Meet Our people
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Professor Tariq Butt
Co-Lead, Green Economy Centre | Biocontrol & Natural Products Specialist | John Webster Award 2025
Professor Tariq Butt is a world-leading mycologist whose work has transformed how industry uses fungi and natural products for sustainable pest control. He has helped develop next-generation biopesticides adopted across agriculture, forestry, and public health as alternatives to chemical pesticides.
Dr Farooq Shah
Co-Lead, Green Economy Centre | Integrated Pest Management & Biopesticides Specialist
Dr Farooq Shah is an expert in managing high-impact insect pests, from crop-damaging species to disease vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks. His work advances Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the development of biopesticides that offer safer, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional insecticides.
Professor Dan Eastwood
Co-Lead, Green Economy Centre | Fungal Genomics & Bio-based Innovation Specialist
Professor Dan Eastwood is a leading fungal biologist who applies fungal innovation to real-world challenges—from managing invasive plants to exploring microbial interactions that support sustainable production. His work focuses on making fungi powerful drivers of the bio-based economy.
FUNCTIONAL TEAM
Dr Alla silkina
Algal Biotechnology Specialist | Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research
Dr Alla Silkina is an applied biotechnology specialist with deep expertise in algal physiology, pigment production, and large-scale microalgae cultivation.
Dr Claudio Greco
Senior Lecturer, Biosciences | Greco Lab
Dr Claudio Greco is a fungal biotechnologist who uses fungal compounds to power sustainable solutions in medicine, agriculture and beyond.
Prof. Eva Sonnenschein
Professor in Marine Microbiology | Sonnenschein Lab
Professor Eva C. Sonnenschein is a marine microbiologist exploring the hidden lives of microorganisms, for a cleaner, more resilient ocean.
Dr Ruth Godfrey
Associate Professor / Biomedical Sciences
Professor Ruth Godfrey is an innovation-focused analytical chemist with over 20 years’ experience developing sustainable technologies for chemical and medical analysis.
Dr Steve slocombe
Lecturer / Biosciences
Dr Steve Slocombe is a Biotechnologist with deep expertise in plants and algae. He is also particularly interested in the marine environment including microalgal biotechnology.
Dr Laura Wilkinson
Associate Professor / Psychology
Dr Laura Wilkinson is an experimental psychologist whose most recent work focusses on sustainable eating behaviour and consumer acceptability of novel foods or ingredients.
CORE TEAM
Meet our BioHUB core team composed of research assistants and support staff.
