Lorna Casselton
Encyclopedia
Professor Lorna Ann Casselton FRS (née Smith; born 18 July 1938, Rochford
) is Emeritus Professor of Fungal Genetics
in the Department of Plant Science
at the University of Oxford
, and is known for her genetic and molecular analysis of the mushroom Coprinus cinereus.
The daughter of William Charles Henry Smith and Cecile Smith (née
Bowman), she attended Southend High School for Girls
. From University College London
she gained a BSc
and a PhD
in 1964.
Casselton began her career in lecturing and research as an assistant lecturer at Royal Holloway College in London. She was Professor of Genetics at Queen Mary, University of London
from 1989-91 and was later awarded an AFRC
/BBSRC
Postdoctoral Fellowship, followed by a BBSRC
Senior Research Fellowship in 1995.
Professor Casselton was a Fellow of St Cross College Oxford from 1993-2003, and was appointed Professor of Fungal Genetics at Oxford in 1997. Her specialism is Sexual Development in Fungi. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1999. She was a Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford
from 1993 to 2003, and has been an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford
since 2000. She was a member of the Royal Society's Council from 2002-2003, and rejoined the Council in 2006 as Vice President and Foreign Secretary, replacing Professor Dame Julia Higgins
. She became a Member of the Academia Europaea
in 2008, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science
of University College London
in September 2010.
As Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, Professor Casselton has given the Royal Society Rutherford Lecture
in South Africa
and the Blackett
Lecture in India
, travelling to 27 different countries during three and a half years in office.
She married Peter John Casselton in 1961, divorcing him in 1978. She married William Joseph Dennis Tollett in 1981.
Rochford
Rochford is a small town in the Rochford district of Essex in the East of England. It is sited about 43 miles from Central London and approximately 21 miles from the Essex county town, Chelmsford...
) is Emeritus Professor of Fungal Genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
in the Department of Plant Science
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, and is known for her genetic and molecular analysis of the mushroom Coprinus cinereus.
The daughter of William Charles Henry Smith and Cecile Smith (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Bowman), she attended Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls is a grammar school situated on Southchurch Boulevard in the east of Southend-on-Sea, England. It has students from the ages 11 through to 18 years old. The current headteacher is Mrs A.D. Clewlow.-Academics:...
. From University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
she gained a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1964.
Casselton began her career in lecturing and research as an assistant lecturer at Royal Holloway College in London. She was Professor of Genetics at Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1989-91 and was later awarded an AFRC
Agricultural and Food Research Council
The Agricultural and Food Research Council , was a British Research Council responsible for funding and managing scientific and technological developments in farming and horticulture....
/BBSRC
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is a UK Research Council and NDPB and is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience...
Postdoctoral Fellowship, followed by a BBSRC
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is a UK Research Council and NDPB and is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience...
Senior Research Fellowship in 1995.
Professor Casselton was a Fellow of St Cross College Oxford from 1993-2003, and was appointed Professor of Fungal Genetics at Oxford in 1997. Her specialism is Sexual Development in Fungi. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1999. She was a Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford
St Cross College, Oxford
St Cross College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college, sharing attractive, traditional-style buildings on a central site in St Giles', just south of Pusey Street...
from 1993 to 2003, and has been an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford
St Hilda's College, Oxford
St Hilda's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.The college was founded in 1893 as a hall for women, and remained an all-women's college until 2006....
since 2000. She was a member of the Royal Society's Council from 2002-2003, and rejoined the Council in 2006 as Vice President and Foreign Secretary, replacing Professor Dame Julia Higgins
Julia Higgins
Dame Julia Stretton Higgins, DBE, FRS, FREng is Professor of Polymer Science in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology at Imperial College London...
. She became a Member of the Academia Europaea
Academia Europaea
Academia Europæa is a European non-governmental scientific academy founded in 1988. Its members are scientists and scholars who collectively aim to promote learning, education and research. It publishes European Review through Cambridge Journals....
in 2008, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
of University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
in September 2010.
As Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society, Professor Casselton has given the Royal Society Rutherford Lecture
Rutherford Memorial Lecture (Royal Society)
The Rutherford Memorial Lecture is an international lecture of the Royal Society created under the Rutherford Memorial Scheme in 1952. It is held at universities in various countries in the Commonwealth, with a stipulation that at least one of every three lectures must be held in New Zealand.- List...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the Blackett
Patrick Blackett, Baron Blackett
Patrick Maynard Stuart Blackett, Baron Blackett OM CH FRS was an English experimental physicist known for his work on cloud chambers, cosmic rays, and paleomagnetism. He also made a major contribution in World War II advising on military strategy and developing Operational Research...
Lecture in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, travelling to 27 different countries during three and a half years in office.
She married Peter John Casselton in 1961, divorcing him in 1978. She married William Joseph Dennis Tollett in 1981.
External links
- http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/c/20689/Lorna%20Ann%20(Mrs%20Tollett)+CASSELTON.aspxCasselton's profile on Debrett'sDebrett'sDebrett’s is a specialist publisher, founded in 1769 with the publication of the first edition of The New Peerage. The name "Debrett's" honours John Debrett...
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