Dr Marcelo Bueno Batista has been awarded a three-year BBSRC Discovery Fellowship to take forward his innovative work at the John Innes Centre.

These prestigious awards are made to early-career post-doctoral researchers who are transitioning towards independence and have demonstrated the potential to become future research leaders.

Dr Bueno Batista’s fellowship research, hosted by the lab of Professor Ray Dixon, aims to optimise the use of free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria to supply nitrogen to cereal crops as an alternative to the use of chemical fertilisers.

Dr Bueno Batista said: “I am immensely grateful for the incredible support I have had from the John Innes Centre and I have grown so much both as a researcher and a person here. I have achieved unimaginable things so far, given my humble upbringing in the countryside of Brazil. I can’t wait to start the project and look forward to the next three years doing some some great science and establishing myself as a leader in the field of microbiology.”

Professor Matt Hutchings, the academic lead for the research fellowship programme at the John Innes Centre said: “I’m delighted that Marcelo’s outstanding potential has been recognised by this award and look forward to his future development with great interest and expectation.

“The fellowship scheme at the John Innes Centre has helped some outstanding scientists who have gone on to exciting and influential research careers.”

BBSRC Discovery Fellowships are offered to up to 15 researchers each year with projects encouraged to fit BBSRC’s strategic priorities. Grant holders for 2021 were awarded up to £400,000 out of a total fund of £6 million.

Successful applicants must show that they have potential to become a future research leader, wish to conduct their own independent research within a host lab, and wish to gain leadership skills. Find out more information on the next round of BBSRC Discovery Fellowships