iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Laura Kelly

Centre for Forest Protection @forest-protection.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

We are delighted to announce the launch of 'The role of genetics in tree health and forest resilience' - the third free e-learning module in our ‘Resilience fundamentals' training package 🎉 Find out more: www.forestprotection.uk/2026/09/03/t... 👈 @rbgkew.bsky.social @forestresearchuk.bsky.social

Laptop screen displaying an online learning module from the Centre for Forest Protection, with logos for Forest Research and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The screen text reads: “Resilience fundamentals, tree health and non-native pests and pathogens” and “Module 3: The role of genetics in tree health and forest resilience,” with a green “Start” button below. The laptop is shown against a light background.

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Centre for Forest Protection @forest-protection.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

🌱 Our ‘Transforming ash genomics' project team have today published a new study in Nature Communications, which presents the first-ever European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) pangenome, using high-quality DNA to aid research into natural ash dieback resistance 🧬🌳 Find out more: shorturl.at/4yygu 👈 #Ash

A person in a white lab coat and purple gloves examining a sample tube in a bright laboratory, with scientific equipment, pipettes and workbenches visible beside large windows overlooking a garden.

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

So excited that the ash tree pangenome @danielwood1992.bsky.social worked so hard on is now out in the world 🥳 Thanks to all our co-authors (including @rbuggs.bsky.social @dariogala.bsky.social @emmacurran.bsky.social @leviyant.bsky.social) and @forest-protection.bsky.social for funding 🧬🌳⬇️

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Had a great time last week in Malmo, attending the FraxNet conference and learning about the latest efforts to safeguard the future of ash in Europe and North America, with some wonderful field trips to trials and seed orchards in Sweden and Denmark that will hopefully provide resilient future ash!

Healthy and diseased ash trees growing together in a Swedish seed orchard

Healthy and diseased ash trees growing next to each other in a Swedish woodland

A healthy looking ash tree growing in a field

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Been busy visiting woodlands over the last few weeks with @dariogala.bsky.social for our #NERC funded project on the evolutionary response to ash dieback disease 🌳🪾🧬 Sadly many adult trees are continuing to decline, but some juveniles we tagged four years ago are still healthy and growing well 😀

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Jill Hamilton @jillahamilton.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

The Schatz Center is recruiting a postdoctoral scholar with experience in whole-genome resequencing to study how demography, genetic variation, and selection interact to contribute to range expansion and adaptation. Come join us!! #evolutionarygenomics psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic...

psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com

Postdoctoral Scholar - Adaptive Evolutionary Genomics

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, a...

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Great to be working with @futuretreestrust.bsky.social on the next steps for breeding resilient ash trees! 🌳 Thanks for the big effort from @danielwood1992.bsky.social and @dariogala.bsky.social in helping to get 100s of samples collected and safely transferred back to @rbgkew.bsky.social 🌱🧬

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Some of the things that happen to our tree tags: gnawed, sprayed, bent (by an animal?), engulfed by the tree 😅

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Six-month internships available as part of the Centre for Forest Protection, including one with me at @rbgkew.bsky.social on pest and disease risks to non-native trees 🌳🐛🦠🪾Apply by 22nd July ⬇️

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Delighted that this paper from my brilliant former PhD student Elvira Hernandez-Gutierrez is now published in @newphyt.bsky.social 😀 Elvira built a model to predict novel pest-host interactions between Agrilus beetles and oak trees 🪲🌳🪾 we hope the approach will be useful in other systems too!

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Jill Hamilton @jillahamilton.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Thank you so much to @danielwood1992.bsky.social @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social and many more for the wonderful visit and great scientific discussions at Kew gardens: from ex situ seed banks and restoration to Fraxinus, genetics, conservation and much more. It was inspiring!

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Happy National Plant Health Week! 🌱🌳

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Centre for Forest Protection @forest-protection.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

#InternDiarySeries – Week 3/8 📖🌳🔬 Today we are highlighting Cas who worked with our Investigating ash health genomics after long-term ash dieback exposure team! Find out more about Cas’ experience creating recombination maps using population genetics data: www.forestprotection.uk/2026/04/22/i...

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Are you a PhD student looking for a placement? I’m offering a 3-month project at @rbgkew.bsky.social to build on @forest-protection.bsky.social research on pest and pathogen risks to trees 🪲🪾🦠🪾 Apply by 13th March! www.kew.org/science/training-and-education/placements-for-phd-students

kew.org

Placements for PhD Students

We welcome PhD placement students to learn from our experts and make real contributions to our work at Kew Gardens in London or Wakehurst in Sussex.

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Centre for Forest Protection @forest-protection.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science 🌳🔬🥳 In our latest blog, we shine the spotlight on six of our talented researchers who represent a variety of scientific disciplines across a range of our projects 🔦 Read their reflections on working in forest science here: shorturl.at/WmZzc

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

2 weeks until the TREES DLA deadline! If you’re interested in a fully funded PhD, take a look at the project I’m offering at @rbgkew.bsky.social on evolutionary processes in natural tree populations 🌳🧬 with Richard Nichols at @qmul.bsky.social, @danielwood1992.bsky.social and @rbuggs.bsky.social 👇

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Daniel Wood @danielwood1992.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Great to be involved in this session at #BritainsForestFuture - a really good panel discussion with the CFP speakers and Jo Clark from @futuretreestrust.bsky.social on the future of ash and genomic approaches to resilient trees more broadly.

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Grateful to have had the chance to speak at #BritainsForestFuture - it was a brilliant event where I learnt so much, especially from our forestry practitioner colleagues! 🌳🌱🍁

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Still time to apply for a fully-funded PhD opportunity through the TREES DLA ⬇️ Get in touch if you want to hear more about the project I’m offering on tree evolution 🌳🧬

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

EUFORGEN @euforgen.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

🌳The upgraded #EUFGIS platform is now live! 💻 It offers enhanced tools, updated datasets and improved usability for monitoring forest genetic resources across Europe. The system provides harmonised data on more than 3,500 conservation units. More info here: www.euforgen.org/about-us/new...

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Excited to be speaking at the Britain’s Forest Future meeting next week! 🌳🌲 I’ll be presenting results of @forest-protection.bsky.social funded research on future pest and disease risks to non-native trees 🪲🦠🍄‍🟫

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Interested in doing a PhD? The TREES doctoral training program is now open for applications!

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

I chose a good day to check for seed in our Fraxinus collection at @rbgkew.bsky.social 🌞🌳🍁 Looks like a bumper crop for most species - these are valuable material for @forest-protection.bsky.social funded research to tackle threats to ash trees 🌿 #Fraxinus #ashtrees #treehealth

Ash trees showing autumn colour at Kew Gardens

A view of Kew Gardens with a small ash tree in the foreground

A large ash tree at Kew Gardens, with leaves turning golden for autumn

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Willow and birch trees already looking very yellow last week in Yorkshire 😬🍁🍂

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

A few of the interesting trees we saw this week while collecting data for our NERC funded project on the evolutionary response to ash dieback disease 🌳🌿 I never fail to be amazed at all the weird ways trees grow 😀 #Fraxinus #ashtree #ashdieback

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

New @rbgkew.bsky.social research project on ash dieback disease as part of @forest-protection.bsky.social 😀 with @rbuggs.bsky.social and @danielwood1992.bsky.social We’ve been busy collecting samples this week for genomic analysis 🌳🧬👩‍💻

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

Preprint now out for our Fraxinus excelsior pangenome 🌿🧬🌿🧬🌿🧬🌿 - huge thanks to @danielwood1992.bsky.social for working so hard on this!

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Still time to apply for a six-month internship with @forest-protection.bsky.social - applications for positions based at Kew close on 22nd July!

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Excited to be contributing to this new project looking at the combined threat to ash trees from ash dieback and the emerald ash borer 🌿🍄🪲🌳

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Centre for Forest Protection @forest-protection.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

📢 NEW RESEARCH PROJECTS 📢 🌳 Earlier this year, the #CentreforForestProtection was awarded £4m in #Defra funding to support 16 new research projects in 2025/26. 🔬 Over the coming weeks, we will be showcasing each project across our social media channels, so keep an eye out to learn more!

forestprotection.uk

Homepage - Centre for Forest Protection

The Center for Forest Protection safeguards forests, trees, and woodlands with science, research, advice, and training.

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Six-month internships available as part of the Centre for Forest Protection - including two with @danielwood1992.bsky.social working on ash trees! 🌳🧬

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

BIG NEWS! We’ve found that ash trees are fighting back against ash dieback disease! 🌳💪 Scientists at Kew & QMUL ‪@qmul.bsky.social have discovered that young ash trees are evolving resistance to this devastating fungus - & fast 🌍 Read the story👉 www.kew.org/read-and-wat... #PlantScience #SciNews

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Some good news for ash trees 🌳🌿 congratulations @carey-metheringham.bsky.social on all your amazing work for this study, and to our other co-authors, especially Richard Nichols and Richard Buggs at QMUL and Kew! I am very happy to have been able to play a small part ☺️

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

NERC-funded internships for undergraduate and integrated Master’s students - opening for applications soon!

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Phil Stevenson @philstevenson.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

We have a new vacancy in my Section for a Kew Research Fellow in Plant & Fungal Science. This is an opp for an early-career researcher to develop their science portfolio & skills in a vibrant research environment, working @KewScience please RP careers.kew.org/vacancy/kew-... Deadline 20/04/2025🧵

careers.kew.org

Kew Research Fellow (Trait Diversity and Function) - Careers | Kew GardensMenuClose menu

We are seeking applications from promising early-career scientists with interesting, innovative, and viable research ideas for the Kew Research Fellowship in Plant and Fungal Science. The Kew Research...

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

A great series of webinars coming up on tree health and adaptation from the Centre for Forest Protection, including two by my group on ash genomics and predicting biotic risks to non-native trees 🧬🌿🐛🌳👇

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

PDRA opportunity at Kew - chance to work on an exciting new project with a wonderful boss! (speaking from first hand experience ☺️)

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

This sounds very exciting! My group is investigating the role of SVs in adaptation of ash trees to the ash dieback epidemic in our @ukri.org and @forest-protection.bsky.social funded projects so looking forward to reading this soon 😀

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

More bad news for beech trees 😕

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

A new preprint from our team 🌳🍂🍄‍🟫 #ashdieback #fraxinus

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Congratulations to former and current Kew colleagues, including @metallophyte.bsky.social and @danielwood1992.bsky.social and especially first author Sarah Coates (whose MSc project I had the great pleasure to supervise some years back 🙂), on their new paper in PNAS!

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Laura Kelly @laura-j-kelly.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Congratulations @gabnocgenomics.bsky.social on your new paper! Great to see this exciting research from a former member of our Plant Health & Adaptation Team at Kew ☺️

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Reposted by Laura Kelly

Sam Yeaman @samyeaman.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Gabriele's paper is out in PNAS! He found a large number of genes with repeated sweeps in multiple plant species. Most interestingly: they tend to be peripheral in co-expression networks (low pleiotropy), consistent with mig-sel theory!! @gabnocgenomics.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

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