Poppy Leslie

I am a year in industry student from the University of York working within Neil Hall’s Group. Supervised by Rowena Hill and Mark McMullan, my project aims to explore the evolution of lifestyle within the fungal lineage Gaeumannomyces, a genus including pathogens such as Gaeumannomyces tritici (causing wheat take-all disease) and other less characterised mutualistic and antagonistic species. 

Using phylogenetic analysis, comparative genomics and pathogenicity tests, I am interested in exploring the phylogeny of Gaeumannomyces, calculating divergence time estimation and looking for genomic regions that may underpin different lifestyles.

Prior to this year, I attended Gatsby Plant Science Summer School and completed an internship at the environmental organisation 'How the Earth Thinks' where I developed an interest in the rhizosphere, plant-fungal interactions and sustainable agriculture.

Additionally, I am part of the Youth Panel for the British Dragonfly Society where I enjoy attending field trips, science communication and helping young people feel represented within nature conservation.