Dr Jose De Vega

I am a Group Leader (tenured) at the Earlham Institute, Norwich, UK. My ambition is my team is a vibrant place for plant evolutionary genomics that addresses fundamental questions about how genomes evolve and tackles practical breeding challenges.

Current role

Since June 2022, I have been Group Leader at the Earlham Institute. Before that, from September 2017 to June 2022, I was a Fellow focused on genomic approaches to improve crop tolerance to climate change. I worked within the Global Challenges Research Fund GROW Colombia project.

Employment history

Earlham Institute, Norwich, UK

  • 06/2022 – present: Group Leader

Earlham Institute, Norwich, UK

  • 09/2017 – 06/2022: Fellow

Earlham Institute, Norwich, UK

  • 05/2013 – 09/2017: Postdoctoral researcher
    Managed the red clover, Brachiaria and Miscanthus genome projects.

ITQB, Lisbon, Portugal

  • 07/2010 – 05/2013: Postdoctoral researcher
    Transcriptomics in pine and oak during embryogenesis.

University of Salamanca, Spain

  • 06/2009 – 07/2010: Research assistant
    RT-qPCR, greenhouse experiments, and DNA/RNA extractions.

Education

  • PhD in Agronomic Biotechnology, University of Salamanca, 07/2009
    Fusarium oxysporum – Phaseolus beans molecular interaction (Fusarium wilt)

  • BSc in Environmental Sciences, University of Salamanca, 09/2004

Research and grants

My research programme has been supported through competitive funding from UKRI, BBSRC, Horizon Europe, Innovate UK, ARIA, the British Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and other international programmes.

Current and recent grants include:

  • PI: Building environmental resilience through the lens of genomic technologies (ARIA, 2025–2026)
  • PI: Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Tozer Seeds to advance and integrate genomics technologies to accelerate the speed and efficiency of vegetable breeding (Innovate UK, 2024–2026)
  • Co-I, WP lead: Legume Generation: Boosting innovation in breeding for the next generation of legume crops for Europe (Horizon Europe, 2023–2027)
  • Co-I, WP lead: BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme Decoding Biodiversity (DECODE) (2023–2028)
  • Co-I: BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme Cellular Genomics (CELLGEN) (2023–2028)
  • PI / CASE supervisor: PhD projects in white clover, banana, and common bean
  • PI and Co-I on earlier projects spanning crop biodiversity, digital infrastructure, forage genomics, rice genomics, sugarcane breeding, and biodiversity-based bioeconomy initiatives in Colombia, Peru, Vietnam, Kenya, and the UK

Recent presentations and scientific profile

My recent invited talks and presentations have focused on crop diversity and evolution, pangenomic tools and workflows, legume and forage genomics, adaptation and admixture in common bean, and the application of genomics to crop resilience and net zero agriculture. These invitations reflect the translational and collaborative character of my work, spanning both fundamental genome biology and applied breeding contexts.

Mentorship and supervision

Mentorship is a central part of my role. I have supervised two PhD students to completion, and I am primary supervisor for two further PhD students. I also serve as secondary supervisor for four PhD students, three at EI and one at the School of Biological Sciences, providing scientific direction, troubleshooting, and career development support. During the first two years of my tenure track, I also supervised and mentored a recent graduate as a research assistant. I develop internships not too differently from PhDs, providing interesting projects and creating opportunities for students to communicate their outputs.

Since January 2026, I have served as Postgraduate Researchers Director in a shared role, overseeing the academic progression of all EI PhD students. This includes ensuring appropriate monitoring and support mechanisms and contributing to a positive postgraduate research environment. I am also part of the NBI Graduate School Executive.

Leadership and institute contributions

I hold multiple leadership roles across large programmes and consortia. I coordinate DECODE WP2 and Legume Generation WP7, and I serve as deputy coordinator for CELLGEN WP2. I am also principal investigator for two Innovate UK projects. Across these roles, I lead delivery, including reporting, milestone tracking, budgeting and financial oversight, recruitment, coordination with project managers, contract management, and partner engagement. These responsibilities demonstrate both scientific and managerial leadership.

At the institute level, I represent EI on the ARIES DTP board. I have also represented the institute, or Faculty, on three committees: Horticultural Services and New Infrastructure; IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equality, and Accessibility); and Information Systems and Library. These roles reflect sustained contributions to institute operations and culture, spanning infrastructure planning, inclusivity and accessibility, and research-enabling services.

Cooperative interactions and ambassadorial work

A major part of my role is coordination across institutes, disciplines, and sectors. I coordinate joint deliverables with IBERS, align objectives across both ISPs, prepared two PhD proposals with IBERS co-supervisors, contributed to shared reporting during mid-term reviews, and organised and co-led the monthly joint genomics meeting between IBERS and EI’s ISPs. This role goes beyond maintaining links; it supports coordination, shared scientific priorities, and efficient collaboration across institutes.

I collaborate with partners in the UK and overseas, including CIAT, ILRI, IRRI, RBG Kew, Tropic, and the Eden Project, helping connect fundamental genomics research with translational outcomes.

Knowledge exchange, innovation, and impact

My research includes strong engagement with knowledge exchange and commercialisation. I have funded collaborations with Tropic Biosciences and Tozer Seeds, and I have contributed to service contracts with companies through Earlham Enterprises. My projects have been showcased at EI Innovate and NRP Agri-Tech and related events.

Teaching, training, and academic service

My teaching and training contributions include invited lecturing, postgraduate supervision, MSc supervision, undergraduate final-year project supervision, and practical training in data and computational biology. I have supervised MSc students in Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement, final-year BSc projects at the University of East Anglia, and several paid summer internships.

I have also contributed to Software and Data Carpentries training and helped organise the Virtual Summer School in HPC, bioinformatics, and data sciences in Colombia. These activities reflect a sustained interest in training, capacity-building, and widening access to computational and genomic methods.

I contribute to the wider research community through peer review and academic service. I have reviewed grants for BBSRC and NERC, am a member of the NERC Peer Review College, and have occasionally reviewed for the Norwegian and French research councils. Internally, I have on multiple PhD student interview panels and project panels for the BBSRC NRP DTP and NERC DTP ARIES.

Public engagement and science communication

Public engagement is an important part of my work. I have contributed articles to EI’s communications team on orphan crops, crop diversity, climate change, and related topics, helping communicate EI’s research priorities to wider audiences. I was invited twice to speak at the Legume Improvement Network.

I also supported the development of the “Save the Banana” activity for the Royal Norfolk Show and Norwich Science Festival, and helped deliver the activity. The activity was reused multiple times, providing a durable engagement asset and extending the reach of this work beyond a single event.

In addition, I served as a judge at the enviroSPRINT event organised by four NERC DTPs, contributing to the development of early-career researchers and encouraging translational research in the natural sciences.

Public affairs and broader service

Beyond research and training, I have contributed to public affairs through service on a consultative panel supporting the UK’s position on digital sequence information on genetic resources (COP). This aligns with my wider interest in the policy, governance, and responsible use dimensions of genomic science.