Dr Sean Bulley
Position: Senior research scientist, Carbohydrate Team, Breeding and Genomics Group, Plant & Food Research (now Bioeconomy Science Institute)
Field: Vitamin C biosynthesis and function in plants
Sean Bulley attended Long Bay College, then the University of Auckland, where he obtained a BSc in biology. Further study in England resulted in a master’s degree in plant breeding and biotechnology at the University of East Anglia and a PhD in plant biotechnology from the Open University (London, UK).
Dr Sean Bulley
Dr Sean Bulley was one of the scientists responsible for Plant & Food Research’s breakthrough discovery of the missing link in our understanding of how plants produce vitamin C.
Back in New Zealand, Sean became a research scientist at HortResearch, Auckland (now Plant & Food Research). He joined a group of researchers, led by Dr William Laing, who were investigating why vitamin C content varies between plant varieties.
William Laing was a superb mentor. The group made significant contributions to the field of plant vitamin C biosynthesis, and it has gone from being unknown in the area to becoming one of the leading research groups. The group is now working on the role of vitamin C in plant development and how to apply this knowledge to plant breeding.
In 2008, Sean was awarded a prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship for experienced researchers. Sean travelled to Germany with his wife Cherie to live and work in Berlin. The experience and contacts gained from working at the Max-Planck Institute of Plant Molecular Physiology were invaluable, and the insight Sean gained there has set up years of work.
Current research on vitamin C
Dr Sean Bulley, a senior scientist with Plant & Food Research, outlines some of the research focusing on identifying the genes that control vitamin C levels in different varieties of kiwifruit. Kiwifruit varieties show widely varying levels of vitamin C.
Sean enjoys the flexibility and freedom that a career in science provides. “There is the mundane work but there is also the chance to explore new concepts and really challenge oneself by constantly learning new things. Great results and interesting findings also give a huge buzz,” he says.
The greatest satisfaction comes from appreciating how a project has evolved from inception to its current form, knowing this will change again – and probably not in the way one envisages.
Vitamin C – the antiscorbutic
Dr Sean Bulley outlines some of the history surrounding the discovery of vitamin C and explains why its chemical name is ascorbic acid. He outlines its main function in the body. He explains why humans, unlike most other mammals, have lost the ability to synthesise their own vitamin C.
Sean enjoys social sports such as football, tennis and squash. He also enjoys DIY, gardening, drawing/painting, travel and spending time with family.
Related content
Use these resources below to find out more:
Activity idea
Get your students to investigate how vitamin C content could be improved in future fruit varieties in Vitamin C and the future.
This article is based on information current in 2011.
