Matthew Terry

Professor Matthew Terry is a leading academic in Molecular Plant Biology at the University of Southampton, UK. He holds the title of Professor of Molecular Plant Biology and currently serves as Deputy Head of School (Research and Enterprise). His research focuses on chloroplast development, retrograde signaling between chloroplasts and nuclei, and improving algal photosynthesis for biofuel applications. Terry has a PhD in Biology (1990) and BSc in Biochemistry (1985), both from the University of Southampton. He has been continuously employed at Southampton since 1995, progressing through roles including Royal Society Research Fellow and Reader. Terry leads major research projects funded by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), including the South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and the Higher Education Academy, and actively supervises PhD students in plant biology and biotechnology. His work bridges fundamental plant science with applied research in crop improvement and algal bioengineering.

Research Interests:

• Chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling mechanisms
• Light regulation of wheat growth via Phytochrome Interacting Proteins (PIFs)
• Algal synthetic biology for enhanced photosynthetic efficiency
• Plant stress responses mediated by singlet oxygen signaling

Key Projects:

• BBSRC-funded research on chloroplast signaling pathways
• Engineering cyanobacterial photosynthesis systems
• Strategies to reduce potato tuber greening
• Algal strain optimization (Dunaliella tertiolecta)

Grants & Awards:

• BBSRC South Coast Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership leadership
• Royal Society grant for plant stress research
• Multiple BBSRC grants (2009–2023)
• Fellowships from the Royal Society and Higher Education Academy

Teaching & Supervision:

Terry supervises PhD students in molecular plant biology and participates in interdisciplinary training programs. He contributes to advanced biological sciences curricula and mentors early-career researchers through Southampton's academic enterprise initiatives.

Collaborations:

Active partnerships with institutions including RIKEN (Japan), University of California Davis (USA), and UK-based research groups focused on plant genetics and synthetic biology.