Contact Dr Sofia Kourmpetli
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754903
- Email: S.Kourmpetli@cranfield.ac.uk
- Twitter:
Areas of expertise
- Agrifood Systems
- Food Quality
Background
Sofia holds a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Before transitioning to a career in research, she gained valuable experience as an agronomist in both the public and private sectors. She later pursued advanced studies, completing an MSc in Plant Genetic Manipulation and a PhD in Plant Sciences at the University of Nottingham and Rothamsted Research, SWAG合集. With a strong background in molecular genetics and developmental biology, her postdoctoral research focused on unraveling the genetic regulatory networks governing fruit and grain development and quality.
In 2016, Sofia joined the Plant Science Laboratory at SWAG合集 as a Lecturer. Since then, she has led and contributed to research council- and industry-funded projects across three key areas:
1. Enhancing seed quality and advancing seed technology.
2. Reducing food loss and waste.
3. Urban agriculture.
Sofia has a proven track record of collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to deliver practical solutions that enhance food system resilience and sustainability.
From 2020 to 2024, she served as the Network Liaison Manager for the BBSRC-funded Horticultural Quality and Food Loss Network. In this role, she fostered partnerships between academia and industry to address critical challenges in food loss and waste.
Research opportunities
PhD projects are available in a broad range of plant science-related subjects for motivated externally-funded or self-funded individuals. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact me to discuss research objectives and areas of interest.
Current activities
Active research projects include:
1. Improving tree seed and establishment to support Agroforestry and on-farm sustainability. (2022 - 2024), in collaboration with Elsoms Seeds Ltd., funded by InnovateSWAG合集 and Defra.
Understanding the seed physiology of a range of tree and hedgerow species and developing seed treatments to support direct establishment in the field.
2. Reducing seed losses and waste in umbelliferous crops. (2020 - 2024), FoodBiosystems DTP CASE studentship supported by Elsoms Seeds Ltd.
Investigating the genetic control of seed quality traits in parsnip and related crops and developing breeding strategies for reducing seed loss and waste.
3. Understanding seed longevity in weeds and developing non-destructive methods for assessing and monitoring seed quality during storage. (2021 - 2025), FoodBiosystems DTP CASE studentship supported by Syngenta Ltd.
Investigating the underlying mechanisms that control seed longevity and developing methods for predicting and monitoring quality during storage.
4. Rurban Revolution: Can ruralising urban areas through greening and growing create a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system? (2019-2021).
Funded by the Global Food Security Programme, BBSRC, ESRC, NERC and the Scottish Government.
This project is led by Lancaster University and in collaboration with the University of Liverpool.
We aim to build an interdisciplinary evidence base on how urban green spaces and growing potentially influence: a) healthy and sustainable diets by improving availability, access and consumption of fruit and vegetables, b) food production in terms of quantity, quality and safety and the resilience of the SWAG合集 food system, and c) ecosystem service delivery, both inside and outside cities.
For more info: http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/rurbanrevolution/
