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Dr Rowan Mitchell: research career

Publications

Qualifications

  • 2006 - MSc Bioinformatics, University of Manchester, UK

  • 1985 - PhD Plant Science, Imperial College, University of London, UK

  • 1982 - BSc (Joint Hons) Chemistry and Botany, Durham University, UK

Employment History

  • European Molecular Biology Organization fellow, University of Münster (1985-1988)

  • Post-doc (1988-1997) then Project Leader (1997-2020) at Rothamsted Research

Research Grants

Recent Grants as Principal Investigator (PI)

  • Newton ASA grant for UK-Embrapa collaboration: “Comparing alternative technologies for genetic improvement of digestibility of Brazilian grass crops” 2018-2019, £8k

  • BBSRC BB/R022828/1 Newton-Caldas. “Exploiting diversity in Brachiaria and Panicum tropical forage grasses using forward and reverse genetics.” Joint with Prof. Pat Heslop-Harrison, University of Leicester. RRes PI. 2018-2019 RRes £74k

  • GCRF-IAA small grants: “Screening for effects of genes on cell walls to improve digestibility for biofuel in Brazilian grasses” 2017, £23k “Using recombinant assay to test genes responsible for cell wall feruloylation to improve digestibility of grass crops” 2018, £9k (ODA partner: Embrapa-Agroenergy; Brazil)

  • InnovateUK TS/N00549X/1 Agritech Catalyst Round 4 Industrial Stage “Novel wheats for distilling.” RRes PI. With SWRI, Limagrain. 2016-2019 RRes £76k

  • BBSRC BB/K007599/1 “Xylan arabinosyl transferases: identification and characterisation of their role in determining properties of grass cell walls.” PI for lead institution. Joint with Prof. Paul Dupree, University of Cambridge. 2013-2018.  RRes £850k

  • BBSRC BB/K013335/1 “Role of BAHD genes on cell wall feruloylation in Brachypodium distachyon”: Joint with Dr HBC Moliari, EMBRAPA-Bioenergy, Brazil. RRes PI. 2012-2015 £120k

  • BBSRC BB/K010824/1 follow-on with Limagrain. “Low viscosity wheat for improved properties for fermentation and animal feed” PI. 2013-2014. RRes £181k

  • BBSRC BB/K500938/1 IBTI studentship “Effect of grass cell wall feruloylation on biomass digestibility and structural properties” 2012-2016. £92k

  • BB/F014295/1 “Manipulation of cell wall synthesis to improve the dietary fibre composition of wheat flour” PI for lead institution. Joint with Prof. Paul Dupree, University of Cambridge, Dr. Simon Griffiths, JIC. 2008-2013. RRes £642k

 

Older Grants

  • PI, EC Project ESPACE-wheat (1994-1997)                                     £ 120k

  • PI, EC Project MODEXCROP (1997)                                                £ 5k

  • PI, Project Co-ordinator, EC Project IMPETUS (1998-2000)            £ 157K

  • PI, MAFF Open-competition NT2305 (1998-2002)                            £ 135k

  • PI, MAFF Commission CC0336 (1998-2002)                                    £ 280k

Patent

  • ​A method for decreasing the viscosity of extracts from wheat grain. Mitchell et al.  (2011). GB1317024.6. Allowed for grant, April 2018.

© 2025 Rowan Mitchell- Grass Science

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