Research Overview

Elizabete Carmo-Silva is an expert on the regulation of carbon assimilation by Rubisco in crop plants, especially wheat and cowpea. She leads a research team that aims to understand and improve the efficiency of photosynthesis to optimise the sustainability and climate resilience of crop production. She received her undergraduate degree in applied plant biology at the University of Lisbon, where she went on to earn her PhD researching photosynthesis and photorespiration in C4 grasses. She specialized in the regulation of Rubisco by its molecular chaperone Rubisco activase as a postdoctoral researcher with the USDA-ARS, then started exploring this knowledge for crop improvement as a research scientist at Rothamsted Research. She moved to Lancaster University in 2015 to start a research group that focuses on Rubisco regulation in crops.

Research. Current and recent projects include RIPE, CAPITALISE, PhotoBoost, Delivering Sustainable Wheat (DSW). Current team members listed below; alumni include 14 post-doctoral researchers and 12 postgraduate research students. More information about our research can be found in the websites for Photosynthesis and Plant Biology at Lancaster. Elisabete is supportive of and has advised on the Lancaster Technicians’ Career Framework. The Rubisco lab was one of the first at Lancaster to secure LEAF accreditation. Elizabete frequently speaks and participates in major international meetings and authors invited review manuscripts, including a highly cited New Phytologist Tanley Review on Regulation of Rubisco activity in crops.

Teaching. Convenor of course Research Design and Delivery (Bioscience courses), teacher in the Biology and the Ecology & Conservation programmes, supervisor of research projects by undergraduate and postgraduate students and summer vacation photosynthesis internships.

Leadership. Director of LEC Postgraduate Research Programmes, Lancaster academic lead for UKRI NorthWestBio Doctoral Programme, Deputy Director of the RIPE project. Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (since 2022).

Community Service. Assessment panels (UKRI BBSRC) and society/network committees (Biochemical Society 2020-24; MONOGRAM network 2024-28, chair 2025-27). Organisation of scientific meetings (International Conference on Photosynthesis Research 2026; GRC CO₂ assimilation in plants 2028). Handling Editor for Journal of Experimental Botany (since 2021).

Engagement. research dissemination events such as Fascination of Plants Day; career talks to high school students (Portugal), PhD students and ECRs as part of Women in Wheat; Plant Science Workshops for teenage students (Manchester, Portugal).

Rubisco team. Elizabete is proud to lead, mentor and support the researchers that make the Rubisco team at LEC:

Dr Armida Gjindali, post-doctoral researcher (RIPE project)

Dr Carmen Hermida Carrera, post-doctoral fellow (MSCA fellowship)

Dr Caty Marsden, post-doctoral biochemistry technician (RIPE project)

Connor Nehls, PhD student

Dr Dawn Worrall, post-doctoral imaging technician (part-time)

Dr Emma Raven, post-doctoral researcher (RIPE project)

Fay Biney, PhD student

Haixia Yu, PhD student

Dr Ingrid Robertson, post-doctoral physiology technician (RIPE project)

Dr Joana Amaral, post-doctoral researcher (DSW project)

Lisa Stout, lab technician (part-time)

Dr Rachel Baxter, post-doctoral data technician (part-time)

Dr Rhiannon Page, post-doctoral molecular biology technician (RIPE project)

Zuza Kaminska, PhD student

Available positions for joining Elizabete’s group are advertised on the Photosynthesis team website. Enquiries by prospective doctoral and postdoctoral researchers are welcome for the advertised positions or to apply for a scholarship/fellowship focused on Rubisco biology – strong motivation to be part of our team, share our values and contribute to our mission is essential.