Mr Radoslaw Pajor
PhD student at SIMBIOS
T: +44 1382 308769
M: 07857478704
General Information
Research interests
Current project:
- The role of fungal growth dynamics in changes to structure and hydraulic properties of soils.
Supervisors:
Project background and main aim
Soil is a complex and heterogeneous ecosystem providing a wide range of services valued over $22T. Soil structure determines the functionality of this ecosystem by affecting the distribution of water, oxygen and nutrients. The soil structure changes continuously as it is subjected to physical and biological forces. Fungi and bacteria have a significant influence on the aggregation of soil particles. Fungi are ubiquitous organisms in soil involved in symbiotic relationships with plants (e.g. myccorhiza) and in carbon dynamics. Many important plant pathogens are also caused by soil-borne fungi. In addition, fungi are also 'engineers of soil', mostly considered to be responsible for creating larger (>250 microns) aggregates. We have little understanding of the changes in soil structure caused by fungal growth dynamics nor of the effect of fungal exudates on hydraulic properties of soil. Hence my work aims to investigate changes in structure and biophysical properties of soil caused by growth of selected soil-borne fungi, including Rhizoctonia solani, and Trichoderma spp.. In my research I use a wide range of microbiological and biophysical methods including X-ray microtomography.
Education
- BSc (hons) Biotechnology University of Abertay Dundee, United Kingdom
- 2007 - project identifying the effects of metabolites from yeast and fungi against micro-organisms implicated in human diseases.
- BSc degree in Microbiology, Swietokrzyski Universuty, Poland
- 2006 - project investigating haemolytic activity of S. aureus.
Achievements:
- Oral presentation of 6 months and 12 months work progress at SIMBIOS respectively 12.03.2008 and 17.11.2008.
- Poster presentation at SAGES conference in Aberfoyle 'Fungal activity and physical properties of soil' (17-19.09.2008).
- Oral presentation of my work at SAGES Graduate School Retreat in The Burn 'Fungal activity and physical properties of soil' (11.11.2008).
- Visit and use of facilities in GSECARS at Argonne National Laboratory.