Nick Talbot

Nick Talbot is a distinguished plant scientist and the Executive Director of The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, UK.12 He is renowned for his research on plant pathology, particularly focusing on the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, which causes one of the world's most devastating crop diseases.24

Career Highlights

• Executive Director and Group Leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory since 201812
• Previously served as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Impact at the University of Exeter (2010-2018)1
• Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Exeter (1999-2018)2

Research Focus

Talbot's research primarily involves understanding how fungi cause diseases in plants.5 His work combines molecular, genetic, genomic, and cell biological approaches to elucidate the processes of cell differentiation and autophagic cell death in plant-pathogenic fungi.2

Education and Achievements

• PhD from the University of East Anglia in 19902
• Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 201423
• Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) since 20132
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) since 20102

Funding and Recognition

• Awarded prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants in 2013 and 20222
• Current ERC grant supports the SEPBLAST project, focusing on fungal morphogenetic proteins called septins2
• Research funded by various organizations including BBSRC, EPSRC, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation3

Nick Talbot's work has significantly contributed to our understanding of plant diseases and potential methods for controlling them, making him a key figure in the field of plant pathology and molecular genetics.4