Nigel Taylor graduated with a PhD from the University of Bath, UK in 1991. He took a postdoctoral position at the University of Bath between 1991 and 1996 developing embryogenic tissue culture systems for cassava (Manihot esculenta) and sweet potato. Dr. Taylor developed a collaboration with Claude Fauquet and Roger Beachy at ILTAB (International Laboratory for Tropical Agricultural Biotechnology) from 1994 to 1996 through a Rockefeller Fellowship to mate embryogenic tissues with genetic transformation technologies leading to the first transgenic cassava in 1995. He moved to The Scripps Research Institute to join ILTAB (1996-1999), working to further develop transgenic cassava for resistance to cassava virus diseases. Since 1999, Dr. Taylor has worked at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center as an Assistant Domain Member co-supervising a team of 15 researchers developing transgenic cassava for virus resistance and nutritional enhancement. Since January 2007, he is the current Editor-in-Chief for In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology- Plant. His major areas of interest are: transgenic technologies for disease resistance and nutritional enhancement, in vitro morphogenic systems, tropical crop biotechnology, product development and technology transfer to developing countries. |
