News

Richard Harrison new Managing Director of Plant Sciences Group

Lead Author
Perrett Laver
Published
19 May 2022
Industry
Research Technology & Innovation
Location
The Netherlands

The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has appointed Richard Harrison as the Managing Director of the Plant Sciences Group (PSG) as of 1 September 2022.

Harrison, who is currently Director of NIAB Cambridge Crop Research, will succeed Ernst van den Ende who is now Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group.

Richard Harrison currently leads NIAB’s research work in arable crops, and NIAB’s contribution to the Crop Science Centre, an alliance between the University of Cambridge and NIAB.

Dr Richard Harrison completed his PhD in systems biology at the University of Manchester, followed by a Medical Research Council Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh in bioinformatics and population genetics.

This is a great opportunity, and a privilege, to join a world-renowned centre for discovery and innovation and to lead the Plant Sciences Group. Current global challenges call for new ways working in order to develop an environmentally and economically sustainable food system.

Richard Harrison

Plant Sciences Group

Managing Director

He joined East Malling in 2011 as a research leader, taking the role as the head of the genetics, genomics and breeding department in 2016 which carries out both discovery research and commercialisation of new varieties of soft fruit and tree fruit.

In 2019 he moved to Cambridge, as Director of Crop Research overseeing genetics, breeding pathology, biotechnology and data science research departments at NIAB’s Cambridge headquarters as well as some of the statutory services in seed certification and variety testing.

His own research focuses on understanding the evolution and the genetic basis of complex traits, such as the interactions between plants and microbes and his research group is a combination of molecular biologists and mathematical and computer scientists working at the interface of discovery and application.

In the UK Richard contributes to a variety of strategic advisory panels both for industry (for example the net-zero advisory board of the National Farmers Union) and for UK funding bodies, such as the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) and Innovate UK. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and in 2019 completed a Nuffield Farming Scholarship, studying the green energy transition required in protected horticultural crops.

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About the Lead Author

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Perrett Laver

Perrett Laver specialises in executive search to identify outstanding leaders globally. We connect influential organisations with dynamic leaders who share common values and visions for the future.

Our deep understanding of each client’s values and culture ensures we find candidates from diverse sources who bring fresh perspectives and real impact.

We connect influential organisations with dynamic leaders who share common values and visions for the future.Our deep understanding of each client’s values and culture ensures we find candidates from diverse sources who bring fresh perspectives and real impact.