Dr Laura Williamson

Senior Analyst, Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC)

I’ve been on the ocean since I was a week old. From sailing around the Channel Islands in California to poking around in tide pools, I have always been fascinated by marine critters. During my BSc, I used photo ID to investigate rates of injury in grey whales from their feeding grounds off Vancouver Island, Canada, to their breeding lagoons in Mexico. I then moved to the UK where I completed an MRes and PhD at the University of Aberdeen. My PhD research focused on modelling the spatial distribution of harbor porpoise around Scotland using data collected by an array of echolocation-click detectors (C-PODs) within the Moray Firth, and aerial video surveys along the entire east coast. 

Since joining Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) as a Research Analyst in August 2018, I have worked on a variety of commercial and research projects including modelling porpoise detections, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) imagery surveys, rigs-to-reefs, underwater noise propagation modelling, and even bat ecology. In my current role as Senior Analyst, I am responsible for managing the research side of the company and supervising student and intern projects. I also carry out tendering for new projects, perform data analysis, and reporting for clients.

: https://www.osc.co.uk/team/dr-laura-williamson/
: @LD_Williamson

Dr Michael Page

Managing Editor for the Journal of Experimental Botany, and Publications Manager for the SEB

I have worked as a researcher in the plant sciences for 17 years. I am a plant molecular biologist and have worked on projects focusing on the antioxidant response of cassava roots to harvesting, the light regulation of plant vitamin C synthesis, biogenic retrograde signaling pathways, and improving the photosynthetic efficiency of crops using synthetic biology. I began working for the Journal of Experimental Botany as an Assistant Editor in 2018, and then took on the role of Managing Editor in 2020. I am also the Publications Manager for the Society for Experimental Biology, where I help to manage four other journals in the SEB's portfolio.

Dr Shruthi Krishnamurthy

Senior Business Development and Licensing Manager, Mass General Brigham Innovation

Shruthi Krishnamurthy is a Senior Business Development and Licensing Manager at Mass General Brigham Innovation where she manages and licenses technologies from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Shruthi transitioned from academia into a career in technology transfer, first as an intern at University of California Davis Innovation Access office, and then as an Intellectual Property Analyst at the same office. At UC Davis, Shruthi gained knowledge and experience in all facets of technology transfer namely: contracting & licensing, intellectual property evaluation & management, and marketing & business development. Shruthi received her PhD from University of Vermont and completed her postdoctoral training at UC Davis where she studied how parasites enter human cells and survive human immune response. Shruthi’s kitchen has become her new laboratory where her family experiences the successes and failures of her gastronomical experiments.

Dr Marcelo Paes Gomes

Senior Scientist, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Cefas) - Science Division of Fisheries

I'm a Marine Ecologist mainly interested in determining useful indicators of population responses to natural or anthropogenic drivers in order to support monitoring, management and advising tools. Such indicators are based on both biological/ecological biomarkers and modelling techniques. Spent more than 20 years in Academy in UK and Overseas, currently finding myself into the British Civil Service. Never felt so useful to Society before.

Dr Damaris A Odeny

Principal Scientist and Global Cluster Leader: Genomics, Pre-breeding & Bioinformatics, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

Damaris Odeny is a plant molecular breeder with research experience in Africa, Asia, Europe and USA. She has led and implemented genomics projects in both cereals and legumes, including the development of genomic resources in several orphan crops. Damaris works closely with other disciplines from national, private and international institutes to develop cutting-edge genomic resources for all ICRISAT mandate crops (sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, groundnut, chickpea and pigeonpea) in her current global role. Prior to this, she worked as a senior researcher at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South Africa, where she played a key role in establishing molecular breeding processes for indigenous vegetables. Damaris is also passionate about mentoring of young upcoming scientists and has successfully mentored more than 50 scientists in her career to date.

Damaris earned her PhD in Plant Genetics (2006) from the University of Bonn (Germany) and completed a post-doctoral training from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in 2009 in Cologne, Germany.

Areas of expertise: Qualitative and quantitative genetics; Genetic mapping; Pre-breeding; Plant genetic engineering; Mutation breeding; Statistical genomics; High throughput genotyping and marker development; Next-Generation Sequencing and data analysis; Transcriptome analysis; Metagenomics

Dr Tatiana Paredes-Santos

Research Scientist, Agilent Technologies

I am an advanced scientist focused on cell analysis tool development at Agilent Labs. I have substantial expertise in cell biology and cellular analysis technologies such as live-cell imaging, flow cytometry, microscopy, cell metabolism, with experience in liquid handling and workflow development for several cell-based studies. With a PhD in host-pathogen interaction and experience in genetic manipulation of eukaryotic cells by CRISPR/CAS9, including whole genome screen, I have published 10 original papers and 1 review article.

When I am not looking at cells or wondering about new tools to look at them, I am hiking in California with my family or baking sourdough bread.