Department of Plant Sciences

Prof. C.A. Gilligan

Chris Gilligan

Brief Curriculum vitae

Career

  • Head of the School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge (2009-)
  • Deputy Head of the School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge (2008-2009)
  • Professor of Mathematical Biology, Dept Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge (1999-)
  • Reader in Mathematical Biology, Dept Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge (1995-1999)
  • Fellow King's College, Cambridge (1988-)

    Previously
    • University Lecturer, Dept Plant Sciences (1989-1995), Dept Applied Biology (1982-1989), Cambridge;
    • Visiting Professor, Dept Botany & Plant Pathology, Colorado State University (1982);
    • University Demonstrator, Dept Applied Biology, University of Cambridge (1977-82).

Education

Degrees etc.

B.A. (Keble College Oxford.) Agricultural & Forest Sciences (1974); D.Phil. (Wolfson College, Oxford.) (1978); M..A. (Cantab.) (1977); M.A. (Oxon.) (1978); Sc.D. (Cantab.) (1999).

Honours and Awards

  • Professorial Research Fellow BBSRC (2004-2010)
  • Fisher Lecturer, Rothamsted Research (2009)
  • Fellow American Phytopathological Society (2005)
  • President British Society for Plant Pathology (2001)
  • Sc.D. University of Cambridge (1999)
  • Ad hominem chair University of Cambridge (1999)
  • Professorial Fellow King's College, Cambridge (1999)
  • Senior Research Fellow Royal Society Leverhulme Trust (1998-1999)
  • Honorary Research Fellow Rothamsted Research (1998-2006)

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Professional activities


Defra

  • Chair Science Advisory Board (2011-2014)
  • Natural History Muesum Trustee (2011-2015)

Research Council

  • BBSRC Council (2003-2009)
  • BBSRC Strategy Board (2005-2009)
  • BBSRC Chairman review of crop science research (2003-2004) (report)
  • BBSRC Governor Silsoe Research Institute (1998-2009)
  • Previously BBSRC Individual Merit Sift Panel (1999-2003) BBSRC Agri-Food Committee (1997-2000) BBSRC Chairman Mathematical Modelling in Agricultural & Food Systems Panel (1999) BBSRC Agric. Systems Directorate (1996-1997) BBSRC-NERC Soil Science Advisory Committee (1995-1999) BBSRC-EPSRC Biomathematics Panel (1997-1998) NERC Ecological Dynamics and Genetics Panel (1997,1998).

Advisory and review panels

  • FC/FR Member Advisory Committee for Forestry Research (2006-2010)
  • Served as advisor on research in epidemiology, mathematical modelling and agriculture for INRA, SEERAD, DEFRA, NAO.
  • Chairman and member of numerous Visiting Groups and Commissions of Evaluation on research institutes for BBSRC, INRA, SEERAD.

University

  • Research Policy Committee (2003-2006)
  • General Board
  • Council School Biological Sciences
  • Council School Clinical Medicine
  • Planning and Resources Committee
  • Resource Management Committee
  • University Risk Steering Committee
  • Board of Examinations (1995-2004)

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Teaching

Teaching forms part of the Natural Sciences Tripos at Cambridge in which students attend lecturers, practicals and seminars in university departments, supported by weekly College tutorials (supervisions) in each of their main subjects. Served as Director of Studies responsible for teaching arrangements in Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Materials and Earth Sciences) King's College from 1990-2004.

Currently on leave from teaching.

Previous Teaching


First year (Part IA)

  • Quantitative Biology (now Mathematical Biology) Responsible for 60 lecture course with practicals on the application of mathematics to biological problems for students with A/AS level mathematics. The course was introduced in 1990 and has grown from ~70 to ~200 students per year. The course is motivated throughout by biological questions but provides students with an extensive grounding in modelling techniques, especially ordinary differential equations, as well as statistical methods for data analysis and model testing. The course has weekly practicals for computing to illustrate modern methods of numerical solutions as well as more traditional examples classes for analytical solutions.
  • College supervisions in Quantitative Biology, Maths for Natural Sciences, Elementary Maths for Natural Scientists, Evolution and Behaviour

Second year (Part IB)

  • Plant and Microbial Sciences Previously contributed lectures and practicals on Epidemiology and Modelling to IB Plant Science students.
  • College supervisions in Part IB Plant Sciences, Ecology

Third year (Part II)

  • Plant Sciences Lecture course on Botanical Epidemiology, with accompanying projects to Part II Plant and Microbial Science students. Previously taught courses in experimental design, spatial analysis and sampling theory.
  • College supervisions in Part II Epidemiology and Statistical methods

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