Submitted by A.J. Benton on Mon, 03/10/2022 - 09:00
Professor Julian Hibberd appointed to the role of Head of Department
The Department of Plant Sciences is pleased to announce the appointment of Julian Hibberd to the role of Head of Department from October 2022.
Julian Hibberd joined the plant sciences department as a post-doctoral researcher working on chloroplast transformation in 1997, moved to a BBSRC Sir David Philips Fellowship in 2000, and was appointed Professor of Photosynthesis in 2014. A world expert on photosynthesis, his lab has made numerous contributions to our understanding of this unique process. His research programme combines discovery science with work that aims to translate findings into crops. This includes investigations into the development of C4-enabled rice, but also the recent discovery of grafting in monocots.
‘I am delighted to take over at this exciting time. I am confident that our future discoveries will contribute solutions to the linked challenges of climate change, population growth and biodiversity loss. A key part of this is training and inspiring the next generation of plant scientists; undergraduates, postgraduates and postdocs. It is therefore particularly exciting that we will be running a new M.Phil course in Crop Sciences from 2023.' said Hibberd.
'I would like to thank my predecessor, Professor Alison Smith, for her leadership over the past five years, not only for the vision she brought to the role, but also for her energy, persistence, patience and generosity.’