Laura Barter Email and Phone Number

Laura Barter is a Reader in Plant Chemical Biology in the Chemistry Department at Imperial College. The underlying theme of research in the Barter group is to determine quantitative structure-function relationships in biological systems employing optical spectroscopic, biochemical & proteomic techniques allied with modelling & calculation. She is developing Chemical Biology tools to e.g. (i) quantitatively understand rate-limiting steps & regulatory controls in photosynthesis, to ultimately enhance photosynthetic efficiency & crop yield and (ii) impact upon the agrochemical pipeline, by probing translocation across plant membranes. Further research avenues include the development of artificial cells using a bottom-up approach, to create self-sustaining microscale machinery.Since 2005, she has raised >£35M to support her research programme and strategy. She collaborates extensively with industry e.g Syngenta on research programmes and as Director of the Institute of Chemical Biology's Centre for Doctoral Training, and through community-building initiatives (Co-Director: AGRI-net and the Agri Futures Lab) and knowledge transfer (e.g.Sainsbury’s Farming Scholarship) activities.Her current roles include:Director of the £6M Institute of Chemical Biology, Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Physical sciences innovation in Chemical Biology for bioindustry and healthcare (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/chemical-biology/cdt/). Director of AGRI-net, (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/agri-net/) Director of the Agri-Futures Lab, (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/agri-futures-lab/) Deputy Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Doctoral Training in Cellular Bionics (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/leverhulme-centre-cellular-bionics/Executive Board member of the Institute of Chemical Biology (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/chemical-biology/).Theme Coordinator for Environmental and Green Chemistry: (www.imperial.ac.uk/chemistry/research/research-themes/environmental-and-green-chemistry/)Co-Director of MRes Chemical Biology and Bioentrepreneurship (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/chemical-biology/cdt/training/mres/)Co-Director of MRes in Plant Chemical Biology: Multidisciplinary Research for Next Generation Agri-Sciences (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate-taught/biological-physical-chemistry/#d.en.1193507)