Mr Radoslaw Pajor

Mr Radoslaw PajorPhD student and Research Associate

E: r.pajor@abertay.ac.uk

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.
  • Optimization of X-ray microtomography conditions for scanning heterogeneous materials.
  • Integrating physical and chemical techniques to characterise soil micro-sites.

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

  • PhD study in Soil Biophysics, University of Abertay Dundee, United Kingdom
    • 2007 -current- quantification and visualization of some interactions between soil-born fungi and soil structure.
  • 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, J. Kochanowski University, Poland
    • 2006 - project investigating haemolytic activity of S. aureus.

Additional Training

  • PhD study in Soil Biophysics, University of Abertay Dundee, United Kingdom
  • 3-day introduction to VGStudio MAX 2.1: Analysis and Visualisation of Industrial Computer Tomography Data, Heidelberg 2-5.02.2010
  • CT use and maintenance training by Nikon Metrics, Simbios 07.10.2009.
  • International PhD course in merging measurements and modelling in soil physics, 16-12.03.2009 Aarhus University, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
  • Advances in population and community ecology 2009 -course targeting construction and analysis of models (NERC funded)- Imperial College, London 19-30th January 2009.
  • Advanced Photon Source (APS) Chicago -training in radiation safety and use of research station in APS Argonne- Chicago, 10-12th October 2008
  • Health Protection Agency -Radiation Awareness Training for Person Working with X Ray Analytical Equipment 15.05.2008
  • Training in use of Karl Zeiss KS300/400 software -by Dr Dmitry Grinev, 2009, SIMBIOS.
  • Introduction to R programming and Linux environment by Dr Lorenzo Milazzo and Dr Ruth Falconer -January 2009, SIMBIOS.
  • Internal basic training for CT users and image analysis -carried out by dr D. Grinev 2008.

Publications

  1. R. Pajor, R. Falconer, W. Otten. 2011, Manipulation and quantification of pore geometry in repacked soil microcosms. University of Abertay Research Student Conference 2011 proceedings, p. 145-154.
  2. A. Garbout, L.J. Munkholm, S.B. Hansen, B.M. Petersen, O.L. Munk, R. Pajor. 2011, The use of PET/CT scanning techniques for 3D visualisation and quantification of real-time soil/plant interactions. Plant Soil, DOI 10.1007/s11104-011-0983-8.
  3. R. Pajor, R.Falconer, S.Hapca and W. Otten. 2010. Modelling and quantifying the effect of heterogeneity in soil physical conditions on fungal growth. Biogeosciences, 7, 3477-3501, 2010. doi: 10.5194/bgd-7-3477-2010
  4. P.C. Baveye, M. Laba, W. Otten, D. Grinev, L. Bouckaert, P.D. Sterpaio, R.R. Goswami, Y. Hu, J. Liu, S. Mooney, R. Pajor, S. Sleutel, A. Tarquis, W. Wang, Q. Wei, M. Sezgin. 2010. Observer-dependent variability of the thresholding step in the quantitative analysis of soil images and X-ray microtomography data. Geoderma 157, p. 51-63., doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.03.015
  5. R. Pajor, R. Falconer, D. Grinev and W. Otten. 2010. Modelling and quantifying the effect of heterogeneity in soil physical conditions on fungal growth. Conference proceedings of 1st International Conference and Exploratory Workshop on Soil Architecture and Physico-Chemical Functions at Aarhus University Research Centre Foulum, Denmark, p. 283-288.
  6. Jennifer H. Green, Anna Koza, Olena Moshynets, Radoslaw Pajor, Margaret R. Ritchie and Andrew J. Spiers. 2010. Evolution in a Test-tube : Rise of the Wrinkly Spreaders. Journal ofBiological Education, Accepted.
  7. R. Pajor, R. Falconer, D. Grinev and W. Otten. 2009. Modelling and quantifying the effect of heterogeneity in soil physical conditions on fungal growth. Abertay Research Student Conference Proceedings p.58-63.

    8. Key presentations and activities

    1. R. Pajor, R. Falconer, W. Otten, oral presentation with publication in conference proceedings -Manipulation and quantification of pore geometry in repacked soil microcosms- University of Abertay Research Students conference, 4th October 2011.
    2. Poster presentation and co-organisation of Micro Soil II workshop- -Novel technologies, modelling and macroscopic impacts-. APEX Hotel, Dundee, 14-15.06.2011.
    3. Approved oral presentation for 1st International Conference and Exploratory Workshop on Soil Architecture and Physico-Chemical Functions at Aarhus University Research Centre Foulum, Denmark 30.11. - 2.12.2010
    4. Radoslaw Pajor, Ruth Falconer, Dmitri Grinev and Wilfred Otten, Modelling fungal growth in soil. Poster presentation at SAGES annual meeting in Aberfoyle 17-19.11.2009
    5. Radoslaw Pajor, -Modelling and quantifying the effect of heterogeneity in soil physical conditions on fungal growth-, oral presentation at Plant Soil Interaction Symposium in Aberdeen, 3.11.2009 .
    6. Invited speaker during the -Science for business- conference in Poland, Kielce 12-13.10.2009, -Applications of microtomography in environmental science-.
    7. Poster presentation and co-organisation of Micro Soil workshop- -IntegratingBiological, Physical and Chemical Techniques for the Study of Soil Micro-habitats-. Apex hotel, Dundee, 16-17.09.2009.
    8. Radoslaw Pajor, Ruth Falconer, Dmitri Grinev and Wilfred Otten, oral presentation with publication in conference proceedings -Modelling and quantifying the effect of heterogeneity in soil physical conditions on fungal growth-, University of Abertay Research Students conference, 30.09.-01.10.2009.
    9. Radoslaw Pajor, Dmitri Grinev and Wilfred Otten oral presentation at British Soil Scientists Society -Young Scientists meeting in Reading 31.03.-01.04.2009, -The role of fungal growth dynamics in changes to structure and hydraulic properties of soil.-
    10. Radoslaw Pajor, Dmitri Grinev and Wilfred Otten -oral presentation on 1st SAGES Graduate School Retreat, The Burn in Edzel 11-12th November 2008. -Fungal activity and physical properties of soil-.

      11. Back to list of team members