Jon West

I’m from the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent originally but have been in Harpenden for over 20 years, where I am a senior research scientist at Rothamsted Research, working on applied crop protection projects. I have always been interested in biology and farming and obtained a BSc in Biology from Royal Holloway, London in 1990 and a PhD in Plant Pathology at Reading in 1994. 

My recent work has focused on the biology and control of fungal diseases, which is important for food security and reducing the carbon footprint of farming. This work includes measurement of plant disease resistance, early detection of diseases and dispersal of spores and pollen. I am on committees of the Association of Applied Biologists and the British Crop Production Council diseases working group and I am a member of the British Society for Plant Pathology. Previously, I was a member of the European Food Safety Authority plant health panel (2015-18). 

I have an active interest in communicating science to students and the public.