James Abbott

James Abbott is a Senior Lecturer and Data Analysis and Bioinformatics Group Manager at the University of Dundee, School of Life Sciences. He holds a PhD in Plant Molecular Biology from the same institution and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. His research focuses on computational biology, genomic projects in plants and microbiology, and bioinformatics applications. Abbott’s work includes contributions to the tomato genome sequencing project, rhizosphere microbiota studies, and metagenomic research. He leads the Data Analysis Group and is the Open Research Lead for the School of Life Sciences.

Research interests span genomic analysis, microbial ecology, and computational methods for biological questions. He has been recognized with awards such as the Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (2024) and the Brian Cox Prize for Public Engagement (2023). Teaching responsibilities include modules like Applied Bioinformatics and Advanced Technology Platforms. Abbott collaborates on projects like the Dundee Resource for Sequence Analysis and Structure Prediction (DRSASP) and leads international studies on microbiota and bioinformatics tools.