Head of School, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

E: ss.prasad@beds.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1582 489158 (direct)

Professor Sreenivasaprasad joined the University in March 2011. Previously he was a Research Group Leader/Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick.

Research expertise and developmental focus

My research interests in molecular ecology are focused on understanding the functional and environmental adaptation in fungi that play key roles in managed and natural ecosystems.

• Key research areas include adaptive divergence, population biology and speciation
• Integrating phylogenetics, genomics and bioinformatics with microbiology, pathology and ecology applied from laboratory to field scales

I have developed extensive collaborations internationally to deliver a range of fungal molecular ecology oriented projects. My particular strength is in being able to develop and apply multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches.

• 20 years experience in molecular microbial ecology research working with a wide range of collaborators and stakeholders internationally
• Project development, management and International research co-ordination experience with around £4m of grants as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator
• Ten years experience in training and supervision of research staff and students and international capacity building focused in Africa, Asia and Europe

My goal is to develop an integrated systems approach to gain novel insights into fungal ecological interactions and to apply the knowledge and technologies for biodiversity conservation, food security and environmental sustainability within the overarching theme of global environmental change management.

Research supervision and co-ordination

Mentored and supervised more than 30 research staff, visiting workers, PhD, postgraduate, undergraduate and work experience students

• Completed: PhDs (7), postgraduate, undergraduate and work experience students (14), post-doctoral, technical and visiting staff (14)
• Current: co-supervision of four postgraduate research students including three PhD and one MSc by Research at the University of Warwick.

Research outputs

• Refereed Journal Papers >40
• Edited Volumes/Books 3 & Proceedings/Book Chapters >25
• Platform Presentations Internationally >25
• Presentations at International & National Conferences: >50
• Consultancy Reports, Project Reports & Popular Articles >50
• Patent on Fungal Gene Promoters; more than 1000 Sequence Submissions to EMBL

Esteem and impact

• Biomolecular technologies and outputs developed through my research projects focused in fungal molecular ecology are used and cited internationally with more than 600 citations during 1992-2010, based on ISI Web of Knowledge Database.
• I have organised a range of stakeholder engagement events internationally
• Organised Colletotrichum Workshop, European Conference on Fungal Genetics (ECFG) 9, Edinburgh, April 2008.
• Invited Session Chair, Mushroom molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry, International Mushroom Congress, Miami, USA, 2004.
• Organised four workshops in Africa and Asia during 2003-06 as part of a series of DFID projects I have co-ordinated.
• Published two reference manuals based on the Stakeholder Workshops related to food security for dissemination in sub-Saharan Africa and internationally.
• I have made a major contribution to capacity building in Africa and Asia through staff training up to PhD and Post-doctoral level (10 members).
• I have a long-standing collaborative exchange programme with the Institute of Agronomy (ISA) in Portugal leading to PhD and post-doctoral training of scientists and students and several joint publications.

Scientific review and membership

• Project proposal reviewer (e.g. Earth & Life Sciences Council, Netherlands; Binational Agricultural Research Development, USA; DFID, Defra and ESRC, UK
• Board of PhD thesis examinations of Universities and Institutes in UK, Europe and Asia
• Manuscript referee for more than 15 international journals (e.g. Science, New Phytologist, Current Genetics, Molecular Plant Pathology)
• International Selection Panel to appoint Research Scientist Positions, Portuguese Ministry of Science & Technology
• Member, Programme Development Panels, UK DFID – Research Programmes in Africa and Asia.

Selected publications

• Takan, J.P., Chipili, J., Muthumeenakshi, S., Talbot, N.J., Manyasa, E.O., Bandyopadhyay, R., Sere, Y., Nutsugah, S.K., Talhinhas, P., Hossain, P., Brown, A.E. and Sreenivasaprasad, S. 2011. Blast pathogen populations adapted to finger millet and rice exhibit distinctive patterns of genetic diversity, sexuality and host interaction. Molecular Biotechnology DOI: 10.1007/s12033-011-9429-z.
• Talhinhas, P., Neves-Martins, J., Oliveira, H. and Sreenivasaprasad, S. 2009. Distinctive population structure of Colletotrichum species associated with olive anthracnose in the Algarve region of Portugal reflects a host-pathogen diversity hot spot. FEMS Microbiology Letters 296, 31-38.
• Rogers, C.W., Challen, M.P., Muthumeenakshi, S., Sreenivasaprasad, S. and Whipps, J.M. 2008. Disruption of the Coniothyrium minitans PIF1 DNA helicase gene impairs growth and capacity for sclerotial mycoparasitism. Microbiology 154, 1628 -1636.
• Muthumeenakshi, S., Sreenivasaprasad, S., Rogers, C.W., Challen, M.P. and Whipps, J. M. 2007. Analysis of cDNA transcripts from Coniothyrium minitans reveals a diverse array of genes involved in key processes during sclerotial mycoparasitism. Fungal Genetics and Biology 44, 1262-1284.
• Mgonja, M.A., Lenne, J.M., Manyasa, E.O. and Sreenivasaprasad, S. (Eds.) 2007. DFID recognised this as an important resource and provided funds for the dissemination of 100 copies to key stakeholders in sub-Saharan Africa and internationally.
• Lenne, J.M., Takan, J.P., Wanyera, N., Manyasa, E.O., Mgonja, M.A., Okwadi, J., Brown, A.E. and Sreenivasaprasad, S. 2007. Finger millet blast management: a key entry point for fighting malnutrition and poverty in East Africa. Outlook on Agriculture 36, 101-108.
• Sreenivasaprasad, S., Eastwood, D.C., Browning, N., Lewis, S.M.J. and Burton, K.S. 2006. Differential expression of a putative riboflavin aldehyde forming enzyme gene (raf) during development and postharvest storage and in different tissue of the sporophore in Agaricus bisporus. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 70, 470-476.