Supervisors: Dr Peter Walley, Dr Sarah DeVos and Dr Chris Ridout

I read my undergrad degree in biology at Liverpool John Moores University where I became interested in food security and climate change mitigation through crop breeding. After a short break, I returned to university to complete a master’s degree in advanced biological sciences (food security) at the University of Liverpool. This is where I met my current PhD supervisor who pointed me in the direction of my PhD.

Project Title: Capturing Novel Quality and Soil Health Traits for Sustainable Barley Production

The project aims to use metabolomics analyses in combination with genomics to identify alleles responsible for flavour contributions of barley to beer. This will take place using a genetically diverse heritage population to test for metabolite differences between cultivars to generate metabolite profiles that relate flavour to genotype. These profiles will then be used as traits to draw associations between the biochemistry and genotype of each cultivar. In addition, varieties will be grown in varying soil pH to assess the effects of acidity on flavour. Relevant alleles will be mapped and information will be used to inform breeders interested in providing novel flavours to the craft beer industry and to add a source of genetic diversity to the relatively small elite barley crop gene pool. The industrial partner, New Heritage Barley, is providing access to samples of up to 100 landrace and abandoned barley varieties, agronomic and genetic data and other facilities such as micro-malting.

Other activities

I have already presented my plan at the Breeder’s Day at the John Innes Centre.