We caught up with a few of Niab's scientists and they told us about what they are currently working on and a little about how they got to their current roles.
Dr Louisa Robinson-Boyer is a research leader in the Pest and Pathogen Ecology team at East Malling, Kent. With over 20 years of experience in the use plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) for increasing plant health, water and nutrient use efficiency in soft and top fruit her focus is in development and application of beneficial microbes for sustainable crop production systems.
Lousia's current research focuses on the applied use of beneficial microbes to combat biotic and abiotic stress and the possible mechanisms responsible for the observed benefits to plants. Work includes the role of beneficial microorganisms in tree fruit, soil microbiome analysis and rice blast disease.
Having graduated from the University of Birmingham in July with a Masters in Natural Sciences, Maisie Bickerton recently joined Niab.
She works as a Research Assistant in the Pathology side of the Pest and Pathogen Ecology team at East Malling and undertook her dissertation on genetically modified oilseed rape, reviewing GM canola in Western Australia and considering whether it could be valuable to apply to the UK.
Currently studying at the University of Bath for a BSc in biochemistry, Emily Murray is on a placement year with Niab as a Research Assistant.
Her main scientific interests is in molecular and microbiology, and at Niab Emily has had the opportunity to develop knowledge in these fields by assisting with projects in both pathology and entomology.
Dr Nichola Hawkins is a research scientist at Niab, based in Cambridge, working on fungicide resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a well-known problem in healthcare but similar problems are seen in agriculture, with resistance to the fungicides, herbicides and insecticides that are used to protect our crops. Currently, Nichola is working to get one step ahead of the ever evolving pathogens.
Nichola says: 'At Niab you’re surrounded by people all working towards a common goal of sustainable agriculture. In the pathology team, there is my work on fungicide resistance, but there are other teams working on how pathogens are shifting their virulence and what varieties they can infect.'
'We’re all piecing together a picture of what these pathogen populations are doing and so we can give all-round advice on Integrated Pest Management, knowing that it’s backed up by all those different areas of scientific expertise.'
You can hear more from Nichola in her recent 'Meet the Scientist' video.
Finally we have Deborah Babalola, CTP Phd student working with Niab's Feli Fernandez who is her supervisor. Deborah's research is focused on understanding the genetics of primocane fruiting in raspberries, which aims to contribute towards extending its fruiting season.
You can watch videos from previous year's International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Niab's Youtube channel: