Members of the Molecular Plant and Microbial Systems theme seek to understand how microbial and photosynthetic life originated and diversified, how they develop and thrive, and how they interact with an ever-changing environment.
Our methods and approaches are interdisciplinary, covering the full spectrum from atom to ecosystem, from gene to organism, and from picoseconds to billions of years. We use our science and discoveries to bring about impact, addressing global challenges in sustainability, food security, energy, synthetic biology, and policy.
Institutes, centres and initiatives
This Research Theme is associated to the following institutes, centres and initiatives:
- Frontiers of Ultrafast Measurement
- Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment
- Institute of Infection
- Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering
- The Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology
- Agri Futures Lab
- Industrial Biotechnology Hub
- Institute of Chemical Biology
- Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships Centre for Cellular Bionics
- Microbiome Network
Academic staff in this area
Professor Thomas D C Bell
Professor Thomas D C Bell
Professor of Microbial Ecology
Professor Martin I Bidartondo
Professor Martin I Bidartondo
Professor of Molecular Ecology
Dr Tolga Bozkurt
Dr Tolga Bozkurt
Reader in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Professor Martin Buck FRS
Professor Martin Buck FRS
Senior Research Investigator
Dr Tanai Cardona Londono
Dr Tanai Cardona Londono
Visiting Reader
Professor Alain A M Filloux
Professor Alain A M Filloux
Visiting Professor
Dr Richard J Gill
Dr Richard J Gill
Reader in Evolutionary & Experimental Ecology
Dr Peter Graystock
Dr Peter Graystock
Lecturer in Human and Animal Health
Dr Jose Jimenez Zarco
Dr Jose Jimenez Zarco
Reader in Synthetic Biology
Professor Patrik R Jones
Professor Patrik R Jones
Visiting Professor
Dr Catherine Mansfield
Dr Catherine Mansfield
Senior Strategic Teaching Fellow
Dr James W Murray
Dr James W Murray
Reader in Structural Biology of Photosynthesis
Professor Peter J Nixon
Professor Peter J Nixon
Professor of Biochemistry
Professor Bill Rutherford FRS
Professor Bill Rutherford FRS
Chair in Biochemistry of Solar Energy
Dr Giovanni Sena
Dr Giovanni Sena
Senior Lecturer
Dr Jie Song
Dr Jie Song
Senior Lecturer
Professor Pietro Spanu
Professor Pietro Spanu
Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology
Professor Colin G N Turnbull
Professor Colin G N Turnbull
Professor of Plant Sciences
Professor Jasper van Thor
Professor Jasper van Thor
Professor of Molecular Biophysics
Professor Huw D Williams
Professor Huw D Williams
Professor of Microbiology
Postgraduate research
Interested in studying a PhD at the Department of Life Sciences? Find out more about postgraduate research opportunties.