Team

Rafal M Gutaker
[Senior Research Leader]
October 2020 -

I have always been fascinated by plant diversity, evolution and ecology, focusing on plants utilized by humans, and their wild relatives. My main concern both scientifically and personally is our agricultural system, which is not diverse, sustainable or healthy, and has high ecological impact. I use retrospective tools to learn about past agricultures, and search for better designs. I love to be part of institution that inspires my mission to explore and protect plant life on Earth. 

Scholar: Rafal M. Gutaker
RBG Kew: kew.org

Siu Kin Ng
[Research Associate]
September 2024 -

Captivated by the microscopic world through the lens of big data. Currently, I am engaged in projects exploring the intricate interactions between plant (particularly cultivated rice) and their associated microbes. Using both contemporary and herbarium samples, my work seeks to unravel how these relationships have evolved over time in response to shift in biotic and abiotic factors, including climate.

Vanessa C. Bieker
[MSCA Fellow]
February 2025 -

I have experience working with historical and ancient samples for genomic studies and invasion biology. My project aims to better understand what makes a good plant invader by comparing the genomes and metagenomes of three Ambrosia species that were introduced to Europe around the same time but differ in their invasive success.

Stefano Porrelli

[Research Assistant]
December 2023 - April 2025
[Research Associate]
May 2025 -

My background spans molecular biology, bioinformatics, and evolutionary genomics, with a particular interest in how genomes change through time and in response to environmental pressures. Currently, I am investigating patterns of ancient DNA damage and degradation to understand how climate, taxonomy, and preservation conditions shape DNA decay in natural history collections. I am also working on genomic introgression from crops into their wild relatives, assessing the evolutionary and conservation consequences of gene flow.

Lizo Masters
[Research Associate]
September 2025 -

My research interests cover phylogenomics, whole genome duplication, and allopolyploidization of plant species - specifically - grasses (Poaceae), linking primary research in evolution to applications in sustainable agriculture. In my current role, I am assembling the genomes of globally under-utilised crops: polyploid millet species in the genus Digitaria - D. iburua  (Black Fonio) and D. sanguinalis (Polish Millet); as well as edible yam species from Madagascar (Dioscorea maciba and D. sambiranensis).

PhD Students

Meng-Ting Hsieh
[Jointly with Earlham Institute, Anthony Hall and Jose de Vega]

Abdul Rashid Issah
[Jointly with CSIR-SARI (Ghana), Joseph Adjabeng]

Honorary Research Associates

Yoon Kyung Lee
[Faculty Staff at the Seoul National University]
August 2025 -
[Research Associate in RG team]
January 2024 - August 2025

I have experience in rice molecular breeding and genomics, specifically in rice grain quality. I am involved in a project that focuses on population genomics and the nutritional quality of rice using historical herbarium samples. 

MSc Students

Alumni

Staff

Hong Phuong Le
[Research Associate]
June 2023 - April 2026 

Nataly O. Allasi Canales
[Villum Fellow]
March 2023 - June 2025
Nataly is now a Faculty Staff at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

Website: https://www.DNAtaly.com/

Amy C. Jackson
[Research Associate]
May 2023 - January 2025
Next step: Senior Statistician, Gov.

Robin Becina Guevarra
[Research Associate]
March 2023 - January 2024
Next step: Doctor Assistant, Ghent University Global Campus · Incheon, South Korea

MSc Students

Callum Swift, 2023
Tillandsia latifolia, an extremophile that can tell the story of lomas, the Peruvian fog oases.
Next step: PhD Student, University of Nottingham

Ella Serpell, 2022
Crop origin niches: environmental perspectives on the “when, where, and why” of domestication in five grain taxa.
Next step: Research Assistant, RBG Kew