Miriam Gifford

We are interested in how plants interact with the environment. The mechanisms that facilitate this interaction are particularly important for plants since they are sessile yet still cope with environmental extremes. When plant roots and microbes work together in symbiosis the ways they interact are even more important since more efficient interactions benefit both. By combining study of the root cell types that house microbes, the soil in which the interaction exists, and the genes and molecules regulating it, we aim to improve plant yield and sustainability in tune with the environment. From root-soil-rhizosphere interactions, to circadian-shaping of nodulation, our work investigates a number of plant-nitrogen interactions. Please see my Gifford lab webpage where you can hear more details from the staff and students in the group.

Templalexis, Dimitris, Tsitsekian, Dikran, Daras, Gerasimos, Avgeri, Fengoula, Kinoshita, Toshinori, Gifford, Miriam L., Hatzopoulos, Polydefkis and Rigas, Stamatis (2025) Cellular pH homeostasis shapes root system architecture by modulating auxin-mediated developmental responses. Plant Physiology, 198 (4). doi:10.1093/plphys/kiaf319 ISSN 0032-0889. Chakraborty, Swaroop, Dhumal, Pankti, Guo, Zhipeng, Gifford, Miriam L. and Lynch, Iseult (2025) From soil to table : how safe and sustainable by design MOFs can revolutionize agriculture and food security. Matter, 8 (6). 102095. doi:10.1016/j.matt.2025.102095 ISSN 2590-2385. Wharton, Cara, Beacham, Andrew, Gifford, Miriam L. and Monaghan, James (2025) Rootrainertrons : a novel root phenotyping method used to identify genotypic variation in lett