Rate My Professor Tom Torode

Dr Thomas Torode is a Lecturer in the School of Life Sciences within the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Keele University. His office is located in the Huxley Building, room 105, with contact details including telephone +44 (0)1782 731485. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy and is recognized for his contributions to glycoscience and plant health research. Torode is a member of the Keele Centre for Glycoscience Research, where he collaborates on projects exploring glycan structures and functions. He also participates in the Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasite Protection (CAEPP), supporting efforts in biosciences related to pathogen resistance and crop protection.

As Principal Investigator, Dr Torode leads the BBSRC Response Mode Grant project 'Valorisation of brown algal biomass for crop protection' (grant reference BB/Y513751/1), focusing on the utilization of brown algal biomass for sustainable agricultural applications. His research encompasses plant cell wall architecture, its role in pathogen resistance, and dynamics in algal systems. Notable publications include 'Developmental modulation of root cell wall architecture confers resistance to an oomycete pathogen' (Current Biology, 2020, with A. Gavrin et al.); 'Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 6 controls filamentous pathogen interactions and cell wall properties of the tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana leaf epidermis' (New Phytologist, 2019, with S. Fawke et al.); 'Branched pectic galactan in phloem-sieve-element cell walls: implications for cell mechanics' (Plant Physiology, 2018, with TA Torode et al.); 'Dynamics of cell wall assembly during early embryogenesis in the brown alga Fucus' (Journal of Experimental Botany, 2016, with TA Torode et al.); and 'Monoclonal antibodies directed to fucoidan preparations from brown algae' (PLoS One, 2015, with TA Torode et al.). In 2024, he was awarded a Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy, affirming his dedication to pedagogical excellence alongside research impact in cell wall biology and biotechnology.