Leading Agtech specialist Light Science Technologies (LST) has announced the appointment of Laura Briers as Plant Scientist, to help further drive its award-winning science and technology-based innovation in horticulture.
Laura is in the final year of a PhD in Plant Physiology at the University Nottingham specialising in wheat photosynthesis, which has been identified as a key target for improving future wheat yields and is an important research area. Based at its onsite laboratory facilities in Derby, she joins the team to help drive LST’s continuous efforts to improve plant performance for sustainable, indoor farming across vertical farming, glasshouses and polytunnels.
A first-class graduate in Biological Sciences from Plymouth university with a distinction for year in industry, Laura has held previous appointments as Research Technician in key food security research areas at the University of Nottingham and also at University of Exeter where she won an Above and Beyond Award for her contribution as a technician to its lab group.
She has also completed a PRINCE2® Foundation and Practitioner certification in Project Management, fuelled by her interest in industry applied science.
Laura said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to work alongside wider projects involving crop testing. What drew me to LST was its conscious sustainable ethos – not just through optimising crop growth within an environment that doesn’t rely on the planet’s finite sources, but also through using its own manufactured, recyclable lighting product to achieve this. I am relishing working with a company that will make a significant, positive impact on the future of our food system.”
Simon Deacon, CEO and founder of LST, commented: “Laura’s addition to our pool of scientific expertise is an important one. It signals to our partners and customers that we’re serious about establishing an advanced, leading edge with our plant science products and technologies.”
