Plenary Speaker – Professor Steven Spoel, FRSE
Born to parents from Suriname and the Netherlands, Steven Spoel is Professor of Cell Signalling and Proteostasis at the University of Edinburgh. After completing an MSc at Utrecht University (Netherlands), he moved to Duke University (USA) for his PhD degree and subsequently was awarded an EMBO Long-Term Fellowship and a Netherlands Science Foundation Rubicon Fellowship for postdoctoral work at the University of Edinburgh. In 2010 he started his lab with a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. He has served as Director of the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences (2018-2023) and currently is Director of Research for Biological Sciences. Steven has been a recipient of the New Phytologist Tansley Medal, the Early Excellence in Science Award from the Bayer Foundation, and two consecutive grants from the European Research Council and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE). He serves the community in various external roles, including as a member of BBSRC’s Council and as Gatsby Plant Science Advisor.
Meet the BiPS Initiative
In this session members of the Black in Plant Science Initiative will share about our vision and mission. Discover who we are, our goals for advancing diversity and inclusion within plant science, and how our work aims to make a difference. Explore how you can benefit from and contribute to our efforts, whether through collaboration, support, or participation in our activities.
Chair: Mikhaela Neequay
Mikhaela Neequaye, PhD, is a Post-doctoral Research Assistant in the newly established Byers Lab at the John Innes Centre. She is a chemical ecologist, with a background in crop genetics, currently studying the regulation of plant-pollinator interactions. Mikhaela is a British-Ghanaian and a recent recipient of the Rosalind Franklin Society Award in Science.
Panellist: Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso
Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, PhD, is a Professor of Plant Sciences and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the University of Leeds. She is originally from Cuba and studied in the University of La Habana. She completed a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the University of Cordoba, Spain and did postdoctoral placements at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (New York, USA) and at the John Innes Centre (JIC) (Norwich, UK). Yoselin’s research focuses on investigating the mechanisms regulating intercellular communication in plants using biological, physical and mathematical approaches.
Panellist: Ayomide Olukorede
Ayomide Olukorede is a PhD candidate at the John Innes Center, Norwich, (UK) in the PhD rotation program in Plant and Microbial Science. She completed her Master’s in Plant Science and Biotechnology at the University of Leeds, UK and served as a research assistant in the Benitez-Alfonso laboratory. Ayomide is interested in using a creative, curiosity-led approach to answer fundamental questions in bioscience and translating that knowledge into societal benefits and innovations in plant science. She is concerned about improving food security in Africa and passionate about contributing her knowledge and skills to improving bioscience education for early career scientists who have limited opportunities, ensuring that they are on par with their global counterparts and can reach their maximum potential.
Cultivate: Meet our Summer Studentship Cohort
Meet the students from our inaugural Summer Studentship Programme! Join us to hear directly from these emerging talents about their experiences and insights gained over the summer. Discover the impact of the programme and celebrate the achievements of the next generation of plant scientists.
Poppy Isabella-Nana Akua Sarpong Cann
Poppy Isabella-Nana Akua Sarpong Cann is a student of Plant Sciences BSc at the University of Bristol. Poppy first got into studying plant sciences due to an interest in ethnobotany, where traditional knowledge and modern science overlap. Poppy is inspired by the vast potential of plants to solve global challenges, from medicine to sustainable agriculture, and the complex relationships they form with other kingdoms. The intricate ways plants adapt and evolve has driven her curiosity to uncover more, with seemingly insignificant plants like the ivy-leaved toadflax thriving in urban environments, showcasing nature’s resilience and adaptability. Outside of her studies, Poppy loves to immerse herself in anything creative. From poetry and textiles to meditation and cooking, she loves to try anything to increase self-expression and mindfulness. In the future, Poppy would love to merge her interest in plant science with these hobbies to further explore methods of science communication.
Brandon Hinds
Brandon Hinds currently studies Biotechnology with Enterprise at the University of Leeds. What really inspires Brandon about plant sciences is the scope within them for discovering creative solutions to several of the challenges we currently face and will face in the future. Whether it’s engineering extreme-climate-resilient cereals, disease-resistant plants, cereals with increased nutritional value, potatoes specialised for use as biofuels, or culturing exotic plants and seeds ex situ to aid conservation efforts, he believes there is so much potential for advancements to be made across agriculture, energy, and health/wellbeing through plant science.
Outside of biotechnology, Brandon enjoys making and performing music with his friends in their band, watching live gigs, graphic design, and skating.
Lyea Rivers
Lyea Rivers is studying BSc Earth & Environmental Studies at Lancaster University. She watched documentaries as a child with her twin sister and this sparked her interests in life & nature including plants and the ecosystems they live in. Learning the biology of plant growth and the ecosystem services they provide inspires Lyea the most! Outside of plant science, Lyea enjoys spending time around pets & wildlife, hiking & swimming in the ocean in her free time.
Damilare Shodeinde
Damilare Shodeinde is a student at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, studying for his bachelor’s in molecular biology and genetics. Plant science and genetics has always appealed to him since he began to pursue a scientific career.
Damilare believes the science of plants provides vital support to deficient areas of the world such as those undergoing droughts or flooding and areas experiencing nutrient deficiencies. Plant science is viewed as a smaller area of research in the scientific community, and Damilare hopes to not only provide his knowledge to the field but one day inspire others to uptake plant science in their careers.
Outside of science, Damilare’s favourite activity is cooking (especially desserts), before he began to study science he originally went to culinary school and still loves to improve his skills, although he has decided to pursue a career in science, cooking will always provide him with a fun and interesting hobby to be improved on.
Celebrate: Excellence Past and Present
In this session, we will be honouring the outstanding achievements and contributions of Black people in plant science to date. This event will spotlight both historical and contemporary successes, recognising the impact of pioneering work and celebrating the ongoing excellence of current researchers and innovators. Don’t miss this opportunity to reflect on past triumphs and be inspired by present accomplishments.
Thelma Madzima
Dr. Madzima is an 1855 Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Biology at Michigan State University.
She received her Ph.D. in 2009 in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Florida. She subsequently joined the laboratory of Dr. Karen McGinnis at Florida State University as a postdoctoral scholar.
The overarching goal of her research program is to understand how epigenetic mechanisms facilitate growth, development, and response to abiotic stress stimuli in crop plants.
Dr. Madzima is dedicated to broadening the participation, recruitment and retention of individuals from groups underrepresented in STEM. In recognition of her efforts, she was awarded the 2021 University of Washington Bothell School of STEM Inclusive Service Award, the 2022 Maize Genetics Cooperation Leadership Award, 2022 American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award and the 2022 ASPB Excellence in Education Award.
Jade Bleau (winner of BiPS Research Excellence award)
Jade Bleau, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the University of Dundee/James Hutton Institute. After finishing her BSc at the University of Leeds, she completed her MRes in Plant and Microbial Biology at the University of Sheffield (UK), working with the vegetable breeding company Enza Zaden (Netherlands). She completed her PhD at the University of Edinburgh and is currently at the University of Dundee, researching the molecular mechanisms behind plant-aphid interactions. Jade is one of the founding members of Black Botanists Week, a campaign first organised in 2020 to promote, encourage, create a safe space for, and find more Black people who love plants.
Celebrate your story and heritage through creativity
Engage in a creative writing and visual art workshop that delves into our roots and envisions our future. This session invites you to explore personal and collective histories through art and storytelling, while also shaping our shared and personal visions for what lies ahead.
Philippa Walusimbi
Philippa Walusimbi is an experienced project coordinator, producer and workshop facilitator and singer-songwriter whose main passions lie in music and film. In each of these areas she is interested in how organisations and creatives are responding to the challenges we face as local and global communities.
Besiana Sinanaj
Besiana Sinanaj is an eclectic artist navigating the planes of art, science and education. Born in Albania but raised in the lush tropics of Nigeria, the crispy temperate region of Libya and the scorching desert of Saudi Arabia, her experience and love of diverse cultures and ecosystems fuels her art. Besiana obtained her Biology PhD degree from the University of Leeds in 2022, where she focussed on exploring plant-fungal interactions. Since then, she has completed postdoctoral work at the University of Sheffield and currently works as a researcher at the John Innes Centre, UK.
Cultivate: how to secure funding and build a career in Plant Science
Join us for a panel discussion on securing a successful career in plant science, with a focus on funding and making an impact. Hear from experts who will share their experiences—both struggles and successes—in obtaining research funding. Gain valuable insights and practical tips, including advice from a funding representative, to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities in this field.
Chair: Nicola Patron
Nicola Patron, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge. Her group used synthetic biology approaches to investigate plant gene expression and metabolism. Of Trinidadian descent, Nicola was born and educated in the U.K. She did her first plant science experiments on seeds that had visited the International Space Station. After a PhD in plant molecular biology, she completed postdoctoral placements at The John Innes Centre, UK and The University of British Columbia, Canada. As a SynBioLEAP fellow, Nicola was recognised as an emerging leader in synthetic biology with a desire to help innovations in the laboratory have a positive social impact. Nicola started her research group in 2016 at the Earlham Institute, Norwich and relocated to the University of Cambridge in February 2024
Panellist: Faith Uwadiae, PhD
Faith is a Research Culture and Communities Specialist at the Wellcome Trust. Her vision is for academic research to be more positive and inclusive, enabling everyone to thrive. Sadly, this is not currently a reality, but she is working on it. Faith works on specific Wellcome research culture initiatives, advises teams across Wellcome on how they can redesign their funding opportunities to drive better cultures and collaborates with other industry stakeholders to incentivise and transform the research and innovation sector. Faith also leads Wellcome’s work to support Black-led initiatives which enhance the careers of Black-heritage researchers. Before joining Wellcome, Faith spent 10 years in academic research, this included completing a PhD in Immunology at Imperial College London and working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Francis Crick Institute. It is this time in academia, the people she met and their stories and experiences that fuel her passion to revolutionise and change the system for the better.
Panellist: Steven Spoel
Born to parents from Suriname and the Netherlands, Steven Spoel is Professor of Cell Signalling and Proteostasis at the University of Edinburgh. After completing an MSc at Utrecht University (Netherlands), he moved to Duke University (USA) for his PhD degree and subsequently was awarded an EMBO Long-Term Fellowship and a Netherlands Science Foundation Rubicon Fellowship for postdoctoral work at the University of Edinburgh. In 2010 he started his lab with a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. He has served as Director of the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences (2018-2023) and currently is Director of Research for Biological Sciences. Steven has been a recipient of the New Phytologist Tansley Medal, the Early Excellence in Science Award from the Bayer Foundation, two consecutive grants from the European Research Council and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE). He serves the community in various external roles, including as a member of BBSRC’s Council and as Gatsby Plant Science Advisor.
Panellist: Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso
Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso, PhD, is a Professor of Plant Sciences and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the University of Leeds. She is originally from Cuba and studied in the University of La Habana. She completed a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the University of Cordoba, Spain and did postdoctoral placements at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (New York, USA) and at the John Innes Centre (JIC) (Norwich, UK). Yoselin’s research focuses on investigating the mechanisms regulating intercellular communication in plants using biological, physical and mathematical approaches.
Connect: Exploring Careers Beyond Academia
Discover how plant science research can lead to diverse career paths outside academia. In this session, professionals who have successfully transitioned from research to roles in education, policy, industry, and more will share their journeys. If you’re considering a career shift, join us to gain insights on navigating change and seizing new opportunities.
Chair: John Baison
John Baison, PhD, is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and cereal geneticist based at RAGT Seeds Ltd. focusing on the implementation of genomic selection methods in cereal breeding programmes, and liaison with breeders and statisticians to ensure delivery of molecular genetics and bioinformatics analyses. John completed his PhD on the application of genetic and genomic tools in Apple breeding at the ARC in South Africa. In June 2015, John was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Karl Kemp Foundation to join the Bio4Energy project at Umea Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Sweden as a bioinformatician. This was followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship from The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) in the Forest Genetics group at UPSC as lead bioinformatician.
Panellist: Maiara Piovesana Roberti
Maiara Piovesana Roberti is a Senior Portfolio Manager with the Private Office and Corporate Development team of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). A passionate plant sciences enthusiast, Maiara is a trained plant molecular biologist who has transitioned from a career in academia to work with science funding and policy in the public sector. Maiara obtained a BSc in Molecular Biotechnology from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and later completed her PhD studies through a partnership between Rothamsted Research and The University of Exeter. Following a one-year postdoc at The University of Edinburgh investigating the role of redox signalling in biotic and abiotic stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana, Maiara joined EPSRC/UKRI as a Portfolio Manager, later moving on to her current role.
Panellist: Rupesh Paudyal
I am Funding Policy Lead for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) where I develop policies related to research grant funding working across policy, strategy and operations. I am a plant scientist by training with PhD in cell and chemical biology from the University of Leeds. I also worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Leeds and Programme Manager at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) before I joined UKRI. Note: I am participating in the event in personal capacity and not representing my employer.
Panellist: Ines Alvarez-Garcia
After graduating with a degree in Zoology, Ines moved to Cambridge and became very interested in molecular biology and development while she worked as a Research Assistant in a Drosophila lab. She was awarded a PhD from the University of Cambridge and moved to Harvard University as a Postdoctoral Fellow. After a short collaboration at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, she moved back to Cambridge to do a second postdoctoral fellowship. She joined the PLOS Biology team in April 2008, and has since enjoyed collaborating closely with scientists to help them share their results