Dr Greg Deakin

Research interests

My current research focuses on the analysis of metagenomics data to try and understand some of the complex microbial interaction in and between organisms in soil/rhizosphere/rhizoplane and plant endophytes.

I lead a team of statisticians covering all areas of statistics at Niab, on both science and regulatory sides. I am England’s representative on the IDSG (Interdepartmental Statisticians group) since September 2025.

I began my scientific career at East Malling as a PhD student in 2011 investigating viral disease and subsequently viral interactions in Agaricus bisporus (mushrooms). I joined East Malling as a post-doc immediately on completion of my PhD as a bioinformatician working on Apple Replant disease.

I now divide my time equally between bioinformatic research and statistics analytics on numerous research council, industry funded projects and overseeing statistical analysis for variety listing.