Maria joined Niab in 2025 as a PhD student under the CTP-SAI studentship programme. She is part of Dr. Stephanie Swarbreck’s group and works closely with Dr. Sarah Roberts to investigate the mechanisms underpinning determinacy and nitrogen requirements in potato crops.
Her research focuses on understanding how potato plants respond to nitrogen application and why determinate varieties have higher nitrogen demands than indeterminate ones, using molecular and physiological approaches.
Maria holds a BSc in Agronomy and an MSc in Horticulture. Her research interests lie in molecular genetics, agronomy, and plant physiology, particularly in improving fertilisation and nutrition strategies for both food and ornamental crops.
Current Projects
Exploring the mechanism underpinning determinacy and nitrogen requirement in potato crops.
Duration: 4 years (Jan 2025–Jan 2029).
Partners: CUPGRA, University of Cambridge, Niab.
Funding: UKRI/BBSRC.