Exploiting anatomical traits to accelerate breeding of novel stress tolerant crops
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Biosciences
Abstract
Drought and low soil fertility are major constraints to global crop production. These constraints are becoming even more challenging over time due to deteriorating soil quality, increasing population pressure and changing climate. In this context, recent discoveries have identified several root anatomical traits that can substantially improve crop yield and climate resilience by improving water and nutrient uptake. For example, the formation of air spaces (termed aerenchyma) in root cortex tissue occurs when living cells undergo programmed cell death. This significantly reduces nutrient demand and respiration of root tissues, enables plant to acquire more soil resources and improve crop yield under drought and suboptimal nutrient conditions. In addition to aerenchyma formation, other traits such as reduced number and layers of living cells in the cortex tissue (termed cortical cell count and cortical cell file number respectively) confer similar benefits. However, despite this knowledge, anatomical traits have received little attention as selection criteria in crop breeding because of the challenges associated with sampling and quantification of anatomical phenotypes.
"Anatomics" is a novel interdisciplinary approach that now makes it possible for the first time to rapidly image and analyse plant anatomical traits in large numbers of crop varieties. Using this approach, my US collaborators generated root anatomical data for hundreds of maize varieties grown over 5 years in South Africa. Next, I analysed this dataset using an integrated gene-discovery pipeline that includes Genome wide association studies (GWAS), literature mining and enhanced data visualisation techniques. This analysis highlighted correlations between the anatomical data and hundreds of thousands of DNA polymorphisms in the maize diversity panel and thus pinpointed key genes that control root anatomical traits in maize. For instance, my pipeline identified two novel transcription factors functionally associated with aerenchyma formation. Mutation analysis of a maize mu insertion and a rice ortholog mutant for these transcription factors found a significant reduction in aerenchyma percentage in the mutants compared to the wild type. These studies confirmed the role of representative genes obtained from the Anatomics datasets in aerenchyma formation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of aerenchyma development are largely unknown.
As a BBSRC Discovery Fellow, I will pioneer the use of anatomics and functional genomics approaches in cereal crops at University of Nottingham. My first objective will be to determine the molecular mechanism for aerenchyma mediated resilience in maize. Next, I will use Laser Capture Microdissection and Single-Cell RNA sequencing approaches to generate a cellular resolution gene expression atlas for the maize root and map genes and signals that control aerenchyma formation during root growth and development. Finally, I will translate the knowledge generated in maize to other important and often under-invested crops such as pearl millet to accelerate breeding and genetic improvement programmes.
Aerenchyma formation is a developmental programme where specific cells within the same cortical layer undergo programmed cell death while neighboring cells survive. My spatiotemporal gene expression atlas of maize root at cellular resolution will be an unparalleled resource to characterise aerenchyma as well as other root anatomical traits and developmental programmes. Further, the gene regulatory mechanisms unravelled from this research will also help us to understand how such traits confer stress tolerance in maize and pearl millet crops which are economically important dietary staples. Thus, my research will also contribute to UK's global food security efforts.
"Anatomics" is a novel interdisciplinary approach that now makes it possible for the first time to rapidly image and analyse plant anatomical traits in large numbers of crop varieties. Using this approach, my US collaborators generated root anatomical data for hundreds of maize varieties grown over 5 years in South Africa. Next, I analysed this dataset using an integrated gene-discovery pipeline that includes Genome wide association studies (GWAS), literature mining and enhanced data visualisation techniques. This analysis highlighted correlations between the anatomical data and hundreds of thousands of DNA polymorphisms in the maize diversity panel and thus pinpointed key genes that control root anatomical traits in maize. For instance, my pipeline identified two novel transcription factors functionally associated with aerenchyma formation. Mutation analysis of a maize mu insertion and a rice ortholog mutant for these transcription factors found a significant reduction in aerenchyma percentage in the mutants compared to the wild type. These studies confirmed the role of representative genes obtained from the Anatomics datasets in aerenchyma formation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of aerenchyma development are largely unknown.
As a BBSRC Discovery Fellow, I will pioneer the use of anatomics and functional genomics approaches in cereal crops at University of Nottingham. My first objective will be to determine the molecular mechanism for aerenchyma mediated resilience in maize. Next, I will use Laser Capture Microdissection and Single-Cell RNA sequencing approaches to generate a cellular resolution gene expression atlas for the maize root and map genes and signals that control aerenchyma formation during root growth and development. Finally, I will translate the knowledge generated in maize to other important and often under-invested crops such as pearl millet to accelerate breeding and genetic improvement programmes.
Aerenchyma formation is a developmental programme where specific cells within the same cortical layer undergo programmed cell death while neighboring cells survive. My spatiotemporal gene expression atlas of maize root at cellular resolution will be an unparalleled resource to characterise aerenchyma as well as other root anatomical traits and developmental programmes. Further, the gene regulatory mechanisms unravelled from this research will also help us to understand how such traits confer stress tolerance in maize and pearl millet crops which are economically important dietary staples. Thus, my research will also contribute to UK's global food security efforts.
Technical Summary
Root anatomical traits such as aerenchyma (RCA) formation enable plants to acquire more soil resources for less metabolic investment and significantly improves yield under drought and suboptimal nutrient conditions. 'Anatomics', a novel interdisciplinary approach, now makes it possible to rapidly image and analyse anatomical traits in large numbers of crop species. Using this approach, my US partners generated root anatomical data for hundreds of maize varieties grown over 5 years in South Africa. I recently analysed it using integrated Genome wide association studies, literature mining and enhanced data visualisation techniques.
My gene-discovery pipeline associated several candidate genes with RCA formation including bHLH (ROS signaling) and EIL (ethylene signaling) transcription factors. Further, maize bhlhtf transposon insertion line and rice oseil1 mutant showed significant reduction in RCA formation confirming their functional role.
As a BBSRC Discovery Fellow, I will first use CRISPR gene editing approach to determine molecular mechanisms by which these key genes regulate RCA formation under drought and nutrient stress. Next, I will generate a cellular resolution gene expression atlas using Laser Capture Microdissection coupled Single-Cell RNA sequencing approach to map cell-specific developmental programmes employed in RCA formation during root growth and development. This research in maize will uncover key genes that control RCA formation and help understand how this trait confers drought and nutrient stress tolerance. It will also provide a proof of principle for characterizing other root anatomical traits. Finally, I will develop "RCA Trait Molecular Markers" to translate the knowledge generated in maize to other important and often under-invested crops such as pearl millet. The marker-assisted selection of pearl millet varieties with improved RCA formation and stress tolerance will help accelerate the breeding and genetic improvement programmes.
My gene-discovery pipeline associated several candidate genes with RCA formation including bHLH (ROS signaling) and EIL (ethylene signaling) transcription factors. Further, maize bhlhtf transposon insertion line and rice oseil1 mutant showed significant reduction in RCA formation confirming their functional role.
As a BBSRC Discovery Fellow, I will first use CRISPR gene editing approach to determine molecular mechanisms by which these key genes regulate RCA formation under drought and nutrient stress. Next, I will generate a cellular resolution gene expression atlas using Laser Capture Microdissection coupled Single-Cell RNA sequencing approach to map cell-specific developmental programmes employed in RCA formation during root growth and development. This research in maize will uncover key genes that control RCA formation and help understand how this trait confers drought and nutrient stress tolerance. It will also provide a proof of principle for characterizing other root anatomical traits. Finally, I will develop "RCA Trait Molecular Markers" to translate the knowledge generated in maize to other important and often under-invested crops such as pearl millet. The marker-assisted selection of pearl millet varieties with improved RCA formation and stress tolerance will help accelerate the breeding and genetic improvement programmes.
Planned Impact
My proposed research will determine molecular mechanisms controlling root cortical aerenchyma formation in maize that enables greater acquisition of soil resources and substantially improves crop yield. Additionally, the research outputs will provide timely avenues by identifying novel allelic variants in related cereals such as pearl millet that are drought tolerant and nutrient efficient. Thus my research will directly contribute to one of the key aims of BBSRC - exploiting genomics for agriculture and global food security.
Prospective beneficiaries and how they may benefit.
1. Farmers and breeders: Farmers and breeders are likely to be the direct beneficiaries of this research as it will identify stress tolerant genetic variants in maize and pearl millet. These varieties will be able to grow better on low nutrient soil without or with reduced fertilizer applications and thus would have major economic impact on developing countries, where a large proportion of farmers don't have ready access to fertilizers. Further, it will help to reduce fertilizer inputs to make agriculture environmentally sustainable. Thus, the improved crops will promote low input agriculture, better returns and likely have impact on farm income leading to improved nutritional, financial and social stability.
2. Breeding institutes and companies: The knowledge i.e. gene toolkit and molecular markers from my research in Maize and Pearl Millet could be transferred to other economically important crop plants such as sorghum, rice and wheat. Thus other breeding research institutes (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center: CIMMYT, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics: ICRISAT, etc.) and companies (Syngenta, Monsanto, etc.) will also benefit from this research.
3. Academic and industrial researchers: The research will generate a number of new resources (mu insertion, CRISPR-Cas9 mutants, transcriptional and translational reporters, repression lines, Anatomics Molecular Markers, pear millet allelic variants with improved RCA and stress tolerance, etc.) and datasets (Gene expression atlas, Control versus Stress RNAseqs, LAT images for maize mutants and Pearl Millet inbred lines, field phenotype data, etc.) that will benefit a wide spectrum of researchers from other disciplines in academia as well as industry. Additionally, it provides an example of using Anatomics approach for studying other agronomic processes controlled at the anatomical scale (e.g. crop water use efficiency, xylem vessel diameter, etc.). Understanding key genes or signals in regulating root cortical traits under developmental and environmental cues will enable researchers to design new approaches to manipulate root anatomical traits in crops. This research will also create a knowledge base that will allow the commercial sector to exploit and generate IP and new products in the future.
4. Members of the public: They will benefit from the dissemination of my research outputs through science outreach activities specifically developed for distinct non-specialist audiences, such as children from local schools and members of general public. Such outreach will increase public awareness and understanding of global food security issues and the social and economic impact of plant and crop research. This will also inspire students to consider science, especially plant and agriculture research, as a future career option.
Prospective beneficiaries and how they may benefit.
1. Farmers and breeders: Farmers and breeders are likely to be the direct beneficiaries of this research as it will identify stress tolerant genetic variants in maize and pearl millet. These varieties will be able to grow better on low nutrient soil without or with reduced fertilizer applications and thus would have major economic impact on developing countries, where a large proportion of farmers don't have ready access to fertilizers. Further, it will help to reduce fertilizer inputs to make agriculture environmentally sustainable. Thus, the improved crops will promote low input agriculture, better returns and likely have impact on farm income leading to improved nutritional, financial and social stability.
2. Breeding institutes and companies: The knowledge i.e. gene toolkit and molecular markers from my research in Maize and Pearl Millet could be transferred to other economically important crop plants such as sorghum, rice and wheat. Thus other breeding research institutes (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center: CIMMYT, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics: ICRISAT, etc.) and companies (Syngenta, Monsanto, etc.) will also benefit from this research.
3. Academic and industrial researchers: The research will generate a number of new resources (mu insertion, CRISPR-Cas9 mutants, transcriptional and translational reporters, repression lines, Anatomics Molecular Markers, pear millet allelic variants with improved RCA and stress tolerance, etc.) and datasets (Gene expression atlas, Control versus Stress RNAseqs, LAT images for maize mutants and Pearl Millet inbred lines, field phenotype data, etc.) that will benefit a wide spectrum of researchers from other disciplines in academia as well as industry. Additionally, it provides an example of using Anatomics approach for studying other agronomic processes controlled at the anatomical scale (e.g. crop water use efficiency, xylem vessel diameter, etc.). Understanding key genes or signals in regulating root cortical traits under developmental and environmental cues will enable researchers to design new approaches to manipulate root anatomical traits in crops. This research will also create a knowledge base that will allow the commercial sector to exploit and generate IP and new products in the future.
4. Members of the public: They will benefit from the dissemination of my research outputs through science outreach activities specifically developed for distinct non-specialist audiences, such as children from local schools and members of general public. Such outreach will increase public awareness and understanding of global food security issues and the social and economic impact of plant and crop research. This will also inspire students to consider science, especially plant and agriculture research, as a future career option.
Publications
Bhosale R
(2023)
Endoreplication controls cell size via mechanochemical signaling.
in Trends in plant science
Costa N
(2023)
Silicon and bioagents pretreatments synergistically improve upland rice performance during water stress
in Plant Stress
Fusi R
(2022)
Root angle is controlled by EGT1 in cereal crops employing an antigravitropic mechanism.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Huang G
(2022)
Ethylene inhibits rice root elongation in compacted soil via ABA- and auxin-mediated mechanisms.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Kirschner GK
(2024)
Genetic regulation of the root angle in cereals.
in Trends in plant science
Kohli PS
(2022)
Significance of root hairs in developing stress-resilient plants for sustainable crop production.
in Plant, cell & environment
Kong X
(2024)
Ethylene regulates auxin-mediated root gravitropic machinery and controls root angle in cereal crops
in Plant Physiology
Mohammed U
(2022)
Phosphite treatment can improve root biomass and nutrition use efficiency in wheat.
in Frontiers in plant science
Description | In this project we aimed to validate the function of key genes identified through genome wide association studies to be involved in root cortical aerenchyma formation in maize. This process reduces plants metabolic burden and confers tolerance during abiotic stresses. We proved that one of the key gene regulates root cortical aerenchyma formation during environmental conditions. We currently have a manuscript accepted in PNAS. |
Exploitation Route | This gene can now be studied further to understand how it regulates the root cortical aerenchyma process and how environmental conditions regulate this gene. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Description | Nottingham DTP3 |
Amount | £14,883,260 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/T008369/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 09/2028 |
Title | Web resource |
Description | As a part of the recently published collaborative manuscript (Schneider et al 2020, Genetic Control of Root Architectural Plasticity in Maize, JExBot) I conceptualised and developed a web resource through the help of bioinformatics team at University of Nottingham. Using this web resource, we would be able to better disseminate the outputs from our research (GWAS identified and prioritised candidate genes for several root architectural traits) to the wider scientific community. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Easy access to prioritised candidate genes identified to control several root architectural traits under well watered and water stressed conditions for further experimental validations. |
URL | http://rootplasticitygwas.nottingham.ac.uk |
Description | CRISPR knockout generation |
Organisation | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | One of the aims of my Discovery Fellowship is to validate the candidate genes identified to control root anatomical trait called aerenchyma formation. Towards this I had proposed to develop CRISPR knockouts for top candidate genes in maize. I am collaborating with researchers from Wisconsin to develop constructs, transform into maize line and generate CRISPR edits. |
Collaborator Contribution | This collaborator has already generated a CRISPR edits, over-expressor line and identified mu insertion of interest for the top candidate gene identified in my GWAS analysis. Our recent phenotyping results now confirm differences in root cortical aerenchyma formation in these lines (compared to wild-type). As proposed in my fellowship application, I will use these lines further to determine downstream molecular mechanisms regulated by this gene in maize. Additionally, this collaborator is further generating CRISPR edits for my two another prioritised candidate genes. |
Impact | Plant resources for further experimental validation. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Pearl Millet Genomic Resources |
Organisation | Institute of Development Research (IRD) |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | One of the aims of my BBSRC DF is to explore the genetic diversity of Pearl Millet germplasm to identify whether genes identified to control RCA in maize is also conserved in related genome such as Pearl Millet, a staple crop in Africa and India. Towards this I am collaborating with researchers from IRD to mine existing genomic resources in pearl millet (e.g. recently resequenced pearl millet inbred lines panel). To perform this effectively, I recently developed a phylogenomics pipeline to identify true orthologs of maize genes in pearl millet using recent version of genome and evolutionary reconstruction of protein domains. Additionally, I developed second bioinformatics pipeline to identify pearl millet lines with functional SNPs in the RCA related orthologs genes. Now I can functionally validate this hypothesis by assessing RCA formation directly in identified pearl millet variant lines. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided access to recently resequenced genomic data of >300 pearl millet inbred lines. |
Impact | I expect to identify pearl millet lines that have beneficial RCA formation that could help plant perform better under suboptimal conditions. These lines could be brought into breeding programs in Senegal through my collaborators. I foresee social and economic impact through this. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Uniform-Mu insertion validation |
Organisation | Penn State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Recently, I prioritised several candidate genes that control agronomically important root architectural and anatomical traits in maize. A manuscript related to root architectural trait was recently published and has been already attributed to this award (co-authored; Schneider et al., 2020). I recently established a collaboration with a visitor from Penn State University (part of University of Nottingham and Penn State staff exchange program) who specialises in working with Uniform-Mu insertion stocks for validating function of candidate genes. |
Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator had already identified a number of maize mu insertion stocks (for the prioritised candidate genes) from public collections and obtained seeds for work in this summer. This includes (i) planting seeds in field and collecting samples for DNA extraction, (ii) performing genotypic analysis to confirm that the desired variants are indeed present in the stocks and (ii) increasing seed to allow future experimental evaluation. |
Impact | No outputs or outcomes from this collaboration yet. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Title | Functional SNP predictor and variant prioritisation pipeline |
Description | This method explores the genomic resources such as SNP datasets to identify SNPs causing mis-sense and nonsense substitutions and accounts for protein structure information to predict functional SNPs that might impact protein structure and function. This pipeline is now enabling the comparison between contrasting genotypes to predict candidate genes that could be responsible for the phenotypes (complementary to GWAS) or explore a large number of genotypes for candidate genes of interest (existing knowledge) to predict contrasting genotypes that may have a phenotype of interest. |
Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | This pipeline was recently used for exploring >450 lines of a maize diversity panel for the root angle trait (the collaborative manuscript is under revision in Plant, Cell and Environment). Additionally, I am currently using this pipeline for exploring Pearl Millet genomic resources of > 300 lines to identify variant lines with contrasting root anatomical (part of my BBSRC DF AIM3) as well as architectural traits. |
Title | Phylogenomics Bioinformatics Pipeline |
Description | This is a semi-automated bioinformatics pipeline that enables the identification of true orthologs of genes of interest in crops that are not well annotated. It uses genome information along with phylogenetic reconstruction of protein domain structure between model plants (e.g. Arabidopsis) and species of interest. |
Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Impact | Identification of true orthologs is a crucial step in translating knowledge from model species to other under-utilised crops e.g. Pearl Millet. This pipeline is now allowing me to effectively identify maize root anatomy (e.g. RCA) related orthologous genes in pearl millet. Additionally, I have been using this pipeline to identify different hormone singling components in Wheat towards a collaborative project between researchers from Nottingham, Rothamsted Research and JIC. Moreover, I used this pipeline towards identifying auxin signaling components in C Fern for a sLola grant application (currently in the stage of full proposal). |
Description | Attended GCRF funded UK-India rice networking event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Attended three days networking event during which I presented my ongoing work on root growth angle and also gave a workshop on Phone to Gene. Also participated in the closed door meeting to discuss future related activities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | BBSRC DTP Spring Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I chaired a session on "Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics" during the BBSRC DTP Spring Conference (May 2019) at Nottingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | BBSRC DTP Transferable Skills Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Interviewed students for the BBSRC DTP scheme. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | BBSRC Executive Chair Visit to Nottingham |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | I was invited to attend the meeting and present a poster during the visit of BBSRC Executive Chair (Melanie Welham) to University of Nottingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | BBSRC Stakeholder Roundtable with Ottoline Leyser |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This event focused on identifying key opportunities and challenges for the sector in the context of wider research and innovation landscape. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | BBSRC grant academy launch event at University of Nottingham |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Attended this event to get an overview on BBSRC's forward look, current research, priority areas and opportunities for fundings as well as ways working with BBSRC |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Commercialisation and policy event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | I participated in this event to understand how the outputs of my research could be translated or commercialised and how it could help towards improving policies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Conference iFANS 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Attended a 4 days conference on Food and Nutritional Security and delivered an invited talk. Discussed potential collaboration opportunities with several attendees. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://ifans.nabi.res.in |
Description | Departmental seminar organiser |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I organised departmental seminar series for 2020-2021. I had the opportunity to engage with external speakers from various institutes in the UK as well as abroad. Also I hosted 1 hour informal brainstorm session (my new initiative) after each talk during which I facilitated the opportunities for collaboration with the external speaker as well as researchers from the host institution. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Dundee Root Medal Lecture and Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I gave a talk titled "Discovering how cereal roots control their growth angle using a novel anti-gravitropic offset mechanism" during the workshop. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.hutton.ac.uk/events/dundee-root-medal-lecture-and-workshop |
Description | Final round interviews |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was a panel member for interviewing students for BBSRC DTP Studentship 2019. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Interview panel member |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I served as a interviewer on the Panel to recruit a PDRA in my colleague's lab in the host school. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Monogram meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I helped organise 2019 Monogram meeting in Nottingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Organising seminar series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I currently organise two seminar series at the Plant and Crop Science Department of University of Nottingham. Through these activities, I have interacted with many researchers in my research as well as other broader topic areas. I also initiated a brainstorm session after each seminar with the visitor and researchers across my school to generate viable ideas for further research or fundings opportunities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
Description | Participation in University's communication planning activity |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I participated in host institutions initiative about providing communication plan to ECR to improve their visibility. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Research institute visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Visited Regional Centre of Biotechnology in New Delhi, India and delivered a talk titled "Novel gene EGT1 controls root growth angle in cereal crops" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Short course on Interview Skills for Chair and Panel Members |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I attended a Central Short Courses organised by the host institutions about "Joining Instructions forInterview Skills for Chair and Panel Members". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Talk about Anatomics |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | I gave a brief talk during James Hutton Institute visit to Nottingham to discuss collaborative opportunities between institutions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Talk during FFB briefing event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | My fellowship is also supported by University of Nottingham Future Food Beacon of Excellence. I was invited to talk about my research during the briefing event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | UKRRC meeting planning |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Participated in planning of UKRRC meeting held at Nottingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Visit to Rothamsted Research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I visited Rothamsted Research along with a joint PhD student between Nottingham and Rothamsted Research. We discussed the project of interest and engaged with other researchers from the institutions and made plans for some collaborative activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |