Prof. Caroline Dean
Royal Society Professor – Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre
Prof. Caroline Dean is internationally recognised for her work on epigenetic regulation in plants. She has used genetic, molecular and ecological approaches to dissect chromatin dynamics that quantitatively regulate gene expression and enable switching between epigenetic states. This mechanistic analysis is focused on one gene that plays a central role in seasonal timing in plants, but the discoveries she has made are relevant to all eukaryotes.
Prof. Dean is a Fellow/Member of three national science academies: UK, USA, Germany. In 2014 she was awarded the BBSRC’s Excellence in Bioscience award and in 2015 she was recipient of the prestigious FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award which recognises just one female scientist across the whole of Europe for their contributions to research in molecular biology and biochemistry, and for their wider contribution as a female role model in science. In 2016, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her work in understanding epigenetic regulation and for her commitment to advancing careers for women working in science (Queen’s Birthday Honors List).