Nikoline Mekjan
Nikoline Mekjan
I am a PhD student working in Dr Jeongmin Choi's lab to investigate the regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by long-distance communication in rice plants.
I am a PhD student working in Dr Jeongmin Choi's lab to investigate the regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by long-distance communication in rice plants.
Sabrina joined the Crop Science Centre as the interim ENSA Impact Manager to drive impact and facilitate the translation of scientific research discoveries into practical applications for the ENSA project.
Sabrina has extensive lab-based research experience, having completed postdoctoral research at Michigan State University and the University of Cambridge, in both roles, dealing with amelioration of vitamin deficiencies in crops through nutritional genomics and epigenetics.
I have completed a BSc in Biological Sciences at the University of Exeter and I am excited to further develop my molecular genetic skills as a part of Professor Uta Paszkowski's Cereal Symbioses research group.
I have spent the last 23 years as a Research Assistant, at the University, where my focus has been in the field of Developmental Programming. This focused on the use of human and animal models to disentangle the mechanisms linking a suboptimal maternal environment with increased risk of the exposed infant having increased risk of adult disease in later life. During this time I have gained 47 papers in high impact factor journals.
I'm a first year undergrad studying Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. I'll be investigating the LysM receptor kinases LYK1 and LYK3 under the supervision of Dr Chai Hao Chiu this summer. More specifically this will involve determining where LYK1 and LYK3 are localised within the root, isolating these receptors and characterising lyk1 and lyk3 strains in the extent of their colonisation by AM fungi.
I am a first year undergraduate at the University of Cambridge doing a summer project under the supervision of Dr Thomas Irving. The project involves working on FRET and degron sensors for use in identifying/studying the undiscovered endogenous plant hormone KL.
I am a rising second year undergraduate student at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge studying biological natural sciences. I went to an international school in Shanghai, China, where I extracurricularly interned at ShanghaiTech University, investigating protein targets as substrates for ubiquitin mediated proteolytic degradation by novel molecular glues.
I am here at the Cereal Symbiosis Group for the summer, working with Tania to study the transcriptional changes associated with mycorrhizal symbiosis at the single-cell level. I have just finished my second year studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge and I am looking forward to continuing on with plant sciences next year after this project.
After completing my BSc and MSc degrees in Horticultural Science, I graduated from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in 2021. During my BSc, I studied the benefits of coconut water on both plant and human cells, and studied interspecific hybrids of Lepidium during my MSc. My interest in plant pathology also led me to undertake practical research training during my degree, where I studied Phytophthora infestans in fluctuating diurnal temperatures.
I study plant responses to abiotic stresses using molecular, biochemical, and physiological approaches. My interest in research started when I conducted undergraduate thesis for my bachelor’s degree in Biology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). Afterwards, I worked as a Researcher at the International Rice Research Institute while pursuing a master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from UPLB.
The Crop Science Centre is a coalition between the University of Cambridge, Department of Plant Sciences, and NIAB. This coalition focuses on translational research in crops with real-world impact. We combine the diverse skills and expertise of the University and NIAB, providing an environment for research excellence with the capability to apply discoveries to crop improvement in the field.
Our research is interdisciplinary and of global relevance. We strive to improve both staple crops such as maize, wheat and rice, but also the specific crops of relevance to small-holder farmers, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Centre provides leadership in crop sciences, with a creative and dynamic research culture, motivated by improvement of agriculture for the betterment of society.
At the Crop Science Centre, we are generating crop plants that deliver sufficient food for everyone in a sustainable way
“Years of research has provided a deep understanding of how plants function, creating opportunities to transform the way we produce our food. I am motivated to improve the sustainability and the equity of food production worldwide”
Professor Giles Oldroyd,
CSC Director
“At the Crop Science Centre we have the scientific breadth and track record to rapidly respond to one of the grand challenges of our time: growing enough nutritious food for an increasing population while reducing inputs and green house emissions.”
Professor Mario Caccamo,
CEO and Director of NIAB
“We envisage that new CSC crop technologies will enable higher crop yields and lower environmental impact for crop-based food production – as well as contributing to improved dietary health.”
Sir David Baulcombe,
Royal Society Professor