Joel Allainguillaume

Joel Allainguillaume is an Associate Professor in Conservation Science (Molecular Genetics) at the University of the West of England, Bristol, affiliated with the Department of Applied Sciences within the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences. He actively contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching while leading the MRes Applied Sciences program.

Education:

• DEUG
• MSc
• DESS
• PhD
• FHEA

Research Interests:

• Cacao Improvement: Focuses on Cacao Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV) in West Africa, aiming to develop pre-symptomatic field detection methods through genomic studies and collaboration with institutions like Mars Chocolate, CIRAD, and the European Cocoa Association.
• Environmental Monitoring & DNA Barcoding: Applies molecular strategies for conservation of endangered species (e.g., Cotoneaster cambricus, Malacochersus tornieri), forensic analysis of plant species in food supplements, and high-throughput sequencing for ecological studies.

Collaborations: Works with the University of Reading (UK), CIRAD (France), World Cocoa Foundation Ghana, Bristol Zoological Society, and others. Projects are funded by TSB-Innovate UK, UWE, and the European Cocoa Association.