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Professor Alex Jones

Professor

Email: Alex.Jones@warwick.ac.uk 

Phone: 024 765 28144

Office: B141

Twitter: no more. Try @alex_me_jones@mstdn.science

LinkedIn

ResearchGate


Research Clusters

Cell & Development (Cluster Co-Lead)

Plant & Agricultural Biosciences


Vacancies and Opportunities

For PhD and postdoctoral opportunities, and interest in potential collaborations, please contact me at the above email address.


Research Interests

My expertise is in quantifying and characterising post-translational modifications on proteins to identify components of signalling pathways, especially phosphorylation in plant receptor complexes. Phosphorylation is the reversible addition of a small phosphate group to a protein that can act like a switch to control protein activity or its interactions. My early work focused on plant-pathogen interactions, especially the flagellin receptor in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, and its interactions with co-receptors. I have collaborated extensively throughout my career and worked with proteins from a wide range of organisms from yeast to starfish. More recently I have become fascinated by membrane trafficking and secretion, primarily from plants roots but also in wider aspects of plant development and interactions with microorganisms.

Current research projects focus on comparing immune signalling pathways in several species of plants and understanding how plants modify root growth (and secretions) to improve uptake of phosphate from the soil.

Research: Technical Summary

I am a biochemist who has specialised in protein phosphorylation and interactions. I have substantial experience in mass spectrometry and proteomics and in plant growth, development and pathogen interactions.

  • Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick 2022-present
  • PGT Director 2020 - present
  • Reader, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick. 2013-2022
  • Director of Proteomics Research Technology Platform, Warwick 2013-2022
  • Head of Proteomics at The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, 2005-2013
  • Post-doctoral researcher Targeting of EDS1/PAD4 resistance signalling complexes by bacterial effector proteins Imperial College, London. 2004-2005
  • Post-doctoral researcher "Comparative analysis of the defence proteome of Arabidopsis thaliana" Imperial College Wye Campus 2001-2004
  • Post-doctoral researcher "The impact of transgenes for herbivore and virus resistance on the weediness of crop relatives" at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Dorset. 1999-2001
  • PhD "Purification and Sequencing of Myrosinase from the Cabbage Aphid". Imperial College Wye campus 1999
  • MSc Applied Plant Sciences. Imperial College Wye campus 1995
  • BSc (Hons) Chemistry & Biochemistry. Imperial College London 1990-1993