Eamon Cooper

Eamonn Cooper, graduate in Genetics (BSc), MSc Bioinformatics & Computational Biology currently researching under the ‘Genetic characterisation of oak for the breeding and conservation’ studentship funded by the Future Trees Trust and Forest Genetics Resources Trust (FGRT) Ireland. Tree improvement programmes for oak (Quercus petraea and Q. robur) have been ongoing for some time in the UK and Ireland. This work selected superior trees (Plus Trees) for improvement for timber production and a series of progeny trials. This project will investigate the genetic diversity and degree of introgression of the plus trees selected. These results will provide wider information for oak conservation genetics and breeding for timber and the changing climate. Supervised by Dr Trevor Hodkinson, Trinity College Dublin, Dr Colin Kelleher National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin and Dr Jo Clark, Head of Research at Future Trees Trust.