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Plants, as the base for ecological food chains, serve as the structural and functional foundation of natural and managed systems. The study of plant science and biotechnology provides opportunity in a broad range of specialties fundamental to the understanding of plants and their interaction with other organisms and for specializing in plant biotechnology.
Emphasis is on forests and related plant systems. Current research interests include dynamics of plant communities as affected by humans and the environment; mechanisms of plant succession; epidemiology of forest and urban tree diseases; taxonomy, physiology, growth and ultrastructure of fungi; heritability of wood properties and disease resistance of trees; biochemistry and physiology of plant stress response; photosynthesis; mycorrhizae; plant reproductive biology; genetic engineering; transformation; molecular evolution; phylogenetics; taxonomy; plant-pathogen interactions, tissue culture and study of ancient DNA.
In the last 10-15 years the study of plant sciences has been revolutionised by the development of new tools and technologies which have allowed unprecedented progress in the study of plant biology. These include genomics technologies that are giving access to the secrets of plant genomes, new techniques for studying the regulation of genes and the activity and localisation of proteins. The adoption by the international plant science community of model species such as Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) and rice has led to a massive expansion in our understanding of plant development and how plants interact with and respond to the environment. This knowledge is increasingly being applied to a diverse range of crop and medicinal plants where it can contribute to development of sustainable solutions to the production of food, raw materials, novel chemicals and fuel.
Our MSc Plant Science and Biotechnology degree provides training in modern molecular aspects of plant science and its application to plant biotechnology. While we are happy to consider those who have done a more organism-based plant biology undergraduate degree we do expect some fundamental knowledge of the cellular and molecular basis of life, so please make sure you provide this information in your application or contact us to discuss your suitability. We will also consider those from a non-plant biosciences background who wish to acquire knowledge and expertise in this area, again please contact us to discuss your suitability.
Why study a Plant Science and Biotechnology Masters?
Graduates have many potential career paths open to them, ranging from academic or industry based research, through work in the area of science policy and government, teaching or working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
This course offers exciting contemporary topics such as DNA repair, recombination and transgene integration, organelle biogenesis and plant cell walls
opportunities to work on contemporary issues with leading researchers during your research project. Our Centre for Plant Sciences is a dynamic environment for research into plant cell biology, developmental plant biology, plant gene expression, signal transduction, biotechnology, crop science & the development of biosafe crops
staff links to Africa College; an interdisciplinary University of Leeds initiative focussed on major issues related to the relationship between agriculture, human nutritional health and sustainability drawing on expertise from across the University and in collaboration with national and international partners