Lindsay works within the Spoel Lab at the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences (IMPS). She talks about what inspired her to begin a career in plant science and her current research using genomics to understand the post-harvest transcriptome and immune system of leafy vegetables. Please tell us about your research project and how your work involves genomics or makes use of genomic technologies The aim of my research is to reduce food waste and loss by improving post-harvest plant health; currently up to 50% of fresh produce crops can be lost during storage. My research uses genomics to understand the post-harvest transcriptome and immune system of leafy vegetables. Harvested fruit and vegetables are not dead, nor are they passive surfaces on which bacteria and fungi grow: post-harvest plants are alive and interacting with their environment. Plants show a significant transcriptional shift post-harvest to manage the stresses they are undergoing. I compare transcriptomes across various post-harvest brassica crops, such as cabbage and broccoli, with the aim of developing new bioengineering strategies to optimise post-harvest health without compromising on-soil yield or quality. Plant genomes are incredible: the largest known plant genome is fifty times bigger than the human genome, whereas the smallest is almost 200 times smaller than ours. Whole genome duplication and ploidy ranging from 2-96n add to the complexity. Some of our most important crops, like wheat and cotton, are allopolyploids: plant genomics is a challenge and a delight! Lindsay with a boot full of cabbage samples collected from a farm in Fife. What inspired you to follow your career path? I did not begin my career as a biologist: I initially studied Arabic and French language and literature at university, and worked for six years in embassies around North Africa and the Levant. While I was working in Aleppo in Syria, I met some crop researchers breeding drought-resistant crops at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). I had always been fascinated and enchanted by plants, but had never come across plant scientists before, or even considered that they might exist! The ICARDA scientists inspired me to consider a career in crop science: my aim was to retrain and return to the Middle East with skills and knowledge to benefit those suffering from food insecurity. I taught myself biology A-level on a hot Damascus balcony, and applied for undergraduate plant science degrees in the UK, after which I continued on to do a PhD in plant genomics and immunity. Please summarise your previous work and career so far. My interest in biology has always focussed on plants. During my undergraduate degree I did placements across the spectrum of plant biology: from taxonomy and biodiversity with the Centre for Middle Eastern Plants (CMEP) at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE), to computational modelling of breeding programmes at Roslin. I particularly enjoyed my wet lab placements at the Institute of Molecular Plant Science (IMPS), working on plant pathology and epigenetics in the model plant Arabidopsis, and developing genome editing techniques in algae. I was lucky enough to be supported by the Gatsby foundation, through their summer school, summer studentship, and the Sainsbury PhD studentship. The Gatsby network brings together and funds plant scientists across the UK; the training, funding and networking they provided has been invaluable, and enabled me to pursue my interest in post-harvest crop immunity. Lindsay in the lab growth rooms. Do you have any advice for people wanting to pursue a research career? What do you like best about your job? Research can be a great career: it can provide intellectual stimulation, a sense of purpose, and the ability to shape your own projects; I really value these aspects of my work. It is increasingly possible to balance caring responsibilities and research careers: I asked for maternity leave during my studies, and part-time work during my PhD. My favourite parts of my job are working with creative scientists who love ideas, getting that first round of data back from a project, and, of course, growing the plants. How do you spend your time outside of research? Is there anything else you would like to tell us about? My two children were born during my biology undergraduate degree, so most of my time outside research is spent with them. I have also never really let go of my love of languages, and always have a couple that I am trying to learn. I am so lucky that science allows me to work with people from all over the world, bringing new opportunities to learn from them, and practice my nascent language skills. Links Spoel lab Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (external link) Centre for Middle Eastern Plants (external link) Gatsby Foundation (external link) This article was published on 2024-07-04
