Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser
- Regius Professor of Botany
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Location
- 213B, Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA
About
Ottoline Leyser is the Regius Professor of Botany at the Departmetn of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge.
Biography
Ottoline Leyser is the Regius Professor of Botany. Her research focuses on multiscale distributed regulatory systems in plant development, using the modulation of shoot branching by nitrate availability in Arabidopsis as a model system. The work combines classical and molecular genetics, with cell biology, physiology and computational modelling to understand the hormonal networks that deliver adaptive developmental plasticity.
Ottoline has a long-term interest in science policy and served as CEO of UK Research and Innovation from 2020-2025. A particular focus has been on the related topics of research and innovation culture- how to foster vibrant, creative, successful research and innovation environments where people and ideas thrive; and how to break down the barriers between science and wider society.
Previous Positions
2020 to 2025 - CEO - UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
2013 to 2020 - Director - Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University, England
2012 to present - Fellow - Clare College, University of Cambridge, England
2011 to 2013 - Associated Director - Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University, England
2002 to 2010 - Professor of Plant Development - Department of Biology, University of York, England
1999 to 2002 - Reader - Department of Biology, University of York, England
1994 to 1999 - Lecturer - Department of Biology, University of York, England
1993- to 1994 - Postdoctoral Researcher, Furner Lab - Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, England
1990 to 1993 - Postdoctoral Researcher, Estelle Lab - Department of Biology, Indiana University, USA
Qualifications
1990 PhD in Genetics - Newnham College, University of Cambridge, England
1986 BA Hons in Genetics - Newnham College, University of Cambridge, England
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Academy Fellowships
2023 - Elected Honorary Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
2021 - Elected Fellow of the Acadamia Europea
2021 - Elected Fellow of the Science Museum
2020 - Elected Honory Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
2014- Elected to the Leopoldina
2012 - Elected Foreign Associate, National Academy of Sciences USA
2007 - Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
2007 - Elected Member of EMBO
Awards
2023 - Royal Society Croonian Medal and Lecture
2020 - British Society for Developmental Biology Waddington Medal
2019 - Rutherford Memorial Lecturer
2018 - OlChemlm Award for Plant Hormone Research
2017 - Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
2017 - FEBS/EMBO Women in Science Award
2016 - UK Genetics Society Medal
2010 - International Plant Growth Substance Association Silver Medal
2009 - Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire
2009 - University of York Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Award
2007 - Royal Society Rosalind Franklin Award
2000 - Society for Experimental Biology President’s Medal
Committees
2026 to present - Advisory Council Chair - Bennett School of Public Policy, England
2025 to present - Member - Cambridge University Press Academic Advisory Board
2025 to present - Chair - Innovate Cambridge Advisory Council, England
2025 to 2026 - Member - Human Frontiers Science Programme Grand Review High Level Panel
2017 to 2025 - Member - Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, England
Honory Degrees
2026 - Honorary Doctorate - University of Dundee, Scotland
2024 - Honorary Doctorate - University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
2019 - Honorary Doctorate - University of Aberdeen, Scotland
2016 - Honorary Doctorate - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Gjøvik and Ålesund, Norway
2014 - Honorary Doctorate - Swedish Agricultural University, Uppsala, Sweden
Media & Press
2025 - “Science must shed elitist image” interview - The Financial Times
2023 - Private Passions guest - BBC Radio 3
2022 - “How to Lead” interview series - Financial Time
2021 - Life Scientific 10 year anniversary “What Makes a Scientist?” - BBC Radio 4