James Cockram
Programme Leader
Niab
James Cockram is a Crop Geneticist and Group Leader of Trait Genetics at Niab.
Cockram’s research focuses on applying plant molecular genetics and genomics to understand key agronomic traits.
He investigates the genetic control of yield, yield components, disease resistance, and quality traits in cereal crops, with particular emphasis on wheat and multi founder advanced generation inter cross (MAGIC) populations. His work ultimately aims to support crop improvement and enhance the resilience and productivity of cereal agriculture.
Within AEGIS, Cockram leads the Niab team. Their role is to translate prioritized genes and gene variants identified within ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) datasets generated by AEGIS into the cereal crop wheat. They test these variants for effect on wheat phenotype using a range of approaches, including in vitro assays, controlled environment assessment and field trials.
In addition, the Niab team sources plant species of agricultural relevance that currently lack reference genome assemblies for growth and tissue sampling, to be used in AEGIS by the Wellcome Sanger Institute to generate reference genome assemblies to help interpret aeDNA datasets. Finally, the team provides modern isolates of cereal crop pathogens for genomic sequencing to aid interpretation of the phytopathogen aeDNA data generated in AEGIS.
James Cockram is also a member of the AEGIS Scientific Steering Committee.
Cockram’s research focuses on applying plant molecular genetics and genomics to understand key agronomic traits.
He investigates the genetic control of yield, yield components, disease resistance, and quality traits in cereal crops, with particular emphasis on wheat and multi founder advanced generation inter cross (MAGIC) populations. His work ultimately aims to support crop improvement and enhance the resilience and productivity of cereal agriculture.
Within AEGIS, Cockram leads the Niab team. Their role is to translate prioritized genes and gene variants identified within ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) datasets generated by AEGIS into the cereal crop wheat. They test these variants for effect on wheat phenotype using a range of approaches, including in vitro assays, controlled environment assessment and field trials.
In addition, the Niab team sources plant species of agricultural relevance that currently lack reference genome assemblies for growth and tissue sampling, to be used in AEGIS by the Wellcome Sanger Institute to generate reference genome assemblies to help interpret aeDNA datasets. Finally, the team provides modern isolates of cereal crop pathogens for genomic sequencing to aid interpretation of the phytopathogen aeDNA data generated in AEGIS.
James Cockram is also a member of the AEGIS Scientific Steering Committee.