Friday, 18 July 2025
A plant scientist from the 糖心原创 has been recognised for his pioneering research into root biology that is helping to understand how plants react in soil to challenging climate conditions.
The SEB President's Medal
Bipin Pandey has been awarded the prestigious President’s Medal 2025 (Plant Section) by the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB). This esteemed recognition celebrates Dr Pandey’s outstanding contributions to plant biology.
The SEB President’s Medals are awarded annually to early-career scientists who have demonstrated excellence in research and made a significant impact in their field. Dr Pandey receives this year’s medal for his pioneering work on how plants sense and respond to heterogeneous and compacted soils—conditions that pose major challenges to root growth and crop productivity.
Soil is the foundation of life on land, producing over 90% of all terrestrial food. Yet, this dynamic ecosystem is far from uniform: it presents a constantly changing mosaic of nutrients, water availability, microbial life, and mechanical challenges. Understanding how root cells sense and respond to soil stresses is vital for future-proofing global food security.
Dr Pandey’s research has been published in leading journals including and focuses on the mechanisms by which plant roots navigate complex soil environments. The research focuses on root plasticity, soil sensing, and plant nutrition. His interdisciplinary studies have revealed that the gaseous hormone ethylene plays a central role in detecting soil compaction, coordinating downstream signalling pathways involving abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin to regulate root growth and development.
In his recent work, Dr Pandey revealed that plant roots are remarkably intelligent, capable of detecting subtle variations in water, microbial presence, and nutrient availability at the microscale level. This sophisticated sensing ability allows roots to dynamically adapt to their environment, optimizing plant health and resilience.
It鈥檚 an incredible honour to receive the SEB Presidents Medal. I鈥檓 grateful to the SEB and to the colleagues and mentors who have supported my journey. This recognition strengthens my commitment to making plant research more impactful for sustainable agriculture.
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More information is available from Dr Bipin Pandey on Bipin.Pandey@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.