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