Team members

Current team members.

A young woman with dark hair smiling

Dr Van Nguyen

(She / her)

Research Technician (2026-present), (ERC DynaLines Project)

I have a strong research interest in crop plants, with a focus on understanding how genetic and molecular mechanisms regulate morphology and responses to environmental stress. My Master and PhD research concentrated on the functional and regulatory roles of ABC transporters which relates on diverse biological functions. In the Plant Shape Lab, I am currently establishing Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocols for maize and barley to support functional genomics and developmental studies.

Favourite species: Maize, Rice, Dahlia and Nymphaea

Origins: Originally I am from Vietnam, where I grew up and completed my early education. My academic journey then took me to South Korea to pursue Master and PhD degrees. After few years working there, my family and I relocated to Scotland, where we are now based and I continue my research work.

Passionate about: Science, Cooking and Embroidery

Dr Bob Mason

(He / him)

PostDoc (2025-present), (ERC DynaLines Project)

I am fascinated by how plants have adapted to survive in such varied and changing environments with little ability to run away from a stress. I hope we will be able to leverage knowledge of plant development to sustainably increase food security worldwide. In my postdoc I am studying the oja1 mutant to understand the transcriptomic processes that underpin its varied leaf morphologies.

Favourite species: Gorse, Welwitschia, Bracken.

Origins: I grew up in York and moved to Edinburgh for my undergraduate degree. I then completed my MScR and PhD in the Spoel lab in Edinburgh, with a small foray to Iceland for a research internship.

Passionate about: Crop protection, public engagement with STEM, hiking and walking my dog.

A young man with a beard

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A young woman with blond hair smiling

Grace Chapman

(She / her)

Masters Student (2025-present), 

I am a research master’s student studying the developmental genetics underlying panicle architecture in Eragrostis tef. I am particularly interested in how developmental patterning shapes performance related traits in underutilised crops. During my undergraduate degree at the University of Edinburgh, I investigated the use of barley and black mustard to naturally suppress black-grass growth through allelopathy. These projects strengthened my interest in sustainable agricultural research. I also have an interest in research on novel and ‘superfood’ crops.

Favourite species: Moringa, Tef, Sea buckthorn

Origins: I am originally from rural Devon in the south-west of England, where I grew up surrounded by the countryside. I moved to Edinburgh for my undergraduate studies and have lived here ever since, enjoying the balance of city life with easy access to mountains and the outdoors.

Passionate about: Mountaineering, climbing, naturopathy and cooking

Bianca Ferreira

(She / her)

PhD Student (2025-present), (Gatsby Funded PhD Scholarship)

The interplay between genes, evolution and development fascinates me. I am particularly drawn to the

genetic mechanisms underlying organ identity, cell specialisation and the genetic control of development

in plants. During my PhD I aim to understand these complex dynamics during leaf initiation and development by dissecting the gene regulatory network and spatial dynamics of an Auxin Response Factor, ZmARF28, in maize.

Favourite species: fragile fern (Cystopteris fragilis), corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) and Strelitzia’s

Origins: I grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa where I completed my BSc and MSc degrees at Wits university in polyploidy and population genetics. Wanting to gain more experience I moved to Connecticut (USA) where I worked as a lab manger in an evo-devo lab (Yuan lab) before moving to Edinburgh to pursue a PhD.

Passionate about: Women in STEM, hiking, art and travelling

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Ed-Bridge-Headshot

Dr Ed Bridge

(He / him)

PostDoc (2025-present), (ERC DynaLines Project)

I am interested in the mechanisms involved in establishing developmental patterning in plants. During my PhD and MRes, I studied the role of calcium signalling in the development and colonisation of root nodule structures. In the Plant Shape lab, I study the interaction of components which are important for the development of the blade/sheath boundary region in grass leaves.

Favourite species: Maize, Medicago, Yew

Origins: I am originally from the south coast of England, but moved to Durham for my Undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. Following my interest in plant science, I completed my Masters and PhD at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, before moving to Edinburgh.

Passionate about: STEM, cooking and travelling

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Heather Jones

(She / them) 

PhD student (2023-present), (Investigating the genetic regulation of leaf domains in maize)

I am interested in how plants develop their shape, and how we can use this understanding to maximise their yield in an ever-changing world. In my PhD project, I am studying how domains are defined and regulated along the proximo-distal (base to tip) axis of the maize leaf, by looking at developmental mutants such as 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦1.

Favourite species: maize, bamboo, sequoia.  

Origins: I grew up in south London before moving to Edinburgh for my undergraduate degree in biotechnology.  

Passionate about: Sustainability and sustainable agriculture, women in STEM, sci-fi/ fantasy books

Heather-Jones-Headshot

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