J, Worsley AT, Love J (2018). Monitoring Impacts of Urbanisation and Industrialisation on Air Quality in the Anthropocene Using Urban Pond Sediments. Frontiers in Earth Science, 6
Burton BR, Tennant RK, Love J, Titball RW, Wraith DC, White HN (2018). Variant proteins stimulate more IgM+ GC B-cells revealing a mechanism of cross-reactive recognition by antibody memory. eLife
Shi H, Love J, Hu W (2017). Editorial: Melatonin in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE, 8  Author URL.
Sambles C, Middelhaufe S, Soanes D, Kolak D, Lux T, Moore K, Matoušková P, Parker D, Lee R, Love J, et al (2017). Genome sequence of the oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula toruloides strain CGMCC 2.1609. Genomics Data, 13, 1-2.
Tennant RK, Sambles CM, Diffey GE, Moore KA, Love J (2017). Metagenomic Analysis of Silage. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 119, e54936-e54936.
Sambles C, Moore K, Lux TM, Jones K, Littlejohn GR, Gouveia JD, Aves SJ, Studholme DJ, Lee R, Love J, et al (2017). Metagenomic analysis of the complex microbial consortium associated with cultures of the oil‐rich alga <i>Botryococcus braunii</i>. MicrobiologyOpen, 6(4). Abstract.
Jones KJ, Moore K, Sambles C, Love J, Studholme DJ, Aves SJ (2016). Draft Genome Sequences of Achromobacter piechaudii GCS2, Agrobacterium sp. Strain SUL3, Microbacterium sp. Strain GCS4, Shinella sp. Strain GWS1, and Shinella sp. Strain SUS2 Isolated from Consortium with the Hydrocarbon-Producing Alga Botryococcus braunii. Genome Announc, 4(1). Abstract.  Author URL.
Johns AMB, Love J, Aves SJ (2016). Four Inducible Promoters for Controlled Gene Expression in the Oleaginous Yeast Rhodotorula toruloides. Front Microbiol, 7 Abstract.  Author URL.
Love J, Graham SW, Irwin JA, Ashton PA, Bretagnolle F, Abbott RJ (2016). Self-pollination, style length development and seed set in self-compatible Asteraceae: evidence from Senecio vulgaris L. Plant Ecology and Diversity, 9(4), 371-379. Abstract.
Gilman J, Love J (2016). Synthetic promoter design for new microbial chassis. Biochem Soc Trans, 44(3), 731-737. Abstract.  Author URL.
Hutt H, Everson R, Grant M, Love J, Littlejohn G (2015). How clumpy is my image?: Scoring in crowdsourced annotation tasks. Soft Computing, 19(6), 1541-1552. Abstract.
Littlejohn GR, Mansfield JC, Parker D, Lind R, Perfect S, Seymour M, Smirnoff N, Love J, Moger J (2015). In vivo chemical and structural analysis of plant cuticular waxes using stimulated Raman scattering microscopy. Plant Physiol, 168(1), 18-28. Abstract.  Author URL.
Littlejohn GR, Mansfield JC, Christmas JT, Witterick E, Fricker MD, Grant MR, Smirnoff N, Everson RM, Moger J, Love J, et al (2014). An update: improvements in imaging perfluorocarbon-mounted plant leaves with implications for studies of plant pathology, physiology, development and cell biology. Front Plant Sci, 5 Abstract.  Author URL.
Lee R, Lux TM, Love J (2014). Genome-wide phylogenetic analysis of the pathogenic potential of Vibrio furnissii. Front Microbiol, 5 Abstract.  Author URL.
Reid EL, Weynberg KD, Love J, Isupov MN, Littlechild JA, Wilson WH, Kelly SL, Lamb DC, Allen MJ (2013). Functional and structural characterisation of a viral cytochrome b5. FEBS Lett, 587(22), 3633-3639. Abstract.  Author URL.
Hutt H, Everson R, Grant M, Love J, Littlejohn G (2013). How clumpy is my image? Evaluating crowdsourced annotation tasks. 2013 13th UK Workshop on Computational Intelligence, UKCI 2013, 136-143. Abstract.
Howard TP, Middelhaufe S, Moore K, Edner C, Kolak DM, Taylor GN, Parker DA, Lee R, Smirnoff N, Aves SJ, et al (2013). Synthesis of customized petroleum-replica fuel molecules by targeted modification of free fatty acid pools in Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 110, 7636-7641. Abstract.  Author URL.
Littlejohn GR, Love J (2012). A simple method for imaging Arabidopsis leaves using perfluorodecalin as an infiltrative imaging medium. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE(59). Abstract.
Debieux CM, Dridge EJ, Mueller CM, Splatt P, Paszkiewicz K, Knight I, Florance H, Love J, Titball RW, Lewis RJ, et al (2011). A bacterial process for selenium nanosphere assembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 108(33), 13480-13485. Abstract.  Author URL.
Reid EL, Worthy CA, Probert I, Ali ST, Love J, Napier J, Littlechild JA, Somerfield PJ, Allen MJ (2011). Coccolithophores: functional biodiversity, enzymes and bioprospecting. Mar Drugs, 9(4), 586-602. Abstract.  Author URL.
Lux TM, Lee R, Love J (2011). Complete genome sequence of a free-living Vibrio furnissii sp. nov. strain (NCTC 11218). J Bacteriol, 193(6), 1487-1488.  Author URL.
Love J (2010). Conference report: Society for general microbiology bioenergy fuel sources symposium. Biofuels, 1(1), 15-17.
Littlejohn GR, Gouveia JD, Edner C, Smirnoff N, Love J (2010). Perfluorodecalin enhances in vivo confocal microscopy resolution of Arabidopsis thaliana mesophyll. New Phytol, 186(4), 1018-1025. Abstract.
Dodd AN, Gardner MJ, Hotta CT, Hubbard KE, Dalchau N, Robertson FC, Love J, Sanders D, Webb AAR (2009). Response to comment on "the Arabidopsis circadian clock incorporates a cADPR-based feedback loop". Science, 326(5950). Abstract.
Murphy AJ, Kemp F, Love J (2008). Surface plasmon resonance characterization of calspermin-calmodulin binding kinetics. Anal Biochem, 376(1), 61-72. Abstract.  Author URL.
Xu X, Hotta CT, Dodd AN, Love J, Sharrock R, Lee YW, Xie Q, Johnson CH, Webb AAR (2007). Distinct Light and Clock Modulation of Cytosolic Free Ca2+ Oscillations and Rhythmic<i>CHLOROPHYLL A/B BINDING PROTEIN2</i>Promoter Activity in<i>Arabidopsis</i>. The Plant Cell, 19(11), 3474-3490. Abstract.
Love, J. Webb, A.R.R. (2005). The plant clock shows its metal: Circadian regulation of cytosolic free Ca2+. Trends in Plant Science, 10(1), 15-21.
Love J, Dodd AN, Webb ARR (2004). Circadian and diurnal calcium oscillations encode photoperiodic information in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 16(4), 956-966.
Åkesson A, Persson S, Love J, Boss WF, Widell S, Sommarin M (2004). Overexpression of the Ca<sup>2+</sup>‐binding protein calreticulin in the endoplasmic reticulum improves growth of tobacco cell suspensions (<i>Nicotiana tabacum</i>) in high‐Ca<sup>2+</sup> medium. Physiologia Plantarum, 123(1), 92-99. Abstract.
Stevenson-Paulik J, Love J, Boss WF (2003). Differential regulation of two Arabidopsis type III phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase isoforms. A regulatory role for the pleckstrin homology domain. Plant Physiol, 132(2), 1053-1064. Abstract.  Author URL.
Stevenson-Paulik JM, Love J, Boss WF (2003). Erratum: Differential Regulation of Two Arabidopsis Type III Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase Isoforms. A Regulatory Role for the Pleckstrin Homology Domain (Plant Physiology (2003) 132 (1053-1064)). Plant Physiology, 133(2).
Love J, Allen GC, Gatz C, Thompson WF (2002). Differential Top10 promoter regulation by six tetracycline analogues in plant cells. Journal of Experimental Botany, 53(376), 1871-1877.
Perera IY, Love J, Heilmann I, Thompson WF, Boss WF (2002). Up-regulation of phosphoinositide metabolism in tobacco cells constitutively expressing the human type I inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase. Plant Physiol, 129(4), 1795-1806. Abstract.  Author URL.
Persson S, Love J, Tsou P-L, Robertson D, Thompson WF, Boss WF (2002). When a day makes a difference. Interpreting data from endoplasmic reticulum-targeted green fluorescent protein fusions in cells grown in suspension culture. Plant Physiol, 128(2), 341-344.  Author URL.
Persson S, Wyatt SE, Love J, Thompson WF, Robertson D, Boss WF (2001). The Ca(2+) status of the endoplasmic reticulum is altered by induction of calreticulin expression in transgenic plants. Plant Physiol, 126(3), 1092-1104. Abstract.  Author URL.
Love J, Scott AC, Thompson WF (2000). Stringent control of transgene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana using the Top10 promoter system. Plant Journal, 21(6), 579-588. Abstract.
Moutinho A, Love J, Trewavas AJ, Malhó R (1998). Distribution of calmodulin protein and mRNA in growing pollen tubes. Sexual Plant Reproduction, 11(3), 131-139. Abstract.
Love J, Brownlee C, Trewavas AJ (1997). Ca2+ and Calmodulin Dynamics during Photopolarization in Fucus serratus Zygotes. Plant Physiol, 115(1), 249-261. Abstract.  Author URL.

Chapters

Murray AJ, Love J, Redwood MD, Orozco RL, Tennant RK, Woodhall F, Goodridge F, Macaskie LE (2018). Enhancement of Photosynthetic Productivity by Quantum Dots Application. In Stavrou VN (Ed) Nonmagnetic and Magnetic Quantum Dots, IntechOpen.
Bryant JA, Love J (2017). Biofuels. In  (Ed) Biofuels and Bioenergy, 1-19.
McCalmont J, Clifton-Brown J, Hastings A (2017). Development of Miscanthus as a Bioenergy Crop. In Love J, Bryant J (Eds.) Biofuels and Bioenergy, John Wiley & Sons. Abstract.
Love J, Bryant JA (2017). Postscript. In  (Ed) Biofuels and Bioenergy, 285-287.
Cook C, Dayananda C, Tennant RK, Love J (2017). Third‐Generation Biofuels from the Microalga, Botryococcus braunii. In Love J, Bryant J (Eds.) Biofuels and Bioenergy, Wiley.

Conferences

LOVE J, TREWAVAS AJ (1995). CALMODULIN INVOLVEMENT IN POLARIZATION OF FUCUS-SERRATUS ZYGOTES.  Author URL.

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards/Honorary fellowships

  • Dec. 2010: Winner of the Smart Solutions Excellence with Impact award for Outstanding Impact in Science and Technology R&D, in collaboration with Enlightened Designs Ltd.
  • Aug. 2010: Winner of the "European Biophysics Award" for presentation of the paper entitled "Perfluorodecalin as an In-Vivo Mounting Medium (Littlejohn G R and Love J)" at the Societa Italiana di Fisica International School of Physics "Enrico Fermi" CLXXVII Course "Advanced Methods in Optical Fluorescence Microscopy Towards Nanoscopy".
  • Mar. 2011: Winner of the "Most Innovative Lecturer 2010/11" in Biosciences and runner up for the "Most Innovative Lecturer" by the University of Exeter Students' Guild.
  • Mar. 2010: Awarded "Most Innovativve Lecturer 2009/10" and "Lecturer of the Year 2009/10" in Biosciences by the University of Exeter Students' Guild.
  • Mar. 2007: Awarded status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Committee/panel activities

  • Expert witness for the Nuffield Council on Bioethics Fact Finding Meeting on Biofuels, Mar. 2010.
  • Oct. 2008/12:  Elected member of the Society for Experimental Biology Cell Biology Section Committee.
  • Oct. 2008: Elected member of the Society for for General Microbiology Committee (Eukaryotic Division).

Invited lectures

  • July 2011:  Organiser of the Society for Experimental Biology 3-day symposium entitled “Frontiers in Algal biology”.
  • Mar. 2011:  Invited Speaker at the UK/Spain Algal Biofuels Workshop (Madrid), organised by the UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) and the British Embassy in Madrid.
  • Feb. 2011: Invited Speaker. “Enhanced Algal Growth in Microlensed Photobioreactors”. Biofuels in the UK: Challenges and Opportunities; Industry/academia exchange conference organised by EuroCsiCon, London.
  • Feb. 2011: Invited Presentation:  “Hydrocarbon Production in Botryococcus braunii.” Shell India Markets PVT, Bangalore, India.
  • Jan. 2011: Invited Conference Presentation: “Enhanced Algal Growth in Microlensed Photobioreactors”.  Algal Bioenergy Symposium, University of Bath.
  • Jun. 2010: Invited Conference Presentation: “High Resolution Confocal Imaging in Air-filled Tissues”; Society for Experimental Biology annual meeting. Prague.
  • May 2010: Invited Seminar: “Single Cell Resolution of Circadian Ca2+ Dynamics Using Transgenic Biosensors” Imperial College, London.
  • May 2008:  Invited Seminar: “Organ and Single Cell Ca2+ Dynamics During Photoperiodism in Arabidopsis thaliana. Scottish Crop Research Institute.
  • Nov. 2006:  Invited Seminar: “Photoperiodic Information Encoded by Ca2+ Oscillations” University of Birmingham.
  • Jun. 2004:  Invited Seminar: “Photoperiodic Information Encoded by Ca2+ Oscillations” University of Edinburgh.

Workshops/Conferences organised

  • Organiser of the Society for Experimental Biology 3-day symposium entitled “Frontiers in Algal biology”. Glasgow,  July 2011.
  • Organiser of the “Biofuels” section of the Society for General Microbiology meeting in Edinburgh, Sep. 2009.

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Teaching

As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I am committed to excellence and innovation in teaching. In conjunction with my colleagues, I aim to foster an appreciation of Biological Sciences and an eagerness for learning through the integration of lectures, practical classes, research projects and self-development. 

I am the Director of Education and Director of undergraduate Plant Science.

I am co-director of the MSc programme in Food Security.

As a personal tutor to L1-L3 undergraduates, I believe in establishing an excellent rapport and working relationship with students. I have introduced several innovative practices into the biotechnology stream to raise awareness of employability skills and entrepreneurship, including inviting lecturers from Industry and Government Departments, an assessed teamwork presentation based on "Dragon's Den" and a seminar style module at Level 3.

I have been the module coordinator for: "Introduction to Biotechnology" (Bio1313), "High-Throughput Biotechnology" (Bio2073), "Developmental Biology" (bio2043/57), "Medical Biotechnology" (Bio3072) and "Essetials of Molecular Biology" (BioM503) and have lectured in the field of cell and molecular biology, including "Plant Biology" (Bio2-42) "Functional Genomics" (Bio3035) and "Cell Biology" (Bio3054).

Modules

2023/24


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Supervision / Group

Research Fellows

  • Christine Sambles

Postgraduate researchers

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