Dr Deepti Angra
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Post Doctoral Research Associate
Specialism
Crop Genetics and GenomicsAreas of interest
Genetics /OMICS- Genomics /Transcriptomics/MetabolomicsTeaching
I teach the Agricultural Research Skills module (AD1ARS-24-5_S12) to first-year undergraduate Agriculture students, providing foundational training in experimental design, data collection, and scientific communication. As a Crop Science group leader, I design and supervise student-led horticultural research projects that align with academic learning outcomes and reflect current industry priorities. My role includes conducting plant growth experiments in controlled environments and crop science laboratories, which support both teaching and applied research. I assist students in data collection, statistical analysis, and the interpretation of results to build their research competence. I deliver lectures on Food Security module (ADMFSD-24-5_S2) focusing on the integration of plant breeding and biotechnology as an intervention to tackle Food Insecurity issues. I also supervise postgraduate dissertations at the Master’s level and provide ongoing support to PhD students in designing, executing, and analysing laboratory-based experiments. This includes mentoring in lab supervision, experimental planning, data generation, and troubleshooting, with the aim of developing their research independence and technical proficiency.Research projects
I am a senior molecular geneticist and plant biotechnologist with years of international experience in plant genetics and genomics. I have pivotal role in advancing multi-omics research in legume crops, particularly Vicia faba (faba bean), where I have played leading roles in major scientific milestones, including co-authorship of the first chromosome-scale genome assembly published in Nature (2023) and diagnostic marker discovery for antinutritional compounds published in Nature Plants (2021).
My research integrates diverse omics approaches—including SNP genotyping, SSR genotyping, RNA-Seq analysis and genome annotation. A key highlight of my career is the design and development of a high-density 60K SNP array for faba bean, alongside the creation of bioinformatics pipelines for SNP discovery, implemented across large-scale diversity panels and MAGIC populations. My work also spans mutagenesis, tissue culture, and high-throughput phenotyping using biochemical and molecular markers. I have successfully worked in European and international collaborative projects (e.g., BEANS4N.AFRICA under BBSRC-GCRF) that have directly informed applied breeding strategies for legume improvement. In parallel, I also Community-Based Research Initiatives in the Reading area, working closely with local stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate garden-based agricultural experiments. These initiatives not only promote citizen science but also emphasize inclusivity and real-world impact, aligning with the British Science Association’s mission through the Community-Led Research Pilot (CLRP) scheme.
In my present role in National Fruit Collection, I am involved in the scientific curation of plum and cherry germplasm collections, involving comprehensive characterization and systematic data management. This includes the molecular fingerprinting of germplasm using SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) markers, with the resulting data submitted to both national and international repositories. I serve as the Lead Crop Scientist for the Community-Based Research initiative in the Reading area, delivered in collaboration with the British Science Association through its Community Led Research Pilot. In this capacity, I design and implement plant science research projects, guiding them from initial concept through to execution in both field and laboratory settings. I conduct laboratory-based analyses of antinutritional factors such as phytates in legume flours, employing biochemical and spectrophotometric methodologies.