My research combines wet-lab experimentation, field work, and computational analysis to understand how plants and their microbial environments interact — with implications for crop resilience and sustainable food systems.
Quantitative rigour underpins everything I do. I work in R across the full analytical pipeline — statistical modelling, multivariate analysis, and reproducible data workflows — with a focus on drawing clear, well-supported conclusions from complex biological data.
I characterise rhizosphere microbiomes end-to-end: from DNA extraction and sequencing through to bioinformatics pipelines and ecological interpretation. Understanding which microbial communities associate with high-performing crops — and why — has real implications for soil health, input reduction, and sustainable intensification.
I use quantitative phenotyping to investigate how root traits vary across genotypes and environments, and what this means for crop performance, resilience, and adaptation. Root architecture is an underexplored but important lever for climate-smart crop improvement.
I'm interested in the translational side of plant research — how scientific findings connect to crop improvement, breeding, and the practical challenges of feeding a changing world. This extends to a broader curiosity about underutilised and climate-resilient crops, and the role they might play in more diversified, sustainable food systems.
I try to situate my work within the broader ecological context — the links between plant biology, soil biodiversity, and long-term agricultural sustainability. I want my research to be scientifically rigorous and genuinely relevant beyond the lab.