Nicolás García Hernández
- PhD Student
Contact
Location
- Sainsbury Laboratory
- Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR
About
Originally from Madrid, I graduated with an Integrated Master’s at the University of York in 2024. During my time at CNAP, I developed a strong interest in plant ecophysiology. From understanding the impacts of heat and drought on staple crops like wheat and beans to utilising synthetic biology to turn yeast into high-value pharmaceutical cell factories, I became committed to the translation of complex biological insights into tangible agricultural advancements.
Research
Research interests
- Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF)
- Symbiosis
- Ecotoxicology
- Biotechnology
- Agriculture
My current research addresses the critical, yet often overlooked, impact of agrochemicals on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, a relationship fundamental to the nutrition and stress resilience of most extant land plants.
Utilising a betalain-based reporter line of Nicotiana benthamiana, I have developed a mycorrhizal test system that is quantitatively sensitive to chemical stressors. This project aims to elucidate how specific agrochemical inputs influence colonisation dynamics, providing the empirical evidence needed to integrate soil microbial health into future regulatory assessments. I believe that sustainable agriculture must be rooted in a deep understanding of soil biology to maximise the efficacy of beneficial taxa while minimising unintended ecological harm.