Martin Howard

Professor Martin Howard is a leading academic at the John Innes Centre, where he serves as Head of the Computational and Systems Biology department. His research focuses on integrating mathematical modeling with experimental biology to understand complex systems like epigenetic memory and cell size control. He holds a DPhil from Oxford University and has held prestigious roles including Royal Society University Research Fellow and Unilever Visiting Professor at the University of Amsterdam.

• Current roles: Professor and Head of Department at John Innes Centre, Honorary Group Leader at Babraham Institute
• Research Themes: Epigenetic dynamics, chromatin structure, and interdisciplinary computational approaches

His work combines statistical physics principles with biological systems, notably in Polycomb epigenetic systems and meiotic recombination. Key areas include the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic memory in cold sensing and the coarsening model for meiotic crossover positioning.

Recent publications highlight advancements in understanding HEI10 proteolysis, COOLAIR-mediated vernalization, and chromatin-histone feedback loops. Awards include EMBO Membership (2024) and the Rosalind Franklin Prize (2020).

Howard has advised numerous postdocs and researchers, many of whom hold academic or industry roles globally. His lab collaborates with experimental groups across plants and mammals, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to biological problems.