I work in the Genetics, Genomics and Breeding department as a Plant Technician. The main purpose of my role is to provide support to the strawberry and raspberry breeding programmes by carrying out general plant husbandry duties, fruit assessments and technical assistance with plant patent applications. Additionally, I assist with maintaining the germplasm collection, performing seed extractions and micropropagating plants via meristem excision.
Simon provides field and laboratory-based technical support for the apple and cherry breeding programmes at East Malling. He is also involved with cherry epiphyte and apple canker research projects.
Professor Dan Sargent is Head of the Genetics, Genomics and Breeding department at NIAB East Malling in Kent. The department is focused on developing industry-leading varieties of strawberries, raspberries, apples and cherries, and delivering cutting edge genetics and genomics research to support variety development.
The research portfolio of the department includes:
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 am also the principal statistician for NIAB East Malling and increasingly for the wider NIAB group.
Francis is based at NIAB East Malling in the pest and pathogen ecology department .
Dr Matevz Papp-Rupar, Molecular Plant Pathology PhD, Biotechnology MSc, is a research leader in the pest and pathogen ecology team at NIAB in East Malling, with over 10 years' experience in plant pathology. His early research at the National Institute for Biology, Slovenia included detection and characterisation of Potato virus Y and grapevine yellows phytoplasma (Ca. Phytoplasma vitis) in pathogen hosts, wild plant species and insect vectors.
In my current role as NIAB’s horticultural trials co-ordinator, I work with industry to deliver high-quality scientific trials aimed at underpinning the demands of horticulture. Our unique facilities, trial plots and world-leading scientists (across many disciplines) enable NIAB to put together the right trial to answer your questions – and that is part of the fun when working on projects which bridge academia and research.
Tina is the first point of contact for all HR enquiries at NIAB East Malling, providing a full HR administration service to all internal and external customers.
Flora’s research focuses on aspects of root and soil biology in horticultural crop production. Her particular areas of interest include soil health and carbon sequestration, and root-rhizosphere interactions.
