Ian Henderson

Professor Ian Henderson is a leading academic in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences. He holds the title of Professor of Genetics and Epigenetics and has been a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Gatsby Resident Fellow since 2008.

• Education: BA in Biological Sciences (University of Oxford, 1997-2000); PhD in Plant Genetics (John Innes Centre, 2000-2004) under Prof. Caroline Dean

His research focuses on genetic and epigenetic control of meiotic recombination in plant genomes, with an emphasis on crossover frequency, chromatin interactions, and centromere evolution. His group uses model organisms like Arabidopsis thaliana, wheat, potato, and oak trees.

Key trends in his recent publications include centromere genomics, epigenetic regulation of recombination, and application of long-read sequencing to resolve complex genomic regions. Collaborations with agro-biotech companies (Bayer Biosciences, Solynta) aim to translate findings into crop breeding technologies.

• Scientific Awards
  • EMBO Member (2022)
  • Society for Experimental Biology President's Medal (2013)
  • Royal Society University Research Fellow (2008-2016)
  • Gatsby Research Fellow (2008-2016)
  • EMBO Long Term Fellowship (2004-2008)

Professor Henderson's work bridges fundamental research on plant genome evolution with applied strategies to control recombination for climate-resilient crops. His lab employs advanced techniques including nanopore sequencing, ChIP, and high-performance computing for genome analysis.