louise michaelson

Science

Dr Louise Michaelson

Lipid Biochemist

Plant Sciences for the Bioeconomy

PUBLICATIONS
Location
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ
Tel
+44 (0) 1582 938 878
Email
louise.michaelson@rothamsted.ac.uk
Professional Platforms
ORCID

Biography

Louise's work is focused on optimising the production of crops for nutrition. The primary objective of her work has been to understand the role and regulation of lipid modification enzymes. Louise's main interest is in plant lipid metabolism, specifically the modification of seed oils. Working in the emerging field of lipidomics, which studies the pathways and networks of cellular lipids in biological systems on a large scale, she investigates the dynamics of cellular lipids and the changes that occur in plants during development or perturbation. She utilises metabolic engineering with a systems-wide approach, integrating data across the transcriptome and the metabolome. Louise has identified key genes involved in the production of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and she continues to work on the production of these in crop species via metabolic engineering.

Louise's work contributes towards achieving global food security. She has a number of projects in this area including research to improve abiotic stress tolerance in plants and maintaining oilseed yield.

Strategic Programme

  • Tailoring Plant Metabolism (TPM)

PhD Projects

  • Genetic and environmental effects on wheat grain lipids
  • Securing seed oil synthesis: what can we learn from the extremities?
  • Innovating insect production to counter malnutrition and support aquculture in Africa

Awards

  • 1999 - PhD School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol
  • 1995 - Bsc Biological Sciences (1st Class), University of Liverpool

Measures of Esteem

  • 2017 - Invited speaker at Gordon Research Conference 'Plant Lipids: structure metabolism and function'
  • 2014 - Invited participant to the UK-Brazil/Chile Royal Society Frontiers of Science meeting