Current Projects (2022 Cohort)

Our FoodBioSystems DTP 2022 cohort of researchers are working on 27 projects that span the food system from farm to fork.  Find out more about the projects in the table below.

 

Project Title Lead Supervisor Co Supervisor Doctoral Researcher
Aberystwyth University
Combining molecular biology and computer modelling to enhance control of liver fluke in livestock across agricultural landscapes Rhys Jones Eric Morgan, Queen’s University Belfast Christopher Smith
Transgene free gene editing in plants via nanoparticles. Andrew Lloyd Wafa Al-Jamal, Queen’s University Belfast Julia Vallusova
Is it a Fluke or is it Reproducible: Understanding Isolate Variation in Fasciola hepatica for Diagnostic Potential Russ Morphew Rainer Cramer, University of Reading Olugbenga Babatunde
Engineering myxobacterial super-predators to fight crop disease David Whitworth Alexey Mikaberidze, University of Reading Emily Radford
Rethinking Cultured Meat Growth Medium: Can Grassland Plant-Derived Supplements Sustainably Support CM Production? Ruth Wonfor Laurence Smith, University of Reading Will Barnes
Brunel University
Designer plant burgers – use of targeted biochemistry and chemistry to generate flavour (taste and aroma) during extrusion of plant protein George Fern Jane Parker, University of Reading Chloe Mayo
Cranfield University
Predicting and understanding potato dormancy under interacting pre-harvest and postharvest conditions: a prerequisite for molecular breeding MCarmen Alamar Faisal Rezwan, Aberystwyth University Fabian Villamil
Optimising UK landscapes for agroecosystem resilience Alice Johnston Simon Potts, University of Reading Harriet Gold
Evaluating efficacy of organo-mineral fertilisers to improve soil health and grain quality Ruben Sakrabani Iain Donnison, Aberystwyth University Paul Couch
Queen’s University Belfast
Environmental DNA from Fasciola parasites as a novel biomarker to improve agriculture in the UK Geoffrey Gobert Peter Brophy, Aberystwyth University Emer McCann
Multi-Functional Fibres as Biobased Food Binders, Selectively Modified Using Green Technologies and Enzymes Tassos Koidis Dimitris Charalampopoulos, University of Reading Whitney Vale-Hagan
Nutritional programming in replacement dairy heifers: Future-proofing herd performance, health and behaviour Gareth Arnott Sokratis Stergiadis, University of Reading Sinéad O’Callaghan
Multi-omics approach to predict economically important health and production traits in sheep Mark Mooney Faisal Rezwan, Aberystwyth University SteffimolRose Chacko Kaitholil
Healthy hen or happy hen? Disease-welfare trade-offs in extensive poultry systems Eric Morgan Justin Pachebat, Aberystwyth University Helen Laird
Food for Feed: Valorisation of agro industry by- products in animal feed Katerina Theodoridou Sokratis Stergiadis, University of Reading Benchu Xue
Fruit and vegetables within the current food production system and health Jayne Woodside Julie Lovegrove, University of Reading Rachel Moore
University of Reading
Cricket Power: Protein for the Future Afroditi Chatzifragkou Ruan Elliott, University of Surrey Susan Rudlin
A New Approach to the Production of Cultured Meat with Enhanced Texture Ian Hamley Ruth Wonfor, Aberystwyth University Callum Wilkinson
Investigating the impact of microplastics on the soil and gut microbiome and its cumulative effects on animal health Eva Kevei Jorge Gutierrez-Merino, University of Surrey Lynn De Miranda
WheyBetter: A fundamental approach to redesigning whey protein isolates to step change their oral performance, leading to protein fortified products that will enable muscle mass maintenance over lifecourse Lisa Methven Joe Gallagher, Aberystwyth University Holly Giles
Integrating trees into arable systems to improve soil health & provide resilience to climate change Simon Potts Paul Burgess, Cranfield University Rosy Scholes
Anaerobic fermentation of food waste to connect fork to farm and store carbon in soils Tom Sizmur Sreenivas Ravella, Aberystwyth University Samantha Kehoe
Development of a novel platform for targeting animal parasites Nandini Vasudevan Martha Betson, University of Surrey Agnieszka Carvalho
University of Surrey
Variation in the iodine content of milk, dairy products, and eggs and the implication for UK iodine intake; studies at the farm, retail, and population level Sarah Bath Sokratis Stergiadis, University of Reading Joanne Tattersall

New tools for sustainable control of liver fluke in ruminants
Martha Betson Eric Morgan Queen’s University Belfast Muhammad Abbas
Dietary protein, the microbiota and gut barrier function: a gatekeeper of metabolic & immune health Denise Robertson Marie Lewis, University of Reading Brandon Linden