معرفی
Huw Jones is a Professor at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, where he leads research in plant biotechnology and crop breeding. He has held honorary positions at Rothamsted Research and the University of Nottingham, and previously served as a Senior Research Scientist at Rothamsted and Long Ashton Research Station.
Education:
- PhD in Molecular Biology and Intracellular Signalling, University of Bristol
- MSc
- BSc
Huw Jones is internationally recognized for his work in plant functional genomics, gene editing (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9), RNA interference, and in vitro tissue culture techniques, particularly in polyploid crops such as forage grasses, clovers, cereals, poplar, and willow. His research focuses on improving crop resilience and breeding efficiency through advanced biotechnological tools, including exploiting chloroplast inheritance, doubled haploidy, and heterosis. He has extensive expertise in the regulatory and biosafety aspects of genetically modified and gene-edited crops.
The recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on precision breeding, regulatory frameworks, and the application of gene editing and RNAi in agriculture. Themes include abiotic stress tolerance, biosafety of dsRNA crops, transformation methods in grasses and algae, and policy analysis of precision breeding in the UK. His work bridges fundamental science with real-world agricultural and regulatory challenges.
Scientific Awards:
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (2002)
- Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (elected 2025)
Huw Jones has supervised several PhD students, including Daniel Fenton and Kusum Khatri, and leads externally funded projects such as PlastiRoots (Horizon Europe) and citizen science initiatives on breeding transparency. He has secured grants from BBSRC, ESRC, Syngenta, and Newton Bhabha Fund. He previously chaired the UK Plant Sciences Federation Working Group and served on EFSA’s GMO panel (2009–2018), where he co-authored over 150 risk assessment opinions. He currently advises the UK Food Standards Agency and Defra on novel foods and environmental releases.
He is actively involved in public engagement, frequently contributing to media discussions on GMOs, gene editing, and food security, advocating for science-based regulation and sustainable agricultural innovation.
