
SCIENCE
Dr ROWAN MITCHELL
Plant Biologist
Plant Sciences for the Bioeconomy
BIOGRAPHY
Rowan has interests in grass cell walls and in applying knowledge of the genes involved to developing improved crop genotypes. He has expertise in directing research using molecular and biochemical techniques and in bioinformatics analyses. He developed innovative bioinformatics approaches to identify candidate genes for the synthesis of key aspects of grass cell walls. He currently leads projects where some of these genes have been modified to improve processing properties in new wheat varieties; others are being modified to improve digestibility of energy grasses for biofuel and animal fodder.
Publications
View Rowan's publications
TEL:
+44 (0) 1582 938 469
ADDRESS:
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ
PROFESSIONAL PLATFORMS
Strategic programme
- Designing Future Wheat (DFW)
Science project
- XYLAN arbinosyl transferases:identification and characterisationof their role in determining properties of grass cell walls
- 15AGRITECHCAT4: Novel low viscosity wheats for distilling
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
MEASURES OF ESTEEM
- 2012-2016 - PhD thesis examiner for 4 students
- 2013-2016 - PhD supervisor for 1 student
- 2015 - Main organiser, MONOGRAM annual meeting, Rothamsted
- 2014 - Elected MONOGRAM steering committee
- 2014 - Invited Keynote talk. Cell Wall Biology, Palm Grove, Australia
- 2013 - Invited Keynote talk. Wheat Genetics Symposium, Kyoto, Japan
- 2013 - Patent: A method for decreasing the viscosity of extracts from wheat grain. Mitchell et al. PCT/EP2012/05789