Steve James

Biography

Steve James research is in the areas of yeast taxonomy, yeast phylogenetics and yeast biodiversity. The initial focus was on food and beverage-related yeasts, although over the past decade this has expanded significantly to encompass yeasts from a wide variety of different substrates and contrasting habitats. In collaboration with colleagues from the UK, USA, and Ecuador this work has led to the discovery of many new yeast species. Most notably, the discovery of three new close relatives of the baker’s/brewer’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which have proved of enormous scientific value to the international yeast research community. He was also involved in the Saccharomyces Genome Re-sequencing Project (SGRP), the first large-scale eukaryotic population genomics study. This project was co-led by Dr. Richard Durbin (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) and Prof. Ed Louis (University of Leicester), served as the pilot project for the 1000 human genomes project and resulted in a Nature publication in 2009. Since gaining my PhD in 1998, he have trained, supervised, and mentored undergraduate students from both the UK and abroad. I am also active in Public Engagement, and for the past 2 years have acted as STEM Ambassador for the NCYC and Quadram Institute Bioscience.

Research Interest

Yeast taxonomy, Yeast phylogenetics and Yeast biodiversity