Staff
Gemma McDonald
MSc, BSc (Hons)
MSc, BSc (Hons)
Gemma is a Molecular Biologist who works on routine diagnostics of insect pests and is currently developing new molecular assays to diagnose Ips species present in the UK. She first started at Forest Research in April 2022 as a research assistant in the Entomology team, working on the management of Ips typographus and researching surveillance techniques for Agrilus species in the UK.
Prior to joining FR, Gemma completed a BSc in Zoology at the University of Exeter, conducting her dissertation on mating behaviour in European field crickets (Gryllus campestris). She then went on to study an MSc in Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Evolution at Imperial College London, where she undertook a research project using molecular techniques to investigate facial evolution in crocodiles.
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey
GU10 4LH
UK
Identification of Ips typographus can be difficult when samples are damaged, degraded, or do not contain adult beetles. Two different molecular tests are being developed to aid the identification of Ips typographus in the lab and field, improving our ability to diagnose the pest rapidly and accurately.