Liam Dolan

Professor Liam Dolan, FRS, holds a position at the Gregor Mendel Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. Previously, he served as the Sherardian Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford (2009–2020) and as a Professorial Fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford. He maintains ties with Magdalen College through the Pathways to Success Development and Leadership programme.

His research focuses on plant morphological evolution, cellular development mechanisms, and agronomic traits. Key areas include the evolutionary origins of rooting systems in early land plants, root hair development in model and crop species, and paleobotanical studies using fossilized root systems. Techniques employed span genomics, imaging, and computational modeling.

• Research Interests: Plant evolution, root biology, developmental genetics, and agricultural biotechnology.
• Awards: Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).

Current projects investigate the genetic basis of root hair traits in cereal crops (rice, wheat) and exploit fossil records to reconstruct ancient plant development. Collaborations aim to translate discoveries into crop improvement strategies.