معرفی
Kerrie Farrar is a Reader at the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, where she leads research on biomass yield improvement in energy crops to mitigate climate change. Her work integrates plant developmental biology, genetics, and plant-soil-microbe interactions, with a focus on the perennial grass Miscanthus. She holds a PhD in Plant Molecular Biology from the University of Durham and has been at IBERS since 2004, progressing from postdoctoral roles to leadership positions including Institute Strategic Program Lead for Resilient Crops (2023–present).
Education:
- BSc in Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh (1996)
- PhD in Plant Molecular Biology, University of Durham (2000)
Her research aims to enhance bioenergy crop productivity under changing climates by leveraging plant genetics and beneficial microbial interactions. She investigates how genetic variation and endophytic bacteria influence biomass accumulation, stress tolerance, and carbon sequestration. Her lab contributes significantly to sustainable agriculture and renewable energy solutions.
The recent publications highlight a strong trend in plant genomics, microbial symbiosis, and sustainable biomass production. Themes include genome assembly of Miscanthus, flowering time genetics, stress tolerance via endophytes, and large-scale bioenergy deployment. Her work bridges molecular biology with real-world agricultural and environmental applications.
Scientific Awards:
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB), since 2014
Kerrie Farrar leads multiple externally funded projects and advises PhD students such as Jack Crosby, Jack Davies, and Harry Pollitt. She has secured grants from BBSRC, UKRI, BEIS, and EIT Climate-KIC. She co-organizes the BioEnergy Grass Genomics workshop at the Plant and Animal Genome Conference and promotes diversity in science as a former Equalities Champion at Aberystwyth University.
She leads the Farrar Lab, part of the Resilient Crops Institute Strategic Program, and collaborates widely across the UK and internationally, including projects in Brazil and Norway. Her team works on genomic selection (e.g., MiscanSpeed project), nitrogen fixation, and phytoremediation using perennial grasses.
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