Tel: 01248 388655 (from U.K.)  +44 1248 388655 (International)

Web: Research Gate  X(Twitter) @kasSteele

Webinar: KASP markers for rice breeders

YouTube: Rice growing at Henfaes

My lab is focused on tackling global food security issues. We use genomics tools and in work in partnership with growers, breeders and industry to develop novel crop varieties for sustainable agriculture. Current projects use genetic diversity in wild relatives and landraces and analysis of quantitative traits to inform marker-assisted selection for trait improvement in economically important species.

Transformative Reduced Input Potatoes - TRIP (2022-2021)

I am the Bangor University PI on this Innovate UK Defra-funded project with partners including Dyson Farming Ltd., The James Hutton Institute, Emerald Research, Light Science Technologies, The Sarvari Research Trust. 

Responsibilities within Bangor University

Director of Impact, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences

Member of Henfaes Research Centre Committee

Module organiser for Honours Projects (DXX/C 3701) and Plant Diversity and Conservation (DXX 2021)

Supervise Research Postrgraduates

Former (2016-2022) Director of Impact and Engagement, College of Environmental Science and Enginering

Current Postgraduate Research Supervised by Katherine Steele

• KESS 2 (With Sarvari Research Trust) - Tim Beard - Tomato early blight - identification of genetic sources of resistance to Alternaria solani
• Commonwealth Scholar (2022-2023) Kamran Yaqoob - Identification of Genetic Variations of Wx Alleles for Diversified Starch Composition and Glycemic Index of Pakistani Rice Cultivars
• I also supervise projects for taught masters students

Recent PhD research projects supervised 

• AHDB - Beverly Agesa - Screening and performance of phosphorus efficient cereal cultivars for future food security 
• KESS (With Maelor Forest Nursery) - Anastasia Atucha Zamkova – Identifying molecular markers for frost tolerance in Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

• Breeding strategies to improve blight resistance in Sarpo potatoes

WILLING TO SUPERVISE PROJECTS IN THE FOLLOWING GENERAL AREAS:
Crop genetics – with emphasis on rice, barley, tomato, potato and the genetic and environmental effects on their abiotic and biotic stress resistance. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, functional foods; sustainable food, fuel and fibre production and plant pathology. Projects involving molecular markers, genomics, field or glasshouse experiments and participatory methods/citizen science will be considered. Enquiries welcome.

Teaching

Module organiser for: DXX3701 (Honours Project) and DXX2021 (Plant Diversity and Conservation)

Contribute to a range of other modules including DXX1001, DXX2000, BNS2002, BSM4013

Previously, I worked in Bangor Universiy's former Centre for Arid Zone Studies (CAZS) as a Research Officer and was PI on three rice research projects funded by the DFID Plant Sciences Research Programme (1998-2006).

I am a member of the UK Rice Research Consortium (UKRRC)