Associate Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge

Nicola Patron is a plant molecular and synthetic biologist using engineering approaches to understand biological complexity and advance plant biotechnology. Nicola’s research is focused on understanding how quantitative plant phenotypes emerge from network functions and exploring and utilising metabolic diversity. Her group’s long-term goals are to develop the knowledge and technologies required to optimise crop performance through the rational engineering of regulatory networks and to provide routes for the sustainable use of natural products used in medicine, industry, and agriculture.

Nicola holds a PhD in plant molecular biology and conducted postdoctoral research at the John Innes Centre and the University of British Columbia. In 2016, she established her research group at the Earlham Institute, where she also founded and directed the Earlham Biofoundry. As recipient of a 2015 SynbioLEAP fellowship, Nicola was recognised as an emerging leader in synthetic biology with a vision and aspiration to shape biotechnology for the public good. Nicola is also a co-founder of Black in Plant Science, a network that aims to improve the recruitment, experiences and retention of Black plant scientists in research.