John Bothwell

Dr John Bothwell is an Associate Professor (Reader in Bioenergy) at Durham University's Department of Biosciences. His research focuses on seaweed evolution, bioenergy applications, and ecological roles of marine macroalgae along UK coastlines. He holds a DPhil in Biochemistry from 2000 and has held postdoctoral roles at Cambridge, Plymouth, and Roscoff before joining Queen’s University Belfast (2009-2012) and Durham (2013-present). His career includes a unique year-long hiatus for professional rugby (2002-2003).

Research interests include algal development genetics, bioenergy production from marine biomass, and systematic studies of seaweed evolution. His work integrates genomic, physiological, and ecological approaches to understand algal biology and its environmental applications.

Publications (2023-2010) span topics like algal cell signaling, biofuel processes, and genomic analyses of model organisms such as Ulva and Ectocarpus. His work frequently employs molecular techniques like NMR spectroscopy and genetic engineering.

Current supervisees include Jessie Lauze and Reyna Garcia-Gonzalez. Research has been applied to understanding ecological interactions (e.g., coastal upwelling effects) and developing biotechnological methods for algal biomass utilization.