New John Hillman Scholarship awarded to young barley researcher

The Mylnefield Trust

“Professor John Hillman was an outstanding leader and indeed was the driver of the creation of Mylnefield Research Services Ltd, from which the Mylnefield Trust derived its assets and objectives. He was also visionary about what science could do for all our futures"

The Mylnefield Trust have awarded the inaugural John Hillman Scholarship to Jessica Shadbolt, a PhD student at the James Hutton Institute, for research on barley breeding.

The new scholarship celebrates the life and achievements of Professor John R Hillman, an eminent plant scientist and former director of the Scottish Crop Research Institute, a forerunner of the James Hutton Institute.

Miss Shadbolt will undertake barley breeding studies at the Institute’s Cell and Molecular Sciences department, under the supervision of Dr Kelly Houston, a barley geneticist at the Institute, Dr Joanne Russell, a senior postdoctoral scientist and Professor Robbie Waugh, director of the International Barley Hub (IBH).

Miss Shadbolt said: “I am honoured and grateful to receive the John Hillman scholarship. It’s wonderful to be working on a barley breeding project with real-world impact and to be at the institute at such an exciting time in barley research, considering I’ll be one of the first PhD students at the IBH. I am really looking forward to working with my supervisors and others at the Institute.”

Dr Kelly Houston added: “It is fantastic for Jessica to be awarded this studentship in honour of such an eminent plant scientist at a pivotal moment for barley research at the James Hutton Institute due to the establishment of the IBH. Translational crop research has never been more important given the issues surrounding climate change.”

Jim Godfrey, on behalf of the trustees of the Mylnefield Trust, commented: “Professor John Hillman was an outstanding leader and indeed was the driver of the creation of Mylnefield Research Services Ltd, from which the Mylnefield Trust derived its assets and objectives. He was also visionary about what science could do for all our futures.

This Scholarship has been created in his memory, with the hope that his life and work inspire more students of plant sciences. He was internationally renowned and reached many people including starting, and guiding, the careers of many other eminent scientists.

Having his name and reputation associated with this Scholarship will ensure future students are recognised in his memory and his spirit of inventiveness, excellence and vision.”