Harper Lab
University of York
Dr. Andrea Harper
Principle Investigator
I am a Lecturer in Plant Biology at the University of York, and a Group Leader in the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) based in the Department of Biology. My background is in statistical genetics, and I specialise in analysing omics data to identify genes controlling important traits of interest in plants. I am particularly interested in understanding why some plants are better at tolerating stressful conditions, as this information could be the key to making the next generation of crops more resilient and sustainable.
Sara Franco Ortega
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Sara is a postdoctoral research associate with experience in molecular and bioinformatic tools. She completed a BSc in Biotechnology and two Master’s Degrees in Spain. Then, she obtained her PhD in plant pathology from the University of Turin (Italy). Her first postdoc at Newcastle University was focused on the detoxification of xenobiotics in wheat and blackgrass and now she works on several projects to control the major plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, including the use of phages as biocontrol agents and the study of reservoir hosts of this bacterium.
Liam Barratt
PhD student
Liam completed his undergraduate studies at the University of York, graduating with an MBiol in Biology (Biotechnology and Microbiology). Now completing his PhD, Liam’s research focusses on understanding the genetic basis of tolerance to abiotic stresses in diverse wheat landraces, using network analysis to identify master regulator hub genes.
Isaac Reynolds
PhD student
Isaac completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Southampton, graduating with a first class MSci in Biology. In 2021, Isaac began working on his PhD under the White Rose DTP, utilising transcriptomics, methylomics, and network analysis as part of a multi-omics approach to understanding the abiotic stress regulomes of Brassica juncea and Triticum aestivum.
Daniel Narino Rojas
PhD student
Daniel obtained his BSc in Biology from Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia and completed his MSc in Biotechnology at the University of York in the UK. In 2022, Daniel started his PhD focusing on the use of bacteriophages as biocontrol agents against the devastating phytopathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum, particularly on how evolutionary trade-offs can make phage-resistant mutants less virulent.
Karla Cardenas Gomez
PhD student
Karla is from Colombia and completed her Bachelor of Microbiology at Universidad de Los Andes. In 2013, she moved to Australia to complete her Master of Food Science at The University of Melbourne. In 2022, she moved to the UK to start her PhD researching the evolution of Ralstonia solanacearum strains at changing environmental conditions, using microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics and plant pathology tools.
Former Lab Members
Alison Fellgett - Technican
Tom Emrich-Mills - Technician
Ellis Smith - MSc by Research
James Bedford - MSc by Research