Laura Forrest

Laura Forrest is an experienced molecular laboratory technical support professional currently employed at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh since August 2011. With a strong background in plant molecular systematics, Laura has developed expertise in plant DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing techniques, including second-generation library preparation. Previous positions include postdoctoral researcher roles at the University of Connecticut and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where Laura contributed to plant DNA barcoding and the assembly of liverwort plastid genomes. Earlier roles include research associate positions focusing on liverwort molecular phylogenetics and DNA analysis at Southern Illinois University and research assistant work at the Forestry Commission. Laura holds a PhD in the phylogeny of Begoniaceae from the University of Glasgow, an MSc in pure and applied plant and fungal taxonomy from the University of Reading, and a BSc in biological sciences with honors in botany from The University of Edinburgh.