Sandy Cowan

Sandy Cowan is a Research Scientist at the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom. Her work focuses on plant breeding and genetics, particularly in oat (Avena sativa) improvement for disease resistance and agricultural sustainability.

Her research includes the genetic mapping of powdery mildew and crown rust resistance genes in oat lines, as well as the development of novel oat varieties such as Beaumaris, Olwen, and Cariad/Valentine. She utilizes advanced techniques like photothermal integration of multi-spectral imaging data via unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to enhance phenotyping and trait prediction in breeding trials.

Cowan has led multiple externally funded projects, including AHDB Cereal Trials and the Opti-Oat initiative funded by Innovate UK. Her collaborations span academic and industry partners, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through improved crop resilience and yield. She has also participated in hosting non-academic visitors and provided media contributions to programs like "Superfoods" on Ricochet TV.