Kerry Leslie Email and Phone Number

2023-2024 - Potato Consultant with SAC ConsultingI am a consultant in the potatoes team of SAC Consulting hybrid working between the SAC Perth office and potato fields across Scotland. I primarily work with and advise members of SACAPP (SAC Consulting Association of Potato Producers) but also interact with many members of the wider potato industry. Work highlights include:• Knowledge & exchange work package lead for PCN Action Scotland (pcnhub.ac.uk)• Study director for multiple trials in the 2024 potato trials program.2022-2023 - Horticulture and Marketing Officer at SASA 2016-2021 - PhD at the University of St. Andrews/The James Hutton Institute studying effector proteins in syncytium-forming nematodes under the supervision of Dr. Sebastian Eves-van den Akker, Dr. Sophie Mantelin and Prof. John Jones. 2019-2021 part time science lecturing roles at both Fife and West Lothian colleges, where I taught subjects such as human physiology and microbiology (theory and lab practices) to a variety of levels (level 4 to HNC). Between beginning my PhD and graduating from my undergrad I spent 6 months as a Lab technician in the Hemsley lab (Dr. Piers Hemsley - University of Dundee/James Hutton Institute) I obtained a first class hons for my undergraduate degree - Bsc MicrobiologyMy Honours project was titled "Epitope-tagged FLS2 does not complement the loss of FLS2 during innate immune responses in Arabidopsis thaliana". Throughout this project I gained hands on experience of methods such as western blotting, and qRT-PCR, as well as the growth and upkeep Arabidopsis seedlings. In the summer of 2015 I spent time at the James Hutton Institute in the Cell and Molecular Science division (Professor Paul Birch's lab) where I assisted lab members and gained experience in general lab practices such as PCR and cloning techniques. I was given first hand experience in using P. infestans, E. coli and the plant species N. Benthamiana.Previous to this I spent three summers (2012-14) working at SASA - Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture. Working in the variety testing/ Herb and vegetables units where I gained experience in handling field/ glass house grown crops and data collection and analysis. In the summer of 2014 I was accepted and attended the Gatsby Plant Science Summer School ran by the University of Cambridge and the Sainsbury laboratory. During this week I learned from scientists at the forefront of plant sciences through lectures and hands on practical classes.