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Luke Bell

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Lecturer in Temperate Horticulture, University of Reading

I studied for my undergraduate degree at the University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK; 2009) in Ecology & Biology. I specialised in plant science and spent time working in the Cambridge Laboratory at the John Innes Centre. I then moved into industry and began working as a plant breeder or salads and herbs, studying for a Masters degree part time. This was in Plant & Environmental Science at the University of Warwick (2011). I then moved to Reading for my PhD in Food & Nutritional Science (2017), and afterwards worked as a postdoc. I received an award for 'Best European Thesis in Flavour Research' in 2017. I became a Lecturer in the School of Agriculture, Policy & Development in 2018, and have published 11 scientific papers (as of Feb 2020) in international journals and periodicals on subjects such as: nutritional diversity of salad rocket leaves, volatile organic compounds, sensory analysis, consumer preference, taste and flavour, microbiology, plant genetics, and supply chain and shelf life effects on nutritional quality of fresh produce.

Experience

  • –present
    Lecturer in Temperate Horticulture, University of Reading
  • 2016–2018
    Postdoctoral research associate, University of Reading
  • 2009–2012
    Plant Breeder, Elsoms Seeds Ltd.

Education

  • 2016 
    University of Reading, PhD - Food & Nutritional Science
  • 2011 
    University of Warwick, Masters - Plant & Environmental Science
  • 2009 
    University of East Anglia, Bachelors - Ecology & Biology

Publications

  • 2020
    Red light is effective in reducing nitrate concentration in rocket by increasing nitrate reductase activity, and contributes to increased total glucosinolates content, Frontiers in Plant Science
  • 2020
    Growth temperature influences postharvest glucosinolate concentrations and hydrolysis product formation in first and second cuts of rocket salad, Postharvest Biology & Technology
  • 2019
    Changes in bacterial loads, gas composition, volatile organic compounds, and glucosinolates of fresh bagged Ready-To-Eat rocket under different shelf life treatment scenarios, Postharvest Biology & Technology
  • 2019
    Rocket Science: A Review Of Phytochemical & Health-related Research In Eruca & Diplotaxis Species, Food Chemistry: X
  • 2019
    30-Second Nutrition (contributor), Ivy Press
  • 2019
    The Biosynthesis of Glucosinolates: Insights, Inconsistencies, and Unknowns, Annual Plant Reviews Online
  • 2018
    Taste and Flavor Perceptions of Glucosinolates, Isothiocyanates, and Related Compounds, Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
  • 2017
    Enhancement Of Glucosinolate and Isothiocyanate Profiles in Brassicaceae Crops: Addressing Challenges in Breeding for Cultivation, Storage, and Consumer-Related Traits, Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry
  • 2017
    Analysis of seven salad rocket (Eruca sativa) accessions: The relationships between sensory attributes and volatile and non-volatile compounds, Food Chemistry
  • 2017
    Changes in rocket salad phytochemicals within the commercial supply chain: Glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, amino acids and bacterial load increase significantly after processing, Food Chemistry
  • 2017
    The influence of phytochemical composition and resulting sensory attributes on preference for salad rocket (Eruca sativa) accessions by consumers of varying TAS2R38 diplotype, Food Chemistry
  • 2016
    Use of TD-GC–TOF-MS to assess volatile composition during post-harvest storage in seven accessions of rocket salad (Eruca sativa), Food Chemistry
  • 2015
    Identification and quantification of glucosinolate and flavonol compounds in rocket salad (Eruca sativa, Eruca vesicaria and Diplotaxis tenuifolia) by LC–MS, Food Chemistry
  • 2014
    Glucosinolates, Myrosinase Hydrolysis Products, and Flavonols Found in Rocket (Eruca sativa and Diplotaxis tenuifolia), Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry

Grants and Contracts

  • 2019
    Applying food science to inform diet choices and improve health
    Role:
    Lead investigator
    Funding Source:
    Wellcome Trust
  • 2019
    Multispectral imaging of potato to improve yields under drought stress
    Role:
    Lead investigator
    Funding Source:
    Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Professional Memberships

  • Association of Applied Biologists