Simon Bull

Dr. Simon Bull is a Group Leader in Plant Biochemistry at ETH Zurich's Institute of Molecular Plant Biology. His research focuses on crop improvement through genome editing and biotechnology, particularly in orphan crops like cassava and perennial ryegrass. He leads a team of postdocs and technicians advancing CRISPR/Cas9 applications for enhancing crop yield, starch properties, and stress tolerance.

Key research themes include accelerating plant breeding cycles, optimizing photorespiratory pathways, and developing transformation protocols for recalcitrant crops. Dr. Bull has pioneered techniques for transgenic cassava and ryegrass, enabling faster trait modification and sustainable agricultural practices.

His work spans fundamental science to applied biotechnology, with recent emphasis on CRISPR platform challenges and orphan crop domestication. Over 30 peer-reviewed publications demonstrate contributions to plant genetics, biochemistry, and agricultural innovation.