Danni completed her BSc at the University of East Anglia in Environmental Science where she completed her thesis on how sea surface temperature increases (as a result of climate change) affected north Atlantic fish distribution. This was shortly followed by her MSc in Climate Change at the same university. Her thesis focused on consumer perceptions of reduced meat consumption as one climate mitigation measure. Danni then continued her career at Cranfield University by starting her PhD in 2020 (a tough year, for multiple reasons!). Her PhD is a 4-year program which investigates how biostimulants (natural substances or microorganisms) may improve soil properties and processes as a mechanism for improving soil nutrient availability for crop uptake. This PhD (finishing in 2024) is a FoodBioSystems DTP project, part funded by Sainsbury’s. The industry sponsorship has allowed Danni to complete a 3-month internship within the Sainsbury’s agriculture team which she completed earlier this year.  

Danni has always had a keen interest in climate change causes, adaptation and mitigation measures. She has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know soils better during her PhD and is excited to see where this takes her. She is really keen to invest time and raise awareness of the important link between soils and the food supply chain. 

Danni is the incoming Early Careers Committee Chair for 2024 – 2026. She is an EC member of BSSS and says that the Society has been one of few that have been really instrumental during her PhD. She says that ‘she has joined the Committee at a really exciting time as we prepare for the Early Careers’ conference’ and ‘she’s really enjoying getting involved and producing a program that will benefit our Early Career members’.   

Please get in touch if you have any questions, ideas or even to promote an interesting event or opportunity for our Early Career members. Email Danni at: Dannielle.roche@cranfield.ac.uk