Professor Gareth Jenkins
- Professor of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology (Molecular Biosciences)
telephone:
01413305906
email:
Gareth.Jenkins@glasgow.ac.uk
Room 310, Institute of MC&SB, Bower Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ
Biography
Gareth Jenkins graduated from the University of Liverpool and obtained his PhD from the University of Leeds in 1979, studying photosynthetic electron transport during leaf senescence under the supervision of Professor Harold Woolhouse. He undertook postdoctoral research with Professor David Cove in the Genetics Department at Leeds, where he worked on photo-responses in mutants of Physcomitrella patens. In 1982 he moved to the University of Warwick to work as a postdoctoral researcher on a molecular photobiology project with Dr John Bennett. He was one of the first researchers to show that the photoreceptor phytochrome controls transcript levels of plant genes. After a temporary lectureship in Warwick he joined the University of Glasgow as a lecturer in 1986. Following promotions to Senior Lecturer and Reader he was promoted to Professor of Plant Cell and Molecular Biology in 2000.
Gareth’s long-standing research interest is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in plant responses to light. Since 2000 the focus has been on plant responses to ultraviolet-B light. He has made leading contributions to understanding the structure, molecular mechanism of action, regulation and in vivo function of the UV-B photoreceptor UVR8. Gareth is an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Society of Biology.
Gareth is committed to education. He worked as a secondary school science teacher during a gap year before starting his PhD and ran adult education evening classes in plant science in Leeds and Warwick. In 2013 he obtained a Royal Society Partnership Grant to run a science project with a local primary school. In the University of Glasgow Gareth has been involved in teaching and curriculum development at all levels. For 10 years he led the development of the MSci degree programme, which involves a 1-year research placement. He initiated the MSc in Food Security and is presently its Programme Director.
Research interests
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Responses to Light, in Particular the Regulation of Gene Expression by UV-B light.
- Research interests
- Plant science
- For the public and schools
Research groups
Grants
Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.
- UVR8 photoreceptor action
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2024 - 2026
- UVR8 photoreceptor action and regulation
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2019 - 2022
- Integration of UV-B and temperature signalling in plants
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2017 - 2020
- Integrating UV-B Signalling in to Plant Photomorphogenesis NetworksORCA 55007 BISC RA0642
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2015 - 2018
- How does the plant UV-B photoreceptor UVR8 initiate signalling?
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2013 - 2016
- Plant UV-B photoreceptor signalling
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2012 - 2015
- Increased pest resistance in oilseed rape mediated by an enhanced UV-B response
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2011 - 2015
- Protein function underlying plasticity of the plant circadian clock
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2010 - 2013
- Quest for the Holy Grail of plant photobiology: a UV-B photoreceptor
Leverhulme Trust
2010 - 2014
- Organ communication in the Arabidopsis circadian clock
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2009 - 2011
- The UVR8 UV-B-specific signalling pathway
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2008 - 2011
- Characterisation of a UVB specific signalling pathway
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2006 - 2009
- Tissue specificity in the circadian control of plant metabolism
Leverhulme Trust
2005 - 2008
- UV-B signalling in Arabidopsis
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2005 - 2008
- Developing links between plant science research groups in Glasgow University and China
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2004 - 2008
- Turnover and inhibition of PEP carboxylase Kinase
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2001 - 2006
- Malate Regulation of PEP Carboxylase Kinase Expression
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
2000 - 2005
- Interactions Between Signal Transduction Pathways Regulating CHS Transcription: A Genetic Approach
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1999 - 2005
Teaching
Programme Director:
- MSc in Food Security
Course Coordinator and Lecturer in MSc in Food Security:
- Introduction to Food Security
- Food Security Fundamentals - Crops
- Plant Genetic Engineering
Course Coordinator and Lecturer:
- L4 Plant Molecular Biology Option
Lecturer:
- L4 Core Skills in Molecular and Cell Biology Optoin
- L3 Genetics and Molecular and Cell Biology Courses
- L2 Genes Molecules adn Cell Courses
- L1 Biology Courses
Supervisor:
- MSc in Food Security - Project
Additional information
Editorial Board
- 2017 - present: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences - Associate Editor
Grant Advisory Board
- 2015: Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research panel for sustainable agriculture and horticulture - Member
- 2015 - 2018: Royal Society of Edinburgh sectional committee A4 - (Cell and Molecular Biology) - member
Invited International Presentations
- 2021: virtual - Session Chair and speaker - European Society for Photobiology International Congress
- 2020: virtual - Plenary lecture - International Association for Plant UV Research Network Meeting
- 2019: Barcelona, Spain – Session Chair and speaker - International Light and Life Symposium
- 2019: Barcelona, Spain - Invited lecture: International Light and Life Symposium
- 2018: Matsue, Japan – Invited lecture - International Symposium of Plant Photobiology
- 2018: Pisa, Italy - Invited seminar, University of Pisa
- 2017: Shanghai, China – Invited lecture - Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology
- 2017: Pisa, Italy - Session Chair and speaker - European Society for Photobiology International Congress
- 2016: Bristol, UK - Invited seminar University of Bristol
- 2016: Pécs, Hungary – Keynote lecture - International Association for Plant UV Research Network Meeting
- 2015: Houston, USA - Plenary lecture, International Symposium of Plant Photobiology
- 2015: Aveiro, Portugal - Invited speaker: European Society for Photobiology International Congress
- 2015: Iguazu, Brazi - Invited lecture, International Society of Plant Molecular Biology Congress
- 2014: Barga, Italy - Invited speaker: Gordon Research Conference on Photosensory Receptors and Signal Transduction
- 2014: Bled, Slovenia - Invited lecture: Plant Responses to UV-B Conference
- 2014: Cordoba, Argentina - Invited speaker: International Congress of Photobiology
- 2013: Edinburgh, Scotland - Invited Keynote Lecturer: International Symposium of Plant Photobiology
- 2013: Tegernsee, Germany - Invited speaker: DFG Photoreceptor Workshop
- 2013: Edinburgh, Scotland - Member of organizing committee and session chair: International Symposium of Plant Photobiology
- 2013: Mikulov, Czech Republic - Invited Plenary Lecturer: Plant Responses to UV-B Conference
- 2012: Glasgow, Scotland - Organiser: EC COST Meeting on Plant Acclimation to UV-B
- 2012: Norwich, England - Invited speaker: UK Brassica Research Community Meeting
- 2012: Warwick, England - Invited speaker: UK OREGIN Stakeholder Meeting
- 2011: Neuchatel, Switzerland - Invited speaker: Inter-University Doctoral Program in Organismal Biology
- 2011: Szeged, Hungary - Invited Keynote Speaker: Plant Responses to UV-B Conference
- 2010: Orebro, Sweden - Invited Seminar: Orebro University
- 2010: Helsinki, Finland - Invited Plenary Speaker: The Scandinavian Society of Plant Physiologists Meeting
- 2009: Cologne, Germany - Invited Keynote Lecturer: Tri-national Arabidopsis Meeting
- 2009: Dusseldorf, Germany - Invited speaker: International Congress on Photobiology
- 2009: Wroclaw, Poland - Invited Plenary Lecturer: European Society of Photobiology International Congress
- 2009: Glasgow, Scotland - Session organiser: Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting
- 2009: Glasgow, Scotland - Invited speaker: Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting
Prizes, Awards and Distinctions
- 2014: Elected Fellow, Society of Biology
- 2013: Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Edinburgh
Professional Learned Society
- 2016 - present: International Association for Plant UV Research (UV4Plants.org) – President
- 2015 - present: European Society for Photobiology Scientific Advisory Board - Member
- 2014 - present: Society of Biology - Fellow
- 2013 - present: Royal Society of Edinburgh - Fellow
- 2009 - present: European Society for Photobiology: Member