linda field

Science

Prof. Linda Field

Professor Emerita

Protecting Crops and the Environment

PUBLICATIONS
Location
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ
Tel
+44 (0) 1582 938 355
Email
lin.field@rothamsted.ac.uk
Associated Websites

Biography

Lin is an insect molecular biologist, formerly Head of Biointeractions and Crop Protection at Rothamsted Research and currently a Professor Emerita. Her personal research interests are focused on understanding insecticide mode of action and resistance at the biochemical/molecular level. Her research team uses the latest genomic techniques to understand resistance and insecticide selectivity, and seeks to apply this understanding to better use of pesticides through links with partners in the agronomy, farming and agro-chemical sectors. As head of department, Lin has also developed a wide knowledge of alternative pest control strategies, especially the use of chemical ecology approaches and including the use of GM technologies. The overall aim of Lin's work is to deliver effective and sustainable crop protection strategies that minimise the effects on non-targets and the environment. Lin has been, and continues to be, an active participant in the debate on whether pesticides are needed and how they may affect bee populations. This has involved speaking to fellow scientists, farmers/growers, bee keepers, policy makers and the general public. Going forward, Lin will seek to oversee and co-ordinate her department’s work, and sees her role as being to bring together multi-disciplinary groups of researchers to deliver excellent science into the crop protection arena.

Strategic Programme

  • Smart Crop Protection (SCP)

PhD Projects

  • Investigation and characterisation of diamide insecticide resistance conferred by target-site mutations in the ryanodine receptor of lepidopteran pests with special reference to diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella
  • Quantifying the impacts of the neonicotinoid ban on oilseed rape pest control, pollination and productivity
  • New opportunities to investigate insecticide and acaricide ion channel targets through their differential interactions with novel chemical agonists
  • Innovating insect production to counter malnutrition and support aquaculture in Africa
  • Unravelling interactions between cereal aphids and ancestral wheat lines to elucidate mechanisms of aphid resistance.

Awards

  • 1989 - PhD (CNAA), The Molecular Genetic Basis of Insecticide Resistance in the Peach-Potato Aphid, Myzus persicae
  • 1986 - BA (Hons) First Class, Open University

Measures of Esteem

  • 2015 - Expert Reviewer for Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Deliverable 3(a) report
  • present - Member Science about Science Plant Science Panel
  • 2013 - Member Government Office Food Research Partnership sub-group New Innovative Approaches to Crop Protection
  • 2013-14 - Member Defra Advisory Committee Pollinators
  • 2012-2015 - Member Agreen Skill EU Committee
  • 2010-2013 - Member of Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship Panel
  • 2011-2014 - Member of BBSRC Research Committee B
  • Present - Honorary Professor University of Nottingham
  • Present - Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology
  • Present - Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society
  • Present - Editorial Officer, Royal Entomological Society
  • Present - Member of Editorial Board for Insect Molecular Biology