The BSPP wishes to encourage and reward undergraduate students interested in plant pathology through our Undergraduate Research and Exam Prizes.
Each year, participating institutions are asked to nominate their best student or students for two separate awards; the BSPP prize for best undergraduate research in plant pathology and the BSPP prize for examination performance in plant pathology. All nominated students are awarded a small prize and a certificate to celebrate their achievements, and are entered into our national competition.
The BSPP are proud to announce the winners, nominated by UK universities (and other higher education institutions offering Level 6 courses) throughout the country.
For our overall UK prizes our congratulations go to:
Eleanor Clarke (University of Leeds)
Eleanor Clarke (University of Leeds)The BSPP prize for best undergraduate research in plant pathology (2025) – For best dissertation, literature review or research project.
Eleanor won this award for her research project “Molecular Mechanisms of Dormancy in Globodera pallida’ whilst studying for an MBiol BSc in Biology at the University of Leeds.
Nominated by Prof. P. E. Urwin
Nick Eilmann (Imperial College London)
Nick Eilmann (Imperial College London)The BSPP prize for examination performance in plant pathology (2025) – For best performance in an exam paper or module.
Nick won this award for his exceptional exam performance in the module ‘Symbiosis, Plant Immunity and Disease’ whilst studying for a BSc in Biological Sciences at Imperial College London.
Nominated by Prof. Tolga Bozkurt
Winners of University Nominated Prizes:
Emily Warkup for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at the University of Nottingham (2025).
Emily Warkup for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at the University of Nottingham (2025).Emily won this nominated for her research project ‘Effectiveness of fungicides against eyespot caused by Oculimacula yallundae and O. acuformis in winter wheat’ whilst studying for a BSc Agricultural and Crop Science at the University of Nottingham.
Nominated by Prof. Rumiana Ray
Seren Jones for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at the University of Bristol (2025).
Seren won was nominated for her research project ‘The Effects of Environmental Conditions on Hypersensitive Response-Associated Programmed Cell Death in Pseudomonas syringae-Infected Nicotiana benthamiana Plants”’ whilst studying for a BSc in Biology at the University of Bristol.
Nominated by Dr Pierre Buscaill
Navina Arora for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at Royal Holloway University of London (2025).
Navina Arora for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at Royal Holloway University of London (2025).Navina was nominated for her research project ‘Analysing the effect of fungicides on the plant microbiome and finding potential bacteria to be used as part of a fungicide-resilient SynCom’ whilst studying for a BSc in Genetics with a Year in Industry at the Royal Holloway University of London.
Nominated by Prof. Enrique Lopez-Juez
Ka-lai Chan for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at Canterbury Christ Church University (2025)
Ka-lai Chan for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at Canterbury Christ Church University (2025)Ka-lai was nominated for her research project “Does Brassica genome influence resistance against Alternaria infection” whilst studing for a BSc in Plant Science at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Nominated by Dr Alec Forsyth
Sofia Miccolis for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at the University of Cambridge (2025).
Sofia Miccolis for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at the University of Cambridge (2025).Sofia was nominated for her critical review essay “If only I knew then what I know now. Has control of Xylella fastidiosa been a success?” whilst studying for BA in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge.
Nominated by Prof. Nik Cunniffe
Nick Eilmann for best undergraduate research in plant pathology at Imperial College London (2025).
Nick was nominated for his research on ”Receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases of different subfamilies differentially modulate nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat receptor-mediated cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana”, whilst studying for an BSc at Imperial College London.
Nominated by Dr Jiorgos Kourelis
Freya Watts for best examination performance in plant pathology at the University of Cambridge (2025).
Freya Watts for best examination performance in plant pathology at the University of Cambridge (2025).Freya was nominated for her performance in the ‘Plant & Microbial Science’ module whilst studying for a BA in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge.
Nominated by Prof. Nik Cunniffe
Daisy Dennis for best examination performance in plant pathology at the University of Nottingham (2025).
Daisy was nominated for her performance in the ‘Plant Pathology’ module, whilst studying for her BSc. Hons Environmental Science at the University of Nottingham.
Nominated by Prof. Rumiana Ray
The BSPP would like to thank all those who nominated their students for these prizes.
