Declan Lafferty

Declan Lafferty is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Boyce Thompson Institute since January 2022, focusing on developing a reliable gene transformation system for hornworts to enhance crop plants and explore early land plant evolution. Prior to this role, Lafferty gained diverse experience in various positions, including as a Merchandiser at Walt Disney World and an Intern at The University of Auckland. As a Research Assistant at Comvita Limited, Lafferty analyzed health components in extracts from blackcurrant, bilberry, and grape, studying antioxidant capacity and other beneficial properties. Lafferty holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Molecular Biology from The University of Auckland, completed in November 2021, and a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from the same institution, earned in 2016.