Podcast
Linley Jessen: Dissecting the data
06 Jul 2026
00:00
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Data is transforming the way we do science. In this episode of scigest, host and scientist Tom Moore sits down with Principal Scientist Dr Linley Jesson to explore her fascinating career journey from ornithology and plant biology to genomics and data science. Linley shares how influential mentors helped shape her path, the curiosity that led her from studying bird behaviour to the intricacies of plant reproduction, and how her research has evolved alongside the rapid growth of genomic technologies. The conversation delves into her work on plant reproductive biology, moss genomics and the increasingly vital role of data science in unlocking new scientific insights. Linley also reflects on the importance of mentoring the next generation of researchers, embracing change throughout a scientific career, and finding opportunities to innovate in an evolving research landscape. Whether you're curious about the future of data-driven science or the winding career paths that lead to groundbreaking research, this episode offers insight into the people behind the data. To view our full catalogue of podcasts including extra links on some podcasts please go to our Scigest pages: www.plantandfood.com/scigest
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Related people
Dr. Linley Jesson
I'm a data scientist with a background in evolutionary and statistical genetics, with research interests in Genomic Prediction. I co-lead the Authentic Taonga Foods Data Pou which focuses on Māori...
Dr. Tom Moore
I am a quantitative ecologist specialising in integrating scientific hypotheses into statistical models to address causal questions. During my PhD in freshwater ecology, I focused on examining the potential threats...