Kai Thoris
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
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About
Kai Thoris is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge.
Previous Positions
2024 to 2026 – Postdoctoral Researcher - Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
Qualifications
2024 - PhD Candidate, Plant Developmental Systems group - Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
2020 - MSc in Biochemical Engineering - Ghent University, Belgium
2018 - BSc in Biochemical Engineering - Ghent University, Belgium
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Committees
2025 to 2026 - Member - Postdoc Council of Experimental Plant Sciences - the Netherlands
2018 to 2020 - Internship coordinator - International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) – Ghent, Belgium
Research
Research Group
Research Overview
My research focuses on the regulation of cell-specific gene expression in plant leaves, with a particular emphasis on how spatial transcriptional programs control C4 photosynthesis. I investigate how transcription factors and cis-regulatory elements coordinate gene expression between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells, a key feature of the C4 pathway. I use an integrative set of approaches, including single-nucleus transcriptomics, genome editing, ATAC-sequencing, chromosome conformation capture, and protein-protein interaction studies, to define the regulatory networks that establish and maintain cell identity in leaves. This work contributes to understanding fundamental principles of plant gene regulation and supports efforts to engineer C4 pathways into C3 crops such as rice to improve photosynthetic efficiency and agricultural productivity.
Publications
Selected publications
Teaching and supervision
2025 – Workshop Organisation – ‘Transcription Factors and Transcriptional Regulation’ – Experimental Plant Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
2020 to 2024 – Supervision of 2 BSc and 1 MSc students during PhD – Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands
2022 – Practical Assistant – ‘Biological Chemistry’ – Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands