Caroline Upton
I graduated in 2012 with a BSc (Honours) in Forensic Anthropology, from the College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee.
During my degree I completed a 12 month placement at the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy, University of Dundee and three month placements with Ian Toth, Nicola Holden, Ali Karley and Tracy Valentine at the James Hutton Institute.
During my degree I became particularly interested in biological imaging techniques, and applying them to root-soil interactions. This led to me starting a PhD in 2012 with Tracy Valentine and Lionel Dupuy.
Current research interests
PhD Studentship
My PhD project is concerned with using a combination of imaging techniques to better elucidate the physical interactions between root systems and soil. I am using X-ray µCT to look at root architecture and how it is influenced by changes in physical soil properties. I am also using recently developed transparent soil with optical imaging techniques to look at the cellular responses of roots that are observed under different physical soil conditions.
Supervisors: Tracy Valentine and Lionel Dupuy (James Hutton Institute) and Wilfred Otten and Sonja Schmidt (University of Abertay Dundee).
Past research
Three month placement working with Ian Toth and Nicola Holden, in the plant pathogen department at the James Hutton Institute.
Four month placement working with Ali Karley and Tracy Valentine, in the Ecological Sciences group at the James Hutton Institute.
Honours research project supervised by Sue Black, in the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee.
Bibliography
- Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Binnie, K.; Dupuy, L.X.; Karley, A.J.; Schmidt, S.; White, P.; Bengough, G. (2015) Tools and techniques for phenotyping plant:soil interactions., Integrated Plant and Algal Phenomics (IPAP) Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, 27-30 June 2015.
- Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Bentley, S.; Greenland, A.; Otten, W.; Schmidt, S.; Squire, G.; Dupuy, L.X.; Karley, A.J. (2015) Recent developments in root phenotyping pipelines of cereal crops: transparent soil and rhizotubes., ISSR 2015. 9th International Symposium of the ISRR. "Roots down under - Belowground solutions to global challenges", Canberra, Australia, 6-9 October 2015. Paper O-23.
- Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Binnie, K.; Dupuy, L.X.; Karley, A.K.; Schmidt, S.; White, P.; Bengough, A.G. (2015) Tools and techniques for phenotyping plant:soil interactions. , International Plant and Algal Phenomics Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, 27-30 June 2015.
- Upton, C.M., Dupuy, L.X.; Schmidt, S.; Downie, H.; Otten, W.; Valentine, T.A. (2014) Quantifying 3D root system architecture of roots grown in transparent soil - current progress, challenges and future work., Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) Conference, University of Manchester, July 2014. Scientific Session - Roots for global food security (a tribute to Bill Davies). Http://www.sebiology.org/meetings/Manchester/sessions.html
- Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Binnie, K.; Downie, H.; Schmidt, S.; Otten, W.; Dupuy, L.X.; Hawes, C.; Young, M.; Squire, G.; Bengough, A.G. (2014) Visualization and quantification of root responses to soil strength and pore structure., Plant Biology Europe FESPB/EPSO Congress 2014, Dublin, 22-26 June 2014.
- Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Binnie, K.; Dupuy, L.X.; Karley, A.J.; Schmidt, S.; White, P.; Bengough, G. (2015) Tools and techniques for phenotyping plant:soil interactions., Integrated Plant and Algal Phenomics (IPAP) Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, 27-30 June 2015.
- Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Bentley, S.; Greenland, A.; Otten, W.; Schmidt, S.; Squire, G.; Dupuy, L.X.; Karley, A.J. (2015) Recent developments in root phenotyping pipelines of cereal crops: transparent soil and rhizotubes., ISSR 2015. 9th International Symposium of the ISRR. "Roots down under - Belowground solutions to global challenges", Canberra, Australia, 6-9 October 2015. Paper O-23.
- Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Binnie, K.; Dupuy, L.X.; Karley, A.K.; Schmidt, S.; White, P.; Bengough, A.G. (2015) Tools and techniques for phenotyping plant:soil interactions. , International Plant and Algal Phenomics Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, 27-30 June 2015.
- Upton, C.M., Dupuy, L.X.; Schmidt, S.; Downie, H.; Otten, W.; Valentine, T.A. (2014) Quantifying 3D root system architecture of roots grown in transparent soil - current progress, challenges and future work., Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) Conference, University of Manchester, July 2014. Scientific Session - Roots for global food security (a tribute to Bill Davies). Http://www.sebiology.org/meetings/Manchester/sessions.html
- Valentine, T.A.; Upton, C.; Binnie, K.; Downie, H.; Schmidt, S.; Otten, W.; Dupuy, L.X.; Hawes, C.; Young, M.; Squire, G.; Bengough, A.G. (2014) Visualization and quantification of root responses to soil strength and pore structure., Plant Biology Europe FESPB/EPSO Congress 2014, Dublin, 22-26 June 2014.
- Upton, C.; Dupuy, L.X.; Schmidt, S.; Otten, W.; Valentine, T.A. (2015) Visualization and quantification of root responses to soil strength and pore structure: Utility of transparent soil., ISSR 2015. 9th International Symposium of the ISRR. "Roots down under - Belowground solutions to global challenges"., Canberra, Australia, 6-9 October 2015. (Poster).
- Upton, C.; Downie, H.; Schmidt, S.; Dupuy, L.X.; Otten, W.; Valentine, T.A. (2015) Visualization and quantification of root response to soil strength and pore structure: Utility of transparent soil., SEB (Society of Experimental Biology) Annual Main Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, 30 June - 3 July 2015. Poster P2.71.
