William Kay (he/his)

Dr William Kay (he/his) joined Gail Preston’s team in Oxford in April 2021 and currently works as a researcher on the BIOSCHAMP project surrounding the improvement of mushroom cultivation - https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101000651.

Previously, Will obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology from Bath University in 2012 where he completed a final year project on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Elaeidis - Oil Palm Wilt. He went on to study a taught MSc in ‘Food Security and Sustainable agriculture’ at Exeter University where he developed a broader understanding of agricultural practices including crop security, biotechnology, and policy. The MSc included a final project exploring Trichoderma and its potential for plant growth promotion. Will progressed onto a PhD at Exeter University with Prof. Sarah Gurr. His thesis investigated the life cycle and control of the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici which he completed in 2017. Between 2017 and 2021, Will worked as a post-doctoral researcher on the life cycles (in vivo and in vitro), and potential plant protection products (fungicides), of the pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Panama disease of banana), Zymoseptoria tritici (Septoria leaf blotch of wheat) and Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Black Sigatoka of banana).

Will is also Webmanager for the British Society of Plant Pathology. Outside of the lab, Will likes to cook, walk/cycle in the woods, forage, play team sports like cricket, travel, socialise, and go to the cinema.