I started my academic career by undertaking a PhD with Dr Minsung Kim at the University of Manchester on the molecular pathways that underpin flower head development in the Asteraceae family. Following my PhD, I completed two short postdoctoral research positions before joining the Casson lab in 2016. My current main research focus is to unravel the molecular mechanisms controlling light regulation of stomatal development. We are specifically interested in the role of photoreceptor phyB, as previous work from the group has shown that it is the dominant phytochrome involved in light mediated stomatal development. phyB mutants have also been shown to be more water use efficient, and we believe that understanding how this is achieved may ultimately help develop more water use efficient plants.
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Throughout my time as a researcher I have developed a keen interest in plant development and cell fate, and how these programmes are affected by environmental stimulus. Understanding how plants change developmental programmes in response to environmental cues is critical if we are going to breed plants to cope with climate change.
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Publications
Zoulias N, Duttke S, Garces H, Kim M. A novel morphogenic role of auxin determining flower head (capitulum) pattern formation in the Asteraceae family. (under review).
Duttke S, Zoulias N, Kim M. (2012). Mutant flower morphologies in the Wind orchid, a novel orchid model species. Plant Physiology, 158(4), 1542-1547.
Zoulias N, Koenig D, Hamidi A, McCormick S, Kim M. (2011). A role for PHANTASTICA in medio-lateral regulation of adaxial domain development in tomato and tobacco leaves. Annals of Botany, 109(2), 407-418.
Duttke S, Zoulias N, Kim M. (2012). Mutant flower morphologies in the Wind orchid, a novel orchid model species. Plant Physiology, 158(4), 1542-1547.
Zoulias N, Koenig D, Hamidi A, McCormick S, Kim M. (2011). A role for PHANTASTICA in medio-lateral regulation of adaxial domain development in tomato and tobacco leaves. Annals of Botany, 109(2), 407-418.