Joana Vicente 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.
Joana Vicente
Institution and country of residence
Fera Science, UK
Position title
Senior Plant Bacteriologist
Area of expertise/study
I am particularly interested in bacterial and oomycete plant pathogens, their genetic and pathogenic diversity, methods of detection and identification, search for useful sources of resistance and breeding for resistance.
In particular, I am currently working on Xanthomonas of several crops including Brassicaceae, maize and strawberry, Pseudomonas that cause blotch of mushrooms and Xylella fastidiosa of many hosts. I have also worked on downy mildew and white rust of brassicas.
About your early experiences in education
Attended Primary and Secondary Schools in Lisbon, Portugal, with equivalent to A levels in Maths, Chemistry and Biology.
Degree in Agronomic Engineering, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal, 1995 (5 year degree course).
PhD in Agronomic Engineering, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal, 2001 (with part of the work being completed in the UK)
Postgraduate certificate in Transferable Skills for postdoctoral researchers, University of Warwick, 2013
Postgraduate certificate in Academic and Professional Practice (PCAPP), University of Warwick, 2014
If you could solve one problem in plant pathology, what would it be?
Understanding what makes a bacterium become a pathogen of a particular host and not others.
If you could solve one issue relating to inclusivity and diversity within the field of plant pathology what would it be?
Shorting the gap between growers and access to information and research, including more training for small holders, targeting people at different stages of their career and both men and women. Although not all research in Plant Pathology needs to have a direct impact in the field, the interactions with growers/farmers can also be beneficial to develop research to address current problems.
If you weren’t a plant pathologist, what would you be?
Possibly a teacher of maths and sciences.
