Kirsty Turner

Background

Kirsty Turner is a PhD student working in partnership with Cranfield University, University of Reading, Diamond Light Source and Moulton Bulb.

She is researching the use of advanced imaging to understand the pathogenesis and colonisation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae in onion crops from growth through to the postharvest period to elucidate the process of virulence.

Her current project is part of the FoodBioSystems Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) and is supervised by Dr. Lembe Magwaza and Dr. Carol Verheecke-Vaessen (Cranfield University), with co-supervision from Dr. Luke Bell (University of Reading), and Dr. Gianfelice Cinque (Diamond Light Source). This project works cross-functionally across biophysics, plant biomechanics, mycology, microscopy and spectroscopy.

Kirsty holds a first-class bachelor’s degree in Food Science from the University of Reading, and has extensive experience in the food industry. Her undergraduate research focused on studying the physical and biochemical changes of spent coffee grounds in response to white-rotting fungi. She is passionate about understanding plant-fungal dynamics more effectively, uncovering innovative crop resilience solutions to reduce waste and improve food security.

The aim of the project is to validate and quantify incidence and development of F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae at growth stages of onion by various imaging techniques and biomarkers to understand host-pathogen interactions. Current imaging techniques of interest are; Synchrotron Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography Time-of-flight Mass Spectroscopy, X-ray Computed Tomography, Optical Coherence Tomography.