Angela Alleyne is one of our ’40 Faces of Plant Pathology’
BSPP members can be found in 51 different countries, with 30% of members based in countries outside of the UK. As part of the BSPPs 40th anniversary, we asked our membership to describe some things about themselves, what plant pathology challenges they would most like to see solved, and what could improve the world of plant pathology in terms of inclusivity. Click here to return to 40 Faces Home Page.
Angela Alleyne
Institution and country of residence
The University of the West Indies. Barbados.
Position title
Senior Lecturer Biochemistry
Area of expertise/study
My research focusses on the use of techniques in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and genomics to understand the pathogen population in plant diseases. I have been studying a cassava fungal pathogen called Sphaceloma manihoticola in the Caribbean islands of Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad since 2010. This project has assisted the Cassava industry in Barbados by providing tools and interventions for early diagnosis and ultimately improving food security in the island. I have also studied the growing impact of viruses diseases in sweet potato in the island am currently working with regional organizations to understand and identify useful cultivars for drought and virus disease tolerance.
About your early experiences in education
On completion of my doctoral studies, I did a postdoc at the University of Nebraska. My postdoctoral experience was a good one and productive. However, at that time, I did not fully understand the nature of the collaborative process that is so critical to building a scientific career in research. Being from a small island the research networks were not readily available to young researchers. So, my early career was spent trying to fit in. This is a continuous struggle for researchers from developing countries. At the end of my postdoc I did a stint in teaching for three years and came back to research in my home institution still working on maintaining a research network.
If you could solve one problem in plant pathology, what would it be?
Increase the use of rapid field diagnosis using molecular markers in tropical countries.
If you could solve one issue relating to inclusivity and diversity within the field of plant pathology what would it be?
Assist young researchers from developing countries in building international research networks and collaborations.
If you weren’t a plant pathologist, what would you be?
A writer
