Andrew Leitch

Professor Andrew Leitch is a faculty member at Queen Mary University of London, holding the position of Professor of Plant Genetics and Co-director of the MSc Plant and Fungal Taxonomy Diversity program. He is affiliated with the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences and is Deputy Head of the Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainability. His research focuses on plant genetics, genome evolution, and biodiversity conservation, with a particular emphasis on polyploidy, genome size dynamics, and grassland ecology.

Leitch’s work spans multiple disciplines, including the study of plant hybridization, community ecology, and the application of genomic tools to understand species distribution under environmental pressures. He leads projects such as the 'Sustainable Biodiversity Research Initiative (SUBRI)' and collaborates on global biodiversity frameworks. His recent efforts include re-wilding Kenyan uplands using sustainable bamboo cultivation to address ecological and climate challenges.

Key research interests include the genetic basis of plant adaptation, the impact of genome size on ecosystem dynamics, and the development of databases like the 'BI Flora Explorer' to predict species responses to climate change. His contributions have advanced understanding of plant evolution, conservation strategies, and sustainable agricultural practices.