Dr. Ruth Donald

Research Group

Plant Physiology and Symbiosis

Research Overview

Current research focuses on understanding how nutrient trade is regulated in the mutualistic interaction between fungi and most land plants (arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis), working in the Plant Physiology and Symbiosis group at Cambridge. Past research aimed to understand how the efficient C4 pathway has evolved from the ancestral C3 state, working in the Molecular Physiology group. I have also worked on several aspects of chloroplast biogenesis including assembly of the cytochrome bf complex, and my PhD focussed on how nuclear-encoded proteins are targeted to the thylakoid membrane.

Previous Positions

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK

Research Scientist - Biogemma, Cambridge, UK

Research Fellow - School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand 

Qualifications

PhD in Plant Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, UK  

Bsc. (Hons.) Biological Sciences University of Warwick, UK 

Key Publications

'A transcription factor ensemble orchestrates bundle sheath expression in rice', (2025), Nature Commmunications. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-62087-0

'Exaptation of ancestral cell-identity networks enables C4 photosynthesis', (2024), Nature. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08204-3.

Awards

Royal Society University Research Fellowship - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK

Research Fellowship - Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, UK

Teaching

Molecular Cell Biology - School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK