David Downey is the Head of Infrastructure at the Plant Biology Institute, where he leads the planning, design, construction, and operation of research infrastructure projects. In this role, he works closely with scientific teams, business functions, and external contractors to deliver the institute’s infrastructure program.

He holds a PhD in Plant Cell Biology and a BSc in Biotechnology from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Over the past fifteen years, he has worked in vegetable breeding and cell biology for major multinational breeding companies. During this time, he contributed to the design, construction, and operation of scientific facilities in Spain and the Netherlands. Before joining EIT, he was the Head of Cell Biology for KWS Vegetables in Wageningen, the Netherlands, where he oversaw all aspects of the company’s cell biology programs.

Outside of work, David enjoys spending time with his family, cycling, cooking, and camping.

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