TSL Prizes 2026
Each autumn, during the visit of TSL's Scientific Advisory Board, we take the opportunity to celebrate the impressive contributions of our staff and students through the TSL Prizes. Everyone at TSL has the opportunity to nominate a colleague, whether working in research or support, who they felt should be recognised for their impact in Research or Engagement.
Award Categories
- Research
Recognizing significant achievements such as discoveries, preprints, publications, patents, and critical contributions to funding or outputs. - Engagement
Celebrating impactful activities beyond research, including presentations, posters, public engagement, teaching, business-critical tasks, and efforts that enhance TSL life through scientific or social initiatives.
TSL Prizes Autumn 2026
Student Research
Juan Azcue for his contribution to engineering SOLO1, a singleton NLR carrying an integrated domain, and cryo-EM structural studies.
Mark-Jave Bautista for the discovery of a novel family of Pmk1-dependent M. oryzae effectors along with contributing to several other projects in the Talbot group including the role of Kex2 in pathogenesis.
Matt Wengler for discovering how TOR signalling operates in a filamentous fungus through immunoprecipitation and phospho-proteomics along with supporting other proteomics projects in the Talbot lab.
Student Engagement
Jennie Yang for dedicated leadership in supporting the TSL student community from organising events through to championing wellbeing.
Andrés Posbeyikian for bringing the latest AI research developments to a wide international audience through GetGenome in Tunisia and the Khalifa Centre visit in UAE.
Postdoc Research
Maheen Alam for contributions to interfamily co-transfer of sensor and helper NLR genes, the isolation and cloning of Rpi-amr5, and in the RPS2 activation by RIN4 fragments story – all on top of managing the JJ lab.
Daniel Lüdke for co-discovery of the 11-subunit NRC7 resistosome structure, the development of the structural novelty index, and a leading role in a collaboration with Bejo on immunity in onion.
Postdoc Engagement
Nick Desnoyer for transforming plant biotechnology into a creative, accessible form of art and education through workshops, presentations, interviews, graphics, video, and social media.
Siyu Song for countless public engagement events, along with contributions to hosting international delegations, teaching and hosting visiting speakers.
Support Research
Jan Skłenar for sustained creative contributions to discoveries and experimental design based on deep technical knowledge and dedication to research.
Support Engagement
Debbie Feather for keeping our science moving forward by handling an extraordinary range of business-critical activities and administrative challenges with efficiency, reliability, kindness, warmth and good humour.
