Biography

Jim graduated in industrial chemistry from Loughborough University in 1968, took a PhD in microbial physiology from Queen Elizabeth (now King's) College, London in 1971, and obtained a DSc from the University of London for studies on the effects of soil micro-organisms on plants in 1984. After 12 years at Letcombe Laboratory (Oxfordshire), in 1983 he became Head of the Microbiology and Crop Protection Department, Horticulture Research International. From 1993-2003 he was Professor of Biotechnology and Head of the School of Biomedical and Life Sciences at the University of Surrey; from 2004 he was appointed Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences. From 2003-2007 Jim was Chief Executive of the government agency, Forest Research. From 2007 - 2010 he was Senior Advisor to the South East England Development Agency to create the International Institute of Sustainability and a Science and Innovation Campus for Sustainability. In 2010 he became Chief Scientist of ME Afriqiyah and a Member of the Board of the Council for the Frontiers of Knowledge in Africa. He was Visiting Lecturer in Soil Microbiology at Oxford University (1980-1984), Visiting Professor of Soils at Washington State University (1981-1993), Visiting Professor of Microbiology at Oregon State University (1995), Visiting Professor of Biotechnology at King's College London (1986-1993), and since 2007 has been Visiting Professor of Human and Environmental Sciences at the University of Reading. In 2009 he became visiting Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Helsinki. He has travelled extensively internationally and given over 60 keynote lectures at international meetings. From 1989-2006 he was Co-ordinator for the OECD Programme on Biological Resource Management, and was awarded the OBE for this in 2007. From 1990 to 1994 he was the Chairman of the IUSS Soil Biology Commission. From 1996 to 2001 he was Vice-Chair of the Blasker Award Committee in San Diego to provide a major international prize in environmental science and engineering. Since 1999, he has chaired the steering group of International Clean-Up. He has consulted widely for industry and UK and overseas governments. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Biology, the International Institute of Biotechnology and the Royal Society of Arts. He is on the Board of the European Forestry Institute and a member of the Society for General Microbiology, the Society for Applied Microbiology, the British Soil Science Society, the Institute of Directors and the English Speaking Union.

Research Interests

Research interests are primarily concerned with rhizosphere biology and its manipulation. Studies include mathematical and experimental analysis of microbial population biology, plasmid exchange dynamics, environmental impact analysis of genetically modified bacteria, the biological control of plant diseases, the stimulation of plant growth, biosensing, bioremediation and soil aggregate stabilization by micro-organisms. In 1993 Jim was awarded (with J M Tiedje and J A van Veen) the Carlos J Finlay Prize in Microbiology by UNESCO for outstanding contributions to the study of microbiology and its applications, particularly the development of the ground and scope which will allow us to modify the population balance of soil to the benefit of man. Fifteen books have been produced in microbial ecology/environmental biotechnology. In addition, he has authored 286 reviews and research papers, and 4 patents and been editor of 14 journals.

Further details of publications can be found here.