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Department of Plant Sciences

 

Plant-Parasite/Pathogen Interactions

Biography

I started off at the University of Victoria (Canada) in biochemistry and biology and then moved to KTH (Sweden) for my masters in bioreactors and protein engineering. I did my PhD at the University of Cambridge (UK) in the Department of Zoology on epithelial patterning in Drosophila eggs. My first postdoc was on centrosome migration in Drosophila eggs and my second postdoc was on the genetic basis of parthenogenesis in Drosophila. I am excited to take my knowledge in cell and developmental biology into my new research on the cell molecular biology of plant parasite interactions, specifically on effector biogenesis in nematodes. I am working towards building knowledge of the fundamental biology of pathogenic nematodes in order to gain insight into how we can prevent pathogenic nematode infections.

Previous Positions

2017-2023, Research Associate at the Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge 

2015-2017, Research Associate at the Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge 

Qualifications

2015, PhD from the University of Cambridge

2011, MSc from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

2009, BSc from the University of Victoria

Key Publications

'Aneuploidy during development in facultative parthenogenetic Drosophila', (2024), Heredity.

'Whole mount multiplexed visualization of DNA, mRNA, and protein in plant-parasitic nematodes', (2023), Plant Methods.

'A genetic basis for facultative parthenogenesis in Drosophila', (2023), Current Biology.

'Parthenogenesis in dipterans: a genetic perspective', (2023), Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

'The careful control of Polo kinase by APC/C-Ube2C ensures the intercellular transport of germline centrosomes during Drosophila oogenesis', (2021), Open Biology.

Committees

2019-2020, Member of the Cambridge Fly Club Committee

2016-2018, Member of the Genetics Seminar Series Committee

2015-2016, Member of the Department of Genetics Postdoc Committee

2013-2014, Graduate Representative for the Department of Zoology

2013-2014, Member of the Computing Committee

2011-2012, Member of the Gurdon Institute Environment Committee

Outreach & Public Engagement

2024, Invited parthenogenesis expert for BBC Radio World Service’s Unexpected Elements

2023, Media interviews for ‘Virgin Birth’ paper, including but not limited to: BBC Look East, CNN, National Geographic and The New York Post

2023, Guest on the youtube channel/podcast Honest Discussions by Dr. Randen Patterson

2020, Invited talk for the Oxford Student Biological Society 

2019, Interview for Cambridge Women in STEM 

2018, Interview with CABD gender equality group 

Media & Press

'Scientists discover secret of virgin birth and switch on the ability in female flies', (2023), Cam Research News.

'Why it matters that scientists modified a ‘sexual’ fruit fly to be asexual', (2024), The Hindu.

'No males? No problem! Scientists induce virgin births in fruit flies', (2023), The Guardian. 

'‘Virgin birth’ genetically engineered into female animals for the first time', (2023), Nature News.

'Scientists create first genetically modified animal that can have offspring asexually', (2023), El Pais.

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Alexis L Sperling

Contact Details

Email address: 
Crop Science Centre
Lawrence Weaver Road
Cambridge
CB3 0LE
01223 342200