Research
Her expertise in FTIR spectroscopy was first developed through her PhD, awarded in 1990, in which she studied structures of organometallic compounds using this technique. Through her work at the Institute she now applies this expertise in IR spectroscopy to a wide range of naturally occurring samples. She has developed the specialist knowledge necessary for interpreting the complex FTIR spectra of minerals, soils, sediments, fungal species and vegetation. An FTIR spectrum provides a “chemical fingerprint” or chemical overview of a sample encompassing both organic and mineral components and is therefore particularly applicable to the combined study of soil mineralogy and organic matter. From the samples generated for the National Soil Inventory of Scotland a soils database has been created for which the IR section has provided high quality FTIR and NIR spectral data. Analysis of relationships between this spectral data and the other data held for the soils, including mineralogy and wax markers from vegetation input, will be a key research interest, particularly in relation to changes in soil organic matter. Another key area of research is the development of NIR calibrations for the prediction of parameters for a range of materials including soil, animal faeces and vegetation. Effective calibrations allow analysis to be provided in a quick, cheap and environmentally friendly manner and significantly extend the number of samples it is possible to work with for a given project. Development of suitable calibrations will have a potentially highly significant input into a range of ecological and environmental monitoring projects.
Publications
The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.
Journals
- Banhatti, R.D.; Cramer, C.; Zielnoik, D.; Robertson, A.H.J.; Ingram, M.D. (2009) Insights into ion-network interactions and ion transport in glass., Zeitschrift fur Physikalische Chemie, 223, 1201-1215.
- Artz, R.R.E.; Chapman, S.J.; Robertson, J.; Potts, J.M.; Laggoun-Defarge, F.; Gogo, S.; Comont, L.; Disnar, J-R.; Francez, A-J. (2008) FTIR spectroscopy can be used as a screening tool for organic matter quality in regenerating cutover peatlands, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 40, 515-527.
Technical / contract reports
- Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Dawson, L.A. (2008) Micro-scale Approaches to Soil Evidence (micro – ASE)., Science and Technology Facilities Council: SRS Experiment Report 2008.
- Dawson, L.A.; Delbos, E.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.M. (2007) Analytical investigation on soils from Roman finds., Report for National Museums of Scotland, May 2007.
Conference papers
- Dawson, L.A.; Czerniakiewicz, M.; Handley, K.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.M.; Towers, W.; Donnelly, D.; Mayes, R.W. (2010) A complementary approach to the forensic analysis of soil in case investigations., International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2-4 November 2010.
- Delbos, E.; Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.; Thornton, B. (2008) Traces of soil from archaeological artefacts: a multidisciplinary approach., International Crime Science Conference 2008, London, 17-18 July 2008.
- Robertson, J.; Delbos, E.; Dawson, L.; Angus, K.; Morrisson, A. (2007) In situ FTIR analysis of soil evidence on clothing., Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007.
- Hillier, S.; Dawson, L.A.; Robertson, J, Delbos, E.; Shiels, J.; Campbell, S.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.M. (2007) Provenancing archaeological objects using traces of soil., Conference Proceedings, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007.
- Dawson, L.A.; Morrisson, A.; Macdonald, L.M.; Ross, J.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Robertson, J.; Towers, W.; Brewer, M. (2007) Soil Forensics University Network (SoilFUN) Protocols., Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007.
- Dawson, L.A.; Morrisson, A.; Ross, J.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Robertson, J. (2007) Soil Forensics University Network (SoilFUN) Outline., Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007.
Conference posters / abstracts
- Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.J.; Macdonald, L.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.M.; Robertson, A.H.J. (2009) Chemical profiling of soil for forensic application., Royal Society of Chemistry, 42nd IUPAC Congress: Chemistry Solutions, SECC, Glasgow, 2 -7 August 2009.
- Macdonald, L.; Brewer, M.; Dawson, L.A.; Campbell, C.D.; Mayes, R.W.; Robertson, J.; Singh, B.K.; Towers, W.; Ross, J.M.; Bellamy, P.; Ritz, K.; Crawford, J. (2007) Exploring the forensic potential of novel soil profiling methods., Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30 October – 1 November 2007. Abstract and poster presentation, p46.
