Dr Kumari Billakurthi

Research Group

Molecular Physiology

Biography

Kumari is Postdoctoral Research Associate in Professor Julian M Hibberd’s group. Her research explores the molecular regulation of specialised C4 Kranz leaf anatomy, with a focus on how distinct cell types for formed and how chloroplast biogenesis is coordinated within them. As part of the C4 Rice project, she aims to engineer C4 bundle sheath anatomy into C3 Rice. She also uses Arabidopsis thaliana and Marchantia polymorpha as model systems to identify novel regulators of chloroplast biogenesis.
Kumari completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor Peter Westhoff at the Heinrich Heine University, Germany. Her doctoral work focused on identifying C4 genetic determinants through forward and reverse genetic approaches. She performed EMS mutagenesis and activation-tagging screens in A. thaliana and characterised the resulting mutant lines. Through comparative transcriptomics of C3 and C4 Flaveria leaf developmental gradients, she identified a  role for auxin homeostasis in C4 venation patterning.

Previous Positions

2019 - Postdoctoral Researcher - Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany.

Qualifications

2018 - PhD in Plant Molecular Biology - Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany

2012 - MSc in Plant Biology and Biotechnology - University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India

2009 - BSc in Botany, Zoology and Chemistry - Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India

Key Publications

'Transcriptome dynamics in developing leaves from C3 and C4 Flaveria species', (2024), The Plant Journal.

'MYB-related transcription factors control chloroplast biogenesis', (2024), Cell.

'A rapid and robust leaf ablation method to visualize bundle sheath cells and chloroplasts in C3 and C4 grasses', Plant Methods.

'Shedding light on AT1G29480 of Arabidopsis thaliana – an enigmatic locus found only in the Brassicaceae', (2022), Plant Direct.

'Reporter-based forward genetic screen to identify bundle sheath anatomy mutants in A. thaliana', (2019), The Plant Journal.

Awards & Fellowships

2018 - Heine Research Academics (HeRA) travel grant was awarded for research visit to Prof. Martha Ludwig laboratory - University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

2016 - CEPLAS mobility fund was awarded for the research stay (three months) in Prof. Tammy L. Sage laboratory - University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

2013 - Selected for “CEPLAS (Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences) PhD fellowship” for my doctoral research

2012 - Awarded a Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) funded by the Department of Biotechnology, India, to pursue a PhD at any Research Institute or University in India (not activated)

Committees

2021 to 2023 - Member - Postdoc Committee at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge

2023 to 2024 - Chairperson - Postdoc Committee at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge

Science Communication

2024 to present - Assistant Features Editor -  Plant PhysiologY

Teaching

2025 - Designed the project and supervised a BBSRC PhD rotation student - University of Cambridge

2023 to 2024 - Designed the project and supervised an undergraduate final year student for undergraduate thesis - University of Cambridge

2022 to 2023 - Designed the project and supervised an undergraduate final year student for undergraduate thesis - University of Cambridge

2022 to 2023 - Supervised undergraduate students in 1B (second year undergraduates) Plant Microbial Sciences lectures - University of Cambridge

2016 - Designed the project and supervised an undergraduate final year student for undergraduate thesis - Heinrich Heine University, Germany.

2015 - Designed the project and mentored an undergraduate DADD-RISE intern student for three months - Heinrich Heine University, Germany.