Miss Sonja Schmidt

Sonja SchmidtX-ray CT Laboratory Operations Manager and PDRA in Soil Physics

E: s.schmidt@abertay.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1382 308329

General Information

root contact 3D volumetric image of maize seedling (false coloured) in a loamy sand (a, <2 mm) and segmented root volume (b, false coloured) and root-soil contact area (c, false coloured)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

I am interested in root-soil interactions. My PhD project has focussed on the independent and interacting effects of soil properties, such as matric potential, bulk density, particle size and growth medium on root growth of seedlings. X-ray microtomography was applied to study processes at the root-soil interface. A method to quantify root-particle contact on 3D volumetric images was developed.

visualizing water with X-ray CT 3D volumetric image of cellulose acetate beads in water (a), segmented beads (b) and segmented water volume (c, false coloured).

Furthermore I am interested the development of experimental protocols for imaging and quantification of water, roots and organic matter in porous media.

Background

positions

o CT Laboratory Operation Manager and PDRA in Soil Physics, University of Abertay Dundee, UK (2011 – present)

o Research Scientist in Soil Eco-Engineering, Mylnefield Research Services Ltd, UK (part time 2010)

Education

o PhD in environmental plant interactions at Scottish Crop Research Institute and University of Abertay Dundee, UK (2007 – present)

o MSc Environmental Science at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany (2005 – 2007)

o BSc in Environmental Science at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany (2002 – 2005)

Publications

  1. Peter J. Gregory, A. Glyn Bengough, Dmitri Grinev, Sonja Schmidt, W. (Bill) T. B. Thomas, Tobias Wojciechowski and Iain M. Young (2009), Root phenomics of crops: opportunities and challenges. Functional Plant Biology 36(11) 922–929

    2. Conference abstracts

  2. Sonja Schmidt, Peter J. Gregory, A. Glyn Bengough, Dmitri Grinev, Wilfred Otten and Iain M. Young (2010). Visualising and quantifying rhizosphere processes: root-soil contact. World Congress of Soil Science, Brisbane, Australia (Poster)
  3. Sonja Schmidt, Peter J. Gregory, A. Glyn Bengough, Dmitri Grinev, and Iain M. Young (2009). Investigation of the root-soil interface using X-ray microtomography. Microsoil Workshop, Dundee, UK (Poster)
  4. Sonja Schmidt, Peter J. Gregory, A. Glyn Bengough, Dmitri Grinev, and Iain M. Young (2009), New methods for examining the effects of matric potential and root-soil contact on crop root growth and function. Root-soil interaction meeting, Aberdeen, UK (Oral presentation)
  5. Sonja Schmidt, Peter J. Gregory, A. Glyn Bengough, Dmitri Grinev, and Iain M. Young (2009), New methods for examining the role of matric potential and root-soil contact for root growth of crops. International Symposium ‘Root Research and Application’, Vienna, Austria (Oral Presentation)
  6. Sonja Schmidt, Peter J. Gregory, A. Glyn Bengough, Dmitri Grinev, and Iain M. Young (2009), New methods for examining water uptake at the root-soil interface in crops. 1st Monogram Network Workshop, Bristol, UK (Invited presentation)
  7. Sonja Schmidt, Peter J. Gregory, A. Glyn Bengough, Dmitri Grinev, and Iain M. Young (2009), The role of the root soil-interface for root growth investigated by X-ray computed tomography. British Society of Soil Science, Young Scientist Meeting, Reading, UK (Oral Presentation)
  8. Sonja Schmidt, Peter J. Gregory, A. Glyn Bengough, Dmitri Grinev, and Iain M. Young (2008), Investigation of root growth and root-soil contact using X-ray computed tomography. British Ecological Society, Annual Meeting, London, UK (Oral presentation)

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