Department of Plant Sciences NEWS: New EMBO members elected

We are delighted to announce that Giles Oldroyd and Uta Paszkowski have been elected as  EMBO members.

Giles Oldroyd is the Russell R Geiger Professor of Crop Science and Director of the Crop Science Centre (a coalition of expertise between NIAB, the DPS and SLCU) and Group Leader at the SLCU. He leads a research team studying interactions between plants and beneficial micro-organisms, both bacteria and fungi, that aid in the uptake of nutrients from the environment, especially nitrogen and phosphorus.

Uta Paszkowski is Professor of Plant Molecular Genetics at the Department of Plant Sciences. Uta leads the Cereal Symbiosis Group, which investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying formation and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses in cereals.

EMBO Membership honours distinguished scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the life sciences, including 88 Nobel Laureates. It is an international organisation of life scientists, which has more than 1800 members elected by peers.

Professor Giles Oldroyd FRS is Russell R Geiger Professor of Crop Science at the Sainsbury Laboratory, Director of the Crop Science Centre and Fellow at Fitzwilliam College. He is leading an international programme of research that attempts to achieve more equitable and sustainable agriculture through the enhanced use of beneficial microbial associations.

He said: “I have long admired the work that EMBO does to strengthen and coordinate science across Europe and it is an honour to now be a part of this prestigious European fellowship of biologists.”

EMBO Members can actively participate in EMBO’s initiatives by serving on the organisation’s Council, committees and editorial boards, participating in the evaluation of applications for EMBO funding, acting as mentors to young scientists in the EMBO community, and advising on key activities. EMBO’s administrative headquarters are in Heidelberg, Germany.

This month Giles presented his work in the latest Fitzwilliam College Arrol Addam lecture. The lecture is available to view below:

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