Research stories
In 2024 the Department of Plant Sciences celebrated 300 years since the appointment of the first Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge.
As part of our celebrations, some of our academics have written short research stories to help give you an insight into current areas of interest and future research challenges.
If you are interested in finding out more, including how you might be able to support our academics in their future research endeavours, please get in touch with them using the link at the top of their respective articles.
Beneficial microbes provide a blueprint for sustainable agriculture
- Giles Oldroyd, Director of the Crop Science Centre
Understanding how wheat measures the days and the seasons
- Alex Webb, Head of Circadian Signal Transduction Group
Know your enemy: discovery-driven sustainable solutions to plant-nematode interactions
- Sebastian Eves-van den Akker, Head of Plant-Parasite/Pathogen Interactions Group
Understanding how petal surfaces impact pollinator behaviour and pollination
- Beverley Glover, Head of Evolution and Development Group
Epigenetics in agriculture: unlocking nature's code for healthier crops
- Jake Harris, Head of the Chromatin & Memory Group
The Global Wood Security Centre: knowledge and innovation to protect the world’s forest resources
- David Edwards, Head of Tropical Ecology and Conservation Group
Exploring the genetic and epigenetic structure of plant genomes
- Ian Henderson, Head of Genetic and Epigenetic Inheritance in Plants Group
Unlocking cellular decision making for plant plasticity and crop sustainability
- Alexander Jones, Head of Jones Group, Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University
Improving crop yield through enhanced photosynthesis
- Julian Hibberd, Head of Molecular Physiology Group, and Head of Department
Dodging a silver bullet; preventing infectious disease
- David Baulcombe, Head of Gene Expression Group and Regius Professor of Botany Emeritus
Mining Meadows: Investigating the genetic basis of plant bioactives
- Nicola Patron, Head of Plant Molecular Engineering Group
A wilder future: reclaiming marginal agricultural lands for nature recovery
- David Coomes, Head of Forest Ecology and Conservation Group
Sex in plants – the contributions of Bradley and Thomas Fairchild
- David Baulcombe, Head of Gene Expression Group and Regius Professor of Botany Emeritus