NIAB EMR has appointed (1 November) Dr Dan Sargent as its Head of Genetics, Genomics and Breeding (GGB). Dr Sargent will lead a research and development programme, at the East Malling site, which includes fundamental ‘blue sky’ research through to the commercial release of industry-winning fruit varieties.
“We are delighted to welcome Dan to NIAB EMR – he brings with him a wealth of experience in rosaceous crops combined with his more recent industry-facing genetics activities,” commented Professor Mario Caccamo, Managing Director, NIAB EMR. He continued, “NIAB EMR is at a truly exciting stage in its expansion and we see this appointment as an important step to underpin and progress the important genetics work which ultimately delivers varieties that help drive the industry forward.”
Dr Nigel Kerby, Chairman of NIAB EMR’s Board, stated, “Dan has a very welcome skill-set spanning many aspects of temperate fruit genetics – we are very much looking to future science proposals led by Dan, involving industry partners, that add to our existing scientific portfolio that addresses and meets industry needs.”
Dan originally joined the breeding team at East Malling in 2005, following a PhD jointly supervised by Dr David Simpson, before moving to Italy where he was a Group Leader, managing both academic and commercial projects in genetics and breeding at the Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM). Dan returned to Kent where he led molecular and innovation breeding projects in Europe for Driscoll’s Genetics.
Welcoming his appointment, Dr Dan Sargent added: “I am delighted to join NIAB EMR to lead the Genetics, Genomics and Breeding department. With strong links with the horticulture industry in the UK and globally, NIAB EMR is ideally placed to deliver breakthroughs in genetics to generate new fruit varieties that will respond to consumers demands for more environmentally-friendly crops.”
For more information:
NIAB EMR
New Road
East Malling
Kent
ME19 6BJ
T: +44 (0) 1732 843833
F: +44 (0) 1732 849067
[email protected]
www.emr.ac.uk