While working as a plant breeder, Luke started to question how flavour of fruit and vegetables interact to create the tastes we recognise. He moved to Reading to study a PhD, and now works as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant continuing his research through a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)-funded project..
In 2016 Luke was the PhD Researcher of the Year finalist for the Food Research Theme.
"Surprisingly little is known about the flavour compounds found in our foods. How these interact to create the aromas and flavours we take for granted every day is only just starting to be understood. Not everyone perceives tastes and flavours in the same way, and this is due to our own genetics. This in turn affects whether we like or dislike certain foods, and I'm interested in learning what chemical compounds might be responsible for these preferences."