Virginia Corless

MoA Technology Limited, the crop protection discovery company, was spun out of Oxford University in 2018. MoA has developed its own discovery platforms and is focused on the discovery of the next generation of sustainable herbicides with new modes of action from both natural and synthetic chemistry. The company has developed three proprietary platforms: Galaxy, Target and Select. These three distinct in vivo platforms allow a rapid identification of novel potent herbicidal activity, precise determination of the novel model of action, and rapid improvement of the original lead, while also allowing early-stage filtering for environmentally benign compounds. The combination of platforms offers the opportunity to revolutionize the herbicide discovery process and critically identify new, effective and environmentally sustainable herbicides.

Responsible for global market development and sales.

Novihum Technologies GmbH is a clean tech start-up developing a unique and innovative agricultural technology to return fertility to poor and degraded soils around the globe. The technology is environmentally and economically sustainable, highly effective, and simple to use. Wherever intensive land use or climatic changes have degraded soils and reduced yields, Novihum quickly replaces natural humic matter, rapidly improving soil quality and productivity while sequestering CO2 in soils and biomass. By doing this, Novihum delivers healthier plants, higher crop yields, enhanced drought resilience, and substantial environmental and climate benefits in agricultural, horticultural, recultivation, landscape, and roof greening applications around the world. From nature, for nature – and from research into practice – the Novihum Technologies team delivers innovative soil solutions to projects and customers in Europe, the United States, and abroad.

Specialist in: -solutions at the food-energy-water nexus -sustainable agriculture -renewable energy -implementing innovation -cross-sectoral solutions -political, policy, social & cultural aspects of technology adoption -sustainable textiles

As a senior manager for this young start-up seeking to deploy innovative technologies to fight climate change and drive sustainable development in a commercially viable framework that supports large-scale global deployment: • Lead author of four feasibility studies assessing near and long-term project viability, financial return, & environmental and social impacts, in Jordan and Qatar, with responsibility for a $600,000 budget. • Major contributor to the company’s 2011 successful bid for its first pilot facility in Qatar. • Helped deliver an on-time opening for the pilot facility during UNFCCC COP 18 climate negotiations. • As research manager for the Qatar pilot, in 18 months developed, implemented, and successfully delivered the company’s first research program, including top-tier results proving economic viability, while managing research team at pilot site. • Represent the SFP concept, company, and technical and economic viability to the scientific community, local, regional, and global stakeholders, current and potential investors, and the media. • Currently manage scientific networks in MENA, Europe, and U.S., and research program in Jordan.

As a member of the Bellona Environmental CCS Team (BEST): • Developed rigorous quantitative modeling framework for CO2 capture & storage (CCS) deployment. • Engaged with stakeholders in target countries to map technical, economic, & political landscape • A primary author of internationally published CCS roadmaps for Poland and Greece, including cost profile, political assessment, electricity & industrial sector modeling, and presentation to international stakeholders and clients.

As one of 30 scientists chosen for a national fellowship program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), worked for Energy Committee Chairman Senator Jeff Bingaman: • Developed an international energy portfolio with renewed focus on clean energy tech deployment in the service of economic development. • Drafted legislation and committee hearing content, and provided analysis and policy guidance in areas of international clean tech deployment, industrial energy efficiency, energy technology tax regimes, and public energy education • Provided congressional oversight of related programs at the Department of Energy, US Agency for International Development, Overseas Private Investment Corp, US Trade & Development Agency.

Expanded on advanced computational methods developed during PhD to better use gravitational lensing to illuminate the fundamental nature of dark matter, a dominant but largely invisible part of the Universe. Initiated collaborations with researchers in Europe and Japan. Publications listed below.

Minor in Applied International Studies