Postgraduate Research List

This list contains past and current titles of postgraduate studies carried out across Kew's departments, including the Herbarium, Library Art and Archives section, the Jodrell Laboratory and the Millennium Seed Bank. Click on the links in green to read testimonials from some of our students.

Student	Working Title	Main Kew Supervisor	Associated University	Completed
Abulaila, Khaled	Ecology and ex situ conservation of Orchis sancta and Orchis papilionacea (Orchidaceae) in Jordan	Tim Marks	University of Jordan	ongoing
Albuquerque, Sara	Cross-cultural histories of tropical botany in Latin America	Chris Mills	Birkbeck College, University of London, UK	ongoing
Allen, Alexandra	Identification of genes regulating self-incompatibility in Senecio sqalidus (Asteraceae)	C Lexer	University of Bristol, UK	2009
Andrianaivo, Oliva Andrianoelina	Diversité génétique, physiologie de reproduction et étude d’impact de la fragmentation sur Dalbergia monticola de la forêt orientale de Madagascar	Moctar Sacande	University of Antananarivo, Madagascar	2009
Bernardini, Benedetta	Drivers of speciation in large rainforest genera – Myrtaceae, a case study	Eve Lucas	University of Reading, UK	ongoing
Betts, Hannah	Is there a biological rationale for the Framework Species approach to land restoration?	John Dickie	University of Liverpool, UK
Bhanubong, Bongcheewin	Systematic and ethnobotanical studies in Gomphostemma (Lamiaceae)	Alan Paton	Birkbeck College, University of London, UK	ongoing
Bird, Annette	Thermal methods and comparative longevity in the genus Ranunculus	Fiona Hay	Birkbeck College, University of London, UK	2006
Birtić, Simona	Programmed cell death in seeds	Ilse Kranner	University of Sussex, UK	2008
Box, Mathew	Evolution of nectar spurs in orchids	Paula Rudall	University of Cambridge, UK	2010
Butler, Laura	Minimising variability in seed development, quality and maturity for ex situ biodiversity conservation	Fiona Hay	University of Reading, UK	2007
Byng, James	Phylogenetic revision of African Syzygium (Myrtaceae)	Eve Lucas	Aberdeen University, UK	ongoing
Calvente, Alice	Phylogeny of Rhipsalis subg. Phyllartrorhipsalis (Cactaceae)	D C Zappi	Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brasil	2008
Calvi, Geangelo	The effect of gaseous environment on seed longevity of Amazonian species	Ilse Kranner and Hugh Pritchard	INPA, Brazil	ongoing
Carasso, Valentina	Towards the ex situ conservation of Frittilaria tubiformis var. moggridgei	Fiona Hay	University of Turin, Italy	ongoing
Cardoso-Antunes, Cimille	Stress tolerance in seeds and seedlings of Caesalpinia pyramidalis	Peter Toorop	Universidad Federal de Bahia, Brazil	ongoing
Carlsen, Monica	Understanding the origin and rapid diversification of the genus Anthurium (Araceae), integrating molecular phylogenies, morphology and anatomy	Simon Mayo	University of Missouri St Louis, USA	2008
Chanyenga, Tembo	Influence of population fragmentation on seed production, development, viability and subsequent natural regeneration of Widdringtonia whytei on Mulange Mountain	Moctar Sacande	Stellenbosch University, RSA	ongoing
Chen, Hong-Ying	Role of reactive oxygen species in orthodox and recalcitrant seed longevity	Ilse Kranner	Kunming Institute of Botany, China	2010
Chochai, Araya	Phylogenetic and genome studies in Paphiopedilum	Mike Fay	Birkbeck College, University of London, UK	ongoing
Claessens, Susanne	Molecular and biophysical dissection of changes in dormancy in Sisymbrium officinale and Arabidopsis thaliana	Peter Toorop	Wageningen University, Netherlands	ongoing
Cleiton-Jose, Anderson	Molecular basis of seed desiccation tolerance in Talauma ovata (Magnoliaceae)	Peter Toorop	Wageningen University, Netherlands and Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil	2007
Collier, Fay	Are there keystone ectomycorrhizal fungi which mediate the tree invasion of heathlands?	Martin Bidartondo	Imperial College London, UK	2008
Cornish, Caroline	Science collections and Empire: The Kew Museum of Economic Botany	Mark Nesbitt	Royal Holloway, University of London, UK	ongoing
Cox, Filipa	Are there links between tree health and ectomycorrhizal fungal communities under changing environmental conditions?	Martin Bidartondo	Imperial College London, UK	2009
Crawford, Andrew	Ex situ seed conservation in Australia: factors affecting seed longevity	Robin Probert	Murdoch University and University of Western Australia	ongoing
Daniels, Jessica	Determining dormancy breaking requirements and investigating the effect of ex situ storage conditions on viability of native Australian orchid seeds from terrestrial habitats	Stephen Hopper	Kings Park and Botanic Gardens and University of Western Australia	ongoing
De Souza, Elnatan Bezerra	Revision of Mitracarpus (Rubiaceae) in Brazil	D C Zappi	Universidade Estadul de Feira de Santana, Brazil	2008
Dodsworth, Steven	Chromosomal speciation and evolution of Nicotiana sect. Suaveolentes (Solanaceae)	Mark Chase	Queen Mary, University of London	ongoing
El Aissi, Ameur	Essential oils of medicinal plants of Tunisia	Monique Simmonds	Faculte de Pharmacie Monastir, Tunisia	ongoing
Faber, Alea	Ecology and phylogenetics of rare granite outcrop Paracaleana (Duck Orchids)	Stephen Hopper	Kings Park and Botanic Gardens and University of Western Australia	ongoing
Fenu, Giuseppe	In situ conservation of the threatened endemic flora of Sardinia (Italy)	Tiziana Ulian	Universita degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy	2008
Golding, Janice	Measuring/predicting persistence potential of rare plants from South-central Africa using life history traits	Paul Smith	University of Oxford, UK	2008
Gomes-Jardim, Jomar	Phylogeny of the genus Faramea (Rubiaceae)	D C Zappi	Universidade Estadul de Feira de Santana, Brazil	2008
Gómez-Acevedo, Sandra	Comparative study of diversification rates on the neotropical subgenera of Acacia (Mimosoideae: Leguminosae) in Mexico	Lourdes Rico-Arce	Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México	2008
Hamilton, Kim	Ex situ conservation of Australian Citrus species: investigations of seed biology, cryopreservation and in vitro culture	Hugh Pritchard	Griffith University, Australia	2007
Heatubun, Charlie	Systematics of the genus Areca	Bill Baker	Institut Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia	2009
Hechenleitner, Paulina	Biogeography and systematics of South American Vicia (Leguminosae)	Gwill Lewis	University of Aberdeen	ongoing
Hoyle, Gemma	Maternal environment effects on seed germination in Australian native species	Matthew Daws	University of Queensland, Australia	2009
Ison, Jennifer L	Effects of non-random sampling of Prairie species on the genetic diversity of seed collections	Peter Toorop	Chicago Botanic Gardens and University of Illinois at Chicago, USA	ongoing
Jones, Lewis	Identification of flower scents that influence insect behaviour	Monique Simmonds	Birkbeck College, University of London, UK	ongoing
Kahandawala, Imalka	Conservation, phylogenetics and genome size evolution in Cypripedium	Mike Fay	University of London, UK	2009
Ke, Xia	Biogeography and seed desiccation tolerance in Fagaceae	Hugh Pritchard	Kunming Institute of Botany, China	ongoing
Kochanek, Jitka	Maternal environment and provenance effects on the longevity of Australian native seeds	Robin Probert	University of Queensland and Murdoch University, Australia	2008
Krishnan, Sarada	Conservation genetics of Coffea	Aaron Davis	Denver Botanic Gardens and University of Colorado, USA	ongoing
Kruger, Masego	Impact of environmental pollution on seed and seedling quality	Moctar Sacande	University of KwaZulu Natal, RSA	ongoing
Landrein, Sven	Systematics of the Family Linnaeaceae (Abelia and relatives)	Rogier De Kok, James Clarkson and Gerhard Prenner	Open University, UK	ongoing
Leach, David	Impact of fire-fighting chemicals on Banksia woodland flora	Stephen Hopper	Kings Park and Botanic Gardens and University of Western Australia	ongoing
Leeratiwong, Charan	Systematics of Premna and Callicarpa in IndoChina	Alan Paton	Khon Kaen University, Thailand	2008
Long, Rowena	Biochemical basis of seed survival	Ilse Kranner	University of Queensland, Australia	2008
Martinez-Azorin, Mario	Systematics of the Ornithogalum umbellatum complex in the Iberian Peninsula	Mike Fay	Universidad de Alicante, Spain	2008
Mat, Sapari	Seed storage of threatened palms	Jayanthi Nadarajan and Hugh Prichard	Massey University, New Zealand	ongoing
Mattana, Efisio	Ex situ conservation of the most threatened endemic species of Sardinia (Italy)	Hugh Pritchard	Universita degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy	2009
McOwen, Chris	Patterns of phylogenetic diversity and threat in species of monocots	Neil Brummitt	University of St Andrews, UK	ongoing
Mondoni, Andrea	Seed ecophysiology in Italian rare and endemic species in the genera Anemone and Silene	Robin Probert and Simon Linington	Department of Land Ecology in Pavia, Italy	2008
Mong, Christian	Seed germination and dormancy across environmental clines	Hugh Pritchard	University of Bergen, Norway	ongoing
Muthoka, Patrick	Comparative longevity studies in the genus Euphorbia	Fiona Hay	University of Masego, Kenya	2008
Mwanyambo, Montford	Evolution of Plectranthus in East Africa	Alan Paton	University of Reading, UK	2008
Naidoo, Sershen	Conservation biotechnology of Amaryllidaceae seeds	Hugh Pritchard	University of KwaZulu Natal, RSA	2010
Newton, Rose	Development, dormancy, germination and ex-situ survival of seeds of selected Amaryllidaceae species	Fiona Hay	University of Reading, UK	2012
Nowak, Michael	Breeding systems and lineage diversification in Coffea species	Aaron Davis	Duke University, USA	ongoing
Nyamongo, Desterio	Maternal environment effects on seed germination and dormancy in Vernonia galamensis	Matthew Daws	University of Maseno, Kenya	2009
Papadopulos, Alex	Speciation on an oceanic island	William Baker	Imperial College, London, UK	ongoing
Park, Myoung Joo	Seed storage behaviour of selected vascular plants: cryopreservation of Dysoxylum spectabile	Jayanthi Nadarajan	Massey University, New Zealand	ongoing
Peachey, Emma	Development of analytical methods to quantify phytochemicals	Monique Simmonds	Birkbeck College, University of London, UK	2009
Pedder-Smith, Rachel	Narrating stories using natural history specimens	Eve Lucas	Royal College of Art	ongoing
Phillips, Ryan	The role of pollinators and mycorrhiza in rarity and speciation in Drakaea (Hammer Orchids)	Stephen Hopper	Kings Park and Botanic Gardens and University of Western Australia	2010
Preistley, Emma	Chemistry of medicinal plants	Monique Simmonds	University of London, UK	2008
Rakotoarinivo, Mijoro	A spatial analysis of the palms of Madagascar using GIS as a basic tool for their conservation	John Dransfield	University of Antananarivo, Madagascar	2008
Prendergast, Grace	Reintroduction of the lady's slipper orchid in Britain	Martin Bidartondo	Royal Holloway, University of London, UK	ongoing
Rakotonasolo, Franck	Systematics of Hyperacanthus (Rubiaceae) in Madagascar	Aaron Davis	University of Antananarivo, Madagascar	2007
Rakotondranony, Guy Laurent	Contribution à l’étude écologique et économique d’un palmier endémique de Madagascar, le Ravenea rivularis en vue de l’élaboration d’une stratégie de gestion durable de ses peuplements naturels (cas d’Ilakaka)	Moctar Sacande and John Dransfield	University of Antananarivo, Madagascar	2004
Rashid, Harun	Systematics of Gmelina in Indochina	Alan Paton	Trinity College Dublin, Ireland	2008
Reis-Martins, Joefferson	Cell cycle analysis during loss of desiccation tolerance in germinated seeds of Tabebuia impetiginosa Mart.	Peter Toorop	Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil	2009
Rivers, Malin	Metapopulation dynamics in relation to species distribution across a fragmented landscape: ‘ground-truthing’ herbarium-based conservation assessments	Neil Brummit and Eimear Nic Lughadha	University of St Andrews, UK	ongoing
Roach, Thomas	Reactive oxygen species and seed quality	Ilse Kranner	University College London, UK and University of KwaZulu Natal, RSA	2009
Robbirt, Karen	Will climate warming present British orchids with a pollination crisis?	David Roberts	University of East Anglia, UK	ongoing
Rueangsawang, Kanokorn	Systematics of Justicia (Acanthaceae) in Thailand	David Simpson	Khon Kaen University, Thailand	ongoing
Russell, John	Flower development amongst the different sexual systems of Mercurialis annua (Euphorbiaceae)	Gerhard Prenner	University of Oxford	ongoing
Saensook, Piyaporn	Comparative studies on the biology and improvement of Cornukaempferia (Zingiberaceae)	Dave Simpson	Khon Kaen University, Thailand	2008
Sanchez, Michele	Conservation genetics and biogeography of the Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis) in the Bahaman Archipelago	Mike Fay	Birkbeck College, University of London, UK	ongoing
Sanogo, Sidi	Savannah species seed conservation	Moctar Sacande	University of Ghent, Belgium	ongoing
Santamaria, Estrella	Epigenetic control and transcriptomics of dormancy	Peter Toorop	University of Oviedo, Spain	ongoing
Schnitzler, Jan	Biotic interactions and plant diversification in southern African biodiversity hotspots	Vincent Savolainen	Imperial College London, UK	2009
Sengun, Seda	Medicinal use and taxonomy of the Vitex trifolia complex	Rogier DeKok	Birbeck, University of London, UK	ongoing
Sina, Sibidou	Reproduction et diversité génétique chez Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) G.Don	Moctar Sacande	Wageningen University, Netherlands	2006
Sothers, Cynthia	Systematics of Couepia Aubl. (Chrysobalanaceae)	Mark Chase and Rogier De Kok	Open University, UK	2009
Staggemeier, Vanessa	Patterns of diversity, spatial distribution and reproductive biology of Myrteae (Myrtaceae)	Eve Lucas	Federal University of Gioana, Brazil	ongoing
Swarts, Nigel	Recovery of the critically endangered spider orchid, Caladenia huegelii	Stephen Hopper	Kings Park and Botanic Gardens and University of Western Australia	ongoing
Syfert, Mindy	Novel computational approaches to modelling biodiversity – applications for setting conservation priorities	Neil Brummitt	University of Cambridge, UK	ongoing
Tiwari, Ranée	Medicinal plants of India	Monique Simmonds	University of London, UK	ongoing
Tosh, James	Afro-Madagascan phylogeography of Rubiaceae	Aaron Davies	Catholic University of Leuven, Netherlands	2009
Tuckett, Renee	Biogeography and seed ecology of vernal pool species in Western Australia	Stephen Hopper and Fiona Hay	Kings Park and Botanic Gardens and University of Western Australia	2010
Vinicio-Vieira, Carlos	The re-induction of desiccation tolerance in germinated seeds of Tabebuia impetiginosa Mart.	Peter Toorop	Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil	2008
Walker, Rachel	Petal spots in the South African beetle daisy	Paula Rudall	University of Cambridge, UK	ongoing
Wei, Fang	Seed conservation of threatened and socio-economically important Theaceae	Hugh Pritchard	Kunming Institute of Botany, China	2009
Webster, Rachel	Molecular and biochemical basis of heat shock responses in Carica papaya seeds	Hugh Pritchard	University of Manchester, UK	2006
White, David	Maintaining deception in a rewarding landscape	David Roberts	University of East Anglia, UK	2010
Williams, Sophie	The role of botanic gardens in plant conservation	Colin Clubbe	Bangor University	ongoing
Windsor-Collins, Andrea	Palm leaf anatomy - mechanical and engineering implications	David Cutler	Brunel University, UK	2008
Yaméogo-Gaméné, Christiane	Ex situ conservation strategies for Vitellaria paradoxa and Parkia biglobosa seeds	Hugh Pritchard	Gembloux University, Belgium	ongoing
Zarrei, Mehdi	Systematics of Gagea (Liliaceae)	Paul Wilkin and Mark Chase	Birkbeck College, University of London, UK	2009
Znaniecka, Joanna Monica	In vitro propagation of Polish and tropical orchids: study of somaclonal variation	Mike Fay	University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk	2008