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Crispus Mbaluto

@crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social
70 followers 80 following 23 posts

📍MSCA-Postdoctoral Fellow 2026-2028, EEZ-CSIC, Granada Spain 📍Visiting Fellow, School Of Life Sciences, University of Essex, UK

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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Black In Plant Science- UK @blackinplantsci.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
We are pleased to announce this year's cohort of our Summer Studentship! Phoebe Allen, Nalo Magar and Tinotenda Matemera who are all going to be based at The Sainsbury Lab, Cambridge University. Get to know them more by heading to our website: buff.ly/I3XZ59a
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
www.linkedin.com/posts/crispu... @molecolab.bsky.social @EEZ-CSIC
linkedin.com
Proud to see Dr. Ainhoa Martínez-Medina featured in Trends in Plant Sciences as part of international series: Women in Plant Science Around the World https://lnkd.in/ex7gbjG4, celebrating the… | Crisp...
Proud to see Dr. Ainhoa Martínez-Medina featured in Trends in Plant Sciences as part of international series: Women in Plant Science Around the World https://lnkd.in/ex7gbjG4, celebrating the journals...
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
The Pallavi Singh Lab @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
A perfect end to #Monogram2026! 🌾 Our team of researchers and visiting colleagues had an incredible time sharing posters and talks this week. It is the hard work and dedication of these individuals that drive our research in plant resilience forward. #PlantScience
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Last day #Monogram2026! Besides talking about cereal grafting for drought tolerant trait transfer, I reconnected with colleagues, peers, friends and made new connections. Thanks to AAB and Monogram Network for awarding me a Travel Grant. @aabiologists.bsky.social @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
I enjoyed talking about my work on cereal grafting as tool to transfer drought tolerant traits from pearl millet - to-rice, the transcriptome insight. #Monogram2026 @robinsoncollege.bsky.social @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Xabier Simón Martínez de Goñi @martinezgonixs.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
I am at #Monogram2026 today presenting my poster on pearl millet-rice intergrafts! 🌾 My research focuses on their physiological performance under extreme drought stress, specifically looking at how we can improve water-use efficiency and drought tolerance💧 #PlantScience
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Black In Plant Science- UK @blackinplantsci.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Profile Spotlight: George Washington Carver. In this guest article written by Fatima Arshad we share reflections on George Washington Carver's contributions to regenerative agriculture and sustainability. Read more here: buff.ly/73wJWuP
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Postdocs are the hidden powerhouse of academia. I am proud to have started the journey to rebuild an active and sustainable postdoc association at the School of Life Science, Essex
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
www.linkedin.com/posts/crispu...
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October musings: As we conclude October, it has become one of the most important months of my career trajectory. Looking back, it's the month when several pivotal moments align. •Started PhD and…...
October musings: As we conclude October, it has become one of the most important months of my career trajectory. Looking back, it's the month when several pivotal moments align. •Started PhD and succ...
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Association of Applied Biologists @aabiologists.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
🌱 Celebrate 🌱 We heard how the BiPS Research Excellence Award has opened doors for Charlene Dambire & @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social, giving them visibility and confidence as they grow their scientific careers! @blackinplantsci.bsky.social #plantscience
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Attending Black in Plant Science (BiPS) Conference 2025 at University of Leeds. As an Awardee of BiPS UK-Research Excellence Award, I will share highlights of my previous work, future directions, and impact of the award, @blackinplantsci.bsky.social
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso @yoselin.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
About 10 tickets left. register today and be part of the @blackinplantsci.bsky.social community Registration closes this week. blackinplantscience.org/bips-confere...
blackinplantscience.org
BiPS Conference 2025 Registration – Black in Plant Science
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Pallavi Singh @thepallavisingh.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
We are looking for a Postdoc with expertise in plant molecular/synthetic biology, or single-cell/spatial transcriptomics to join the UKRI-FLF funded project focused on understanding and improving water-use efficiency in rice. Apply online before 15/10/2025: vacancies.essex.ac.uk/tlive_webrec... RP
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Exciting opportunity. Come work with us @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Excited to participate in Career Development Symposium, hosted by The Royal Society-Black British Professionals in STEM (BBSTEM). I met BiPS UK Research Excellence Awardees Bernice Waweru & Charlene Dambire @blackinplantsci.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
Plant science group seminar speakers: Philip and I, Uni of Essex. Phil - 'A novel approach to measure carbon assimilation in the wet'. I, in turn, summarized my prior research, 'interactions of plants with biotic and abiotic factors' @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
www.linkedin.com/posts/crispu...
linkedin.com
My First Arabidopsis Research Conference (ICAR2025): | Crispus Mbaluto
My First Arabidopsis Research Conference (ICAR2025): Attending the ICAR2025 for the first time was an incredible experience. This blog post will share some of my key takeaways and reflections from th...
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Looking forward to working on the data and start drawing insight. Special surprise guest, the Vice Chancellor University of Essex was making tour at the department. I had a chance to pitch our work @thepallavisingh.bsky.social @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Our recent work in NewPhytologist: Shows that rhizobacteria innoculation of barley against aphids, is dynamic and acts via several molecular pathways to modulate and prime plant resistance (defense) and tolerance (nutrition and growth) to aphid feeding @szytynska.bsky.social doi.org/10.1111/nph....
doi.org
Rhizobacteria prime the activation of plant defense and nutritional responses to suppress aphid populations on barley over time
Interactions between plants and soil microbes are widespread and are documented to modulate plant–insect herbivore interactions. Still, it remains unclear how these shape the overall plant defense r.....
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Science conferences are not just about insightful talks! They also include fun and exploration. The #ICAR2025 included a boat trip to learn Ghent's rich history, followed by a conference dinner for more socialising and networking, @aabiologists.bsky.social @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social a collage
This collage show, old Ghent city (top left), castle of counts (top right), tunnels (mid left), myself with kenyan students, the library(mid right), myself in the conference party, conference organisers making announcement (bottom left) and the band performing at the conference (bottom right)
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Looking forward to BiPS conference
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
#ICAR2025, poster 36. I will discuss our progress to understand how monocot grafting affects plant physiology and molecular responses under variable water availability conditions. @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social @blackinplantsci.bsky.social @martinezgonixs.bsky.social
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Yoselin Benitez-Alfonso @yoselin.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
It is great to be able to share time with our two Research Excellence Awardees for @blackinplantsci.bsky.social ! They will go places!!! @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social and @ Charlene Kunaka-Dambire
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Great time connecting with @yoselin.bsky.social, founder of Black in Plant Sciences UK (BiPS), at ICAR 2025 in Ghent. I won BiPS research excellence award that generously supported my attendance. #ICAR2025 #BlackInPlantSciencesUK #Ghent #Networking
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
This week am attending the ICAR2025 conference in Ghent Belgium. Looking forward to exciting research, talks and posters. Also opportunity to expand my network @blackinplantsci.bsky.social @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Black In Plant Science- UK @blackinplantsci.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
If you haven't already - make sure to save the date to the Black in Plant Science Conference taking place on Friday 24 October at the University of Leeds. Registration will soon be opening so make sure to save the date to avoid disappointment.
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Great team!
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Xabier Simón Martínez de Goñi @martinezgonixs.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Excited to be working with @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social to explore the mechanisms activated in rice 🌾 under reduced water availability 💧 #PlantScience
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Welcome @martinezgonixs.bsky.social to The Singh Lab @thepallavisinghlab.bsky.social
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Xabier Simón Martínez de Goñi @martinezgonixs.bsky.social · 07/11/2024
📢Calling all researchers! We are studying what makes a great (or not-so-great) supervisor from the perspective of PhD students and postdocs. Our goal? To improve academic mentorship and research environments. Got 5-10 minutes? Take the survey!✍️ forms.gle/WT9GoiaHxypX...
forms.gle
Labelling my scientific supervisor: A genuine leader or just a big jerk?
Thank you for taking part in this survey. The aim of this survey is to understand which characteristics make a scientific supervisor supportive and constructive or, conversely, detrimental to the grow...
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
#The-Singh-Lab is ready for molecular work. It’s was fun and exciting to unbox 1st set of molecular equipments from #Bio-Rad; RT-qPCR & Gene-Pulser. Few more cool stuffs coming in. I am enjoying the experience of setting new lab with the PI @thepallavisingh.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Pallavi Singh @thepallavisingh.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Congratulations to the winners! Way to go @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Black In Plant Science- UK @blackinplantsci.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
🎉 Meet the winners of this year’s BiPS Research Excellence Award, Charlene Dambire and Crispus Mbaluto. We'll soon be sharing their profiles so that you can get to know our winners better. For now, join us in congratulating them. If you’re heading to ICAR this summer, please be sure to say hi.
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Reposted by Crispus Mbaluto
Black In Plant Science- UK @blackinplantsci.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
There’s only one week left to apply for the BiPS Summer Studentship. Like the students from our cohort last year, you will have the opportunity to present at the 2025 BiPS Conference. Head to the link in our website for the list of projects that you could possibly take part in: buff.ly/lDqP68H
White writing on a green background: Black in Plant Science Summer Studentship.  

Red writing on a white background: one week to go 

Four young black people on a white background.
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Excited to share 3rd milestone in 2025. I received the Black in Plant Sciences-Research Excellence Award 2025. This is recognition of outstanding contribution of ECR and promoting EDI in research communities. @blackinplantsci.bsky.social @thepallavisingh.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Excited to share 2nd milestone of 2025. I have been awarded #MSCA-PostdoctoralFellowship to study microbe induce resistance to nematodes. I am grateful for the incredible support from mentors @ainhoamartinez.bsky.social @szytynska.bsky.social, colleagues @liverpooluni.bsky.social and wider community
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Crispus Mbaluto @crispus-mbaluto.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Excited to share the 1st milestone of 2025. In January I started new role as Senior Research Officer, in The Singh Lab. We are investigating Mechanisms underlying Water Use Efficiency in cereal crop system. Exciting cutting edge research @thepallavisingh.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
The Singh Lab, University of Essex
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