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Nik Cunniffe

@nikcunniffe.bsky.social
300 followers 222 following 6 posts

Plant disease modelling at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge

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Henry North @henrylnorth.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Congrats to @cd-williams.bsky.social on his first first-author paper! We developed a sequential SDM approach to quantitatively incorporate information about local adaptation into range forecasts for invasive species. Feedback welcome! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Genetically informed distribution models refine predictions for the overwintering range of Helicoverpa armigera in North America
The ecological and economic threat posed by invasive pests demands proactive mitigation. Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used in efforts to predict where invasive species might spread af...
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
IDDjobs @iddjobs.org · 18/06/2026
2 Postdocs (Cambridge, UK) Mathematical and computational modelling of plant disease spread and control with @nikcunniffe.bsky.social at @camplantsci.bsky.social More details: iddjobs.org/jobs/2555
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Elin Falla @elinfalla.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
My second first-author paper from my PhD is out! (co-author @nikcunniffe.bsky.social) Read about how planting a companion crop alongside a main crop confers disease control benefits for aphid-transmitted plant viruses, by changing aphid behaviour: doi.org/10.1111/ppa....
A figure from the paper, with three plots. The left plot shows the proportion of infected plants over time, showing that having trap (attractive) or repellent companion plants decreases disease incidence compared to basic companions or no control. The centre plot is number of uni-infective aphids over time, showing how the number of aphids is decreased for repellent companions, but increased for trap companions. The right plot is the number of infective aphids over time, showing that all companion plant options reduce the number of infective aphids over time.
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Nik Cunniffe @nikcunniffe.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Two four-year PDRAs in plant epidemic modelling with me @camplantsci.bsky.social, to develop process-based modelling approaches to support plant health surveillance, risk assessment and control strategies. Details at www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc... and www.girton.cam.ac.uk/news/plant-p...
cam.ac.uk
Research Assistant / Research Associate x 2 (Fixed Term)
Research Associates: Mathematical and Computational Modelling of Plant Disease We are seeking to appoint two Postdoctoral Research Associates to work on mathematical and computational modelling of pla...
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
European Food Safety Authority @efsa.europa.eu · 03/03/2026
Latest #Xylella control options reviewed – have your say! Our new draft scientific opinions cover direct vector control strategies, experimental treatments in plants, and other risk reduction measures. Public consultation open until 10 April 2026. link.europa.eu/PHhCQN
link.europa.eu
Latest Xylella control options reviewed – have your say!
The draft analyses show that EU‑approved synthetic active substances currently demonstrate the most consistent effects in reducing vector survival, while a wide range of biological, non‑synthetic acti...
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Phytopathology® @phytopathology.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
“Wow, many of the papers are highly cited and classic in the field. This will be useful site for students studying plant pathology and the history of the field.” —Jean Ristaino (North Carolina State University) Explore the virtual issue: apsjournals.apsnet.org/landmarksphy…
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Juan A. Navas-Cortes (personal) @janavascortes.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Opportunities and Challenges in Combining Optical Sensing and Epidemiological Modeling | Phytopathology® apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/...
apsjournals.apsnet.org
Opportunities and Challenges in Combining Optical Sensing and Epidemiological Modeling | Phytopathology®
Plant diseases impair the yield and quality of crops and threaten the health of natural plant communities. Epidemiological models can predict disease and inform management. However, data are scarce, b...
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
IDDjobs @iddjobs.org · 08/11/2025
PhD position (Cordoba, Spain) Smart surveillance of plant pathogens through epidemiological modelling, remote sensing and molecular tools with @janavascortes.bsky.social @rcalderonmadrid.bsky.social at @iascsic.bsky.social More details: iddjobs.org/jobs/2398
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
IDDjobs @iddjobs.org · 08/11/2025
PhD position (Cambridge, UK) Modelling fungicide resistance dynamics for monocyclic plant pathogens with @nikcunniffe.bsky.social at University of Cambridge @camplantsci.bsky.social More details: iddjobs.org/jobs/2400
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IDDjobs @iddjobs.org · 08/11/2025
PhD position (Cambridge, UK) Modelling pest and pathogen entry and spread pathways to enhance the UK Plant Health Risk Register with @nikcunniffe.bsky.social at University of Cambridge @camplantsci.bsky.social More details: iddjobs.org/jobs/2401
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Fletcher Halliday @fletcher-h.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Preprint alert! The epidemiology of wild–crop interfaces: Integrating ecology, evolution, and management through modeling - www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/abs/10.3...
cabidigitallibrary.org
The epidemiology of wild-crop interfaces: integrating ecology, evolution, and management through modeling. | agriRxiv
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Larry Madden @thelarrymadden.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
A must read for every plant pathologist. Highlights some of the monumental research contributions in our field. More reason to publish your work in Phytopathology.
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Phytopathology® @phytopathology.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
NEW: "Landmarks in Phytopathology" celebrates influential research that has helped to shape the field of plant pathology. This virtual issue features seminal studies and thoughtful reflections from authors and senior editors. Explore it here: apsjournals.apsnet.org/landmarksphyto
Landmarks in Phytopathology: A Virtual Issue
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British Society of Plant Pathology @bspp.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Everybody needs a friend! Elin Falla from the University of Cambridge is talking about companion plants to control non-persistently transmitted plant viruses.
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Fletcher Halliday @fletcher-h.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Come join me at Oregon State! We’re hiring a new assistant professor in population and disease dynamics of cereal pathogens. Our department is dynamic and fun, our building is newly renovated, and Oregon is wonderful! jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/171...
jobs.oregonstate.edu
Assistant Professor: Population and Disease Dynamics of Cereal Pathogens
The Department of Botany & Plant Pathology invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 9-month, tenure track Assistant Professor: Population and Disease Dynamics of Cereal Pathogens position.We a...
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Nik Cunniffe @nikcunniffe.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
We still have a PhD position open to work on a great project, developing strategies for ergot control on-farm. It's open to Home applicants only unfortunately, registered @camplantsci.bsky.social, working mainly @niab-uk.bsky.social fully funded for 4 years. niab.com/phds-at-niab
Screenshot of PhD advert; also available by clicking on link in the message
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Juan A. Navas-Cortes (personal) @janavascortes.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Spread of #Xylella fastidiosa in Majorca Island Agroecosystems: Interaction Between Insect Vectors, Woody Hosts and Bacterial Subspecies - Llompart - Plant Pathology - Wiley Online Library bsppjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
bsppjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Spread of Xylella fastidiosa in Majorca Island Agroecosystems: Interaction Between Insect Vectors, Woody Hosts and Bacterial Subspecies
Philaenus spumarius is the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Majorca, maintaining high infectivity on wild hosts and facilitating pathogen spread in almonds and vineyards.
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Samuel Soubeyrand @ssoubeyrand.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Take a First Look at the paper about "Opportunities and Challenges in Combining Optical Sensing and Epidemiological Modelling" by Alexey Mikaberidze et al., very recently published in @phytopathology.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1094/PHYT...
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Reposted by Nik Cunniffe
Elin Falla @elinfalla.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
The preprint of my second first-author paper (with @nikcunniffe.bsky.social) is out! Read to find out how virus-resistant companion plants can control spread of non-persistently transmitted plant viruses: www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.31220... @camplantsci.bsky.social @caiuscollege.bsky.social
Diagram of the compartments in my mathematical disease model and the rates at which individuals flow between them. Compartments are healthy plants, infected plants, resistant (companion plants), un-infective aphids and infective aphids.
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Nik Cunniffe @nikcunniffe.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Fully funded PhD project (UK applicants only) "Developing strategies for the control of ergot on-farm" #planthealth #plantpathology at @niab-uk.bsky.social and @camplantsci.bsky.social www.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/postgraduate... Note the short deadline. @bspp.bsky.social
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Antonio Vicent @avicent-agr.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Very relevant info to set the strategy againts #HLB in the #EU 🍊🇪🇺
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Department of Plant Sciences Cambridge @camplantsci.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
A tool predicting how to protect European citrus farms from a deadly epidemic shows how mathematical modelling can help prepare for future plant disease invasions. Read the latest research from @nikcunniffe.bsky.social & colleagues: tinyurl.com/5ame5t7e @uniofcam.bsky.social
Orange orchard in Alzira, Valencia Provence, Eastern Spain. Getty images. Credit © Allard Schager.
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