Lawrence Bramham

Lawrence is Head of the Rothamsted Insect Survey, former Postdoctoral Lead of the Rothamsted Wheat-Insect-Virus Interactions subgroup within the wider Wheat Pathogenomics Team. His recent work in the BBSRC-funded Delivering Sustainable Wheat (2023-2028) Institute Strategic Programme and Defra-funded Wheat Genetic Improvement Network (phase 5, 2024-2034) projects have prioritised aphids and associated impactful aspects, namely genetic resistance to aphids for integrated pest management, virology (horizon scanning with linked exploratory analyses into current virus/vector trends) and insecticidal resistance testing.

He is an experienced plant virologist and aphid entomologist, has established and refined various phenotyping methodologies and disease diagnostic assays. Fundamental to all Lawrence’s work is a commitment to robust and sustainable strategies for assisting with the control of major plant pests/diseases with an insect vector component, ensuring resilient UK crop production systems. He is also actively engaged in the supervision and mentoring of both PhD students and undergraduate project students, as well as devising and contributing to outreach activities intending to inform policy makers and relevant stakeholders.