Testimonials
Curious about what it's like to study the Master's in Crop Biotechnology and Engineering? Read about the experiences of students, teachers and alumni below. What's the atmosphere like, what drives teachers and where will you end up?
Testimonials of teachers and researchers
Plants are not just the basis of all animal life – as a source of food – but they are also inherently fascinating.
- Nationality
- British-Dutch
- Programme
- Crop Biotechnology and Engineering
Charlie Underwood is a professor at Radboud University.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Charlie Underwood and I teach in the new Master's degree in Crop Biotechnology and Engineering which is a joint initiative with Maastricht University. I teach the "Crop Biotechnology" course which covers how biotechnology is used in modern breeding and crop research. I am also the vice director of the programme.
Agriculture currently faces several grand challenges, including the climate crisis and the need to increase sustainability. In the programme the possibilities of crop biotechnology and engineering come alive when we explore several case studies of how new technologies are being used to address these challenges today, to ensure food security in the future.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field? What makes this field so interesting?
As a Master’s student I was interested in many fields of biology including neuroscience, cancer biology and stem cells. When I was considering to do a PhD I leaned towards biomedical sciences as it seemed to be impactful. In this period I started an internship in a plant genetics laboratory and I realized this was the field of research I should pursue. Plants are not just the basis of all animal life – as a source of food – but they are also inherently fascinating. I spend a large amount of my time thinking about the molecular details of how plants grow, develop and reproduce – and how this relates to the crops of the future.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
A major focus of my current research is a project funded by the European Research Council called “Asexual Embryo”. Like animals, most plant species reproduce via sex. A minority of plants and animals have evolved alternative – asexual – reproductive strategies. In wild dandelions, for example, apomixis allows clonal transmission of favorable, hybrid genotypes through seeds over unlimited generations. Hybrid crop varieties are more robust to stresses and have higher yields due to hybrid vigor, yet they reproduce sexually. The introduction of apomixis in hybrid crops would allow inheritance of hybrid vigor through seeds, and eradicate the need to continuously re-make hybrids by crossing. In the project we explore routes to engineer apomixis in important crops – like tomato – and ultimately we think this can be a way to increase the genetic diversity of modern crops.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
I would advice students to inform themselves of all of the options as well as they can and then talk to people they trust about it. After this it’s a good idea to take some time to reflect on it – by yourself – and then make a choice.
What is the best part of working with students?
The best part of working with students is seeing their curiosity translate into their passion. I like it when they ask bold questions and challenge assumptions; it brings fresh energy. It’s inspiring to watch students become confident thinkers and come up with novel ideas.