Professor Sir David Baulcombe (Emeritus)
- • Head of Gene Expression
- • Royal Society Research Professor
- • Voluntary Director of Research
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About
David Baulcombe is Head of Gene Expression at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge.
Previous Positions
2007 to present - Regius Professor of Botany (Emeritus post 2019) - University of Cambridge, England
2007 to present - Royal Society Edward Penley Abraham Research Professor - University of Cambridge, England
2009 to 2017 - Head of the Department - Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, England
2002 to 2007 - Professor - University of East Anglia, England
1999 to 2003 - Head of Laboratory - Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, England
1990 to 1993 - Head of Laboratory - Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, England
1988 to 2007 - Senior Research Scientist - Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, England
1980 to 1988 - Higher and Principal Scientific Officer - Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge, England
1978 to 1980 - Postdoctoral Fellow - University of Georgia, Athens, Greece
1977 to 1978 - Postdoctoral Fellow - McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Qualifications
1977 - PhD in Botany - University of Edinburgh, Scotland
1973 - BSc in Botany - University of Leeds, England
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Academic Societies
2015 to 2017 - President - Biochemical Society, UK
2003 to 2006 - President - International Society for Plant Molecular Biology
Awards & Honours
2021 - Sir Hans Krebs Medal and Lecture - Federation of European Biochemical Societies
2017 - Mendel Medal - Genetics Society
2015 - Prize Medal Lecture - Society for General Microbiology
2014 - Gruber Genetics Prize - Gruber Foundation USA
2014 - The McClintock Prize for Plant Genetics and Genome Studies - Maize Genetics Executive Committee
2012 - Balzan Prize for Epigenetics - Balzan Foundation, Rome
2010 - Wolf Prize for Agriculture - Wolf Foundation Israel
2009 - Harvey Prize in Science and Technology -Technion Israel Institute of Technology
2009 - Knight Bachelor - Queens Birthday Honours List
2008 - Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research - Lasker Foundation
2008 - Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science - Franklin Institute, Philadelphia
2008 - Special Achievement Award - Miami Winter Symposium
2006 - Royal Medal - Royal Society
2005 - Foreign Associate Member - National Academy of Sciences, USA
2005 - Massry Prize -Massry Foundation, University of Southern California
2004 - M.W. Beijerinck Virology Prize - Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
2003 - Wiley Prize in Biomedical Science - Wiley Foundation, Rockefeller University
2002 - Kumho Science International Award in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology - Kumho Cultural Foundation, Korea
2002 - Ruth Allen Award - American Phytopathology Society
2001 - Fellow - Royal Society
1990 - Prix des Cerealiers de France for work on hormonally regulated genes of cereals
Committees & Boards
2021 to 2024 - Council Member - Royal Society, UK
2021 to present - Council Member - European Molecular Biology Organization
2018 to present - Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
2016 to present - Trustee - Isaac Newton Trust, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, England
2015 to 2018 - Science Advisory Board - Boyce Thompson Institute, Cornell University, New York, USA
2012 to 2021 - Trustee Board Member - Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, England
2010 to 2016 - Chair, Management Board - Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge, England
2009 to present - Trustee - Lawes Agricultural, Harpenden, England
2009 to 2016 - Member - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Elected Fellowships
2020 - Lifetime Member - Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Vatican City
2020 - Honorary Fellow - Cambridge Philosophical Society, England
2015 - Honorary Fellow - Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland
2013 - Corresponding Member - Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Barcelona
2011 - Foreign Fellow - National Academy of Science, India
2010 - Fellow - Academy of Medical Sciences, UK
2009 to 2019 - Fellow then Emeritus - Trinity College, University of Cambridge, England
2005 - International Member - National Academy of Sciences, USA
2002 - Member - Academia Europaea, Europe
2001 - Fellow - Royal Society, UK
1998 to 2002 - Honorary Professor - University of East Anglia, England
1997 - Member - European Molecular Biology Organisation
Honorary Degrees
2015 - DSc (Hon) - University of Leeds, England
2014 - Honorary Doctorate - University of Helsinki, Finland
2014 - DSc (Hon) - University of Edinburgh, Scotland
2014 - DL (Hon) - University of Dundee, Scotland
2011 - DSc (Hon) - University of East Anglia, England
2011 - DSc (Hon) - University of Birmingham, England
2008 - Honorary Doctorate - Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands
Media & Press
2011 - It's Not All in My DNA
2010 - Reconciling Organic Crops and Biotechnology
2010 - David Baulcombe's Don's Diary
2010 - Reaping Benefits of Crop Science Research
2008 - Of Maize and Men: Plants as Model Systems
2007 - An Interview with David Baulcombe, Current Biology
Professional Memberships
Society for Experimental Biology
Society for General Microbiology
Biochemical Society
Genetics Society
Public Engagement
Outside the laboratory I promote the use of plant biotechnology for crop improvement. I raised funds to endow a Professor of Crop Science and to support the creation of the Crop Science Centre. I’m particularly interested in addressing problems in developing countries and in reducing the environmental impact of crops everywhere. A particular challenge is to ensure equitable use of new technology as part of a holistic assessment of agriculture and food production systems.
Research
Research Group
Research Overview
My research focuses on gene regulation during development and in response to the environment. We use advanced technology and computing to analyse complex gene networks. My current focus is epigenetics, the science of how nurture influences nature and how environmental effects can be transmitted from one generation to the next.