Dr Amanda Cavanagh
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Email
a.cavanagh@essex.ac.uk -
Telephone
+44 (0) 1206 872244
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Location
Colchester Campus
Profile
Biography
My research seeks to understand and improve plant growth and photosynthetic performance in changing environmental conditions such as rising carbon dioxide levels, temperature stress, and drought. Our research group explores leaf and enzyme-level responses of photosynthesis to the environment in model, crop, and ecologically important species, both to understand natural existing mechanisms to cope with environmental extremes and to develop strategies for improvement. I am happy to discuss project ideas for UG dissertations, PGR projects of Postdoc fellowships in any of the research areas listed. Please don't hesitate to reach out.
Qualifications
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PhD University of New Brunswick, (2016)
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BSc (Hons) Biology-Chemistry University of New Brunswick, (2008)
Appointments
University of Essex
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Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (2023 - present)
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Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (2020 - 2023)
Other academic
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Postdoctoral Researcher, Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2016 - 2020)
Research and professional activities
Research interests
Biochemical limitations of photosynthesis
Natural Variation in Carbon Assimilation
Improving photosynthesis to increase yield
Teaching and supervision
Current teaching responsibilities
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Introduction to Global Sustainability Challenges (BS106)
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Plant Biology and Ecosystems (BS111)
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Employability Skills for the Biosciences (BS211)
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Plant Molecular Physiology and Genetics (BS234)
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Addressing Global Sustainability Challenges (BS259)
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Plant Biotechnology (BS323)
Previous supervision
Degree subject: Biological Sciences
Degree type: Master of Science (by Dissertation)
Awarded date: 1/5/2024
Publications
Journal articles (23)
Raines, CA. and Cavanagh, AP., (2024). The Calvin Benson Bassham cycle. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology. 155 (Pt A), 1-2
Busch, FA., Ainsworth, EA., Amtmann, A., Cavanagh, AP., Driever, SM., Ferguson, JN., Kromdijk, J., Lawson, T., Leakey, ADB., Matthews, JSA., Meacham‐Hensold, K., Vath, RL., Vialet‐Chabrand, S., Walker, BJ. and Papanatsiou, M., (2024). A guide to photosynthetic gas exchange measurements: Fundamental principles, best practice and potential pitfalls. Plant, Cell & Environment. 47 (9), 3344-3364
Blatt, MR., Cavanagh, A. and Buckley, TN., (2024). Photosynthesis and the stomatal nexus, past, present and future. Plant, Cell & Environment. 47 (9), 3285-3287
Meacham‐Hensold, K., Cavanagh, AP., Sorensen, P., South, PF., Fowler, J., Boyd, R., Jeong, J., Burgess, S., Stutz, S., Dilger, RN., Lee, M., Ferrari, N., Larkin, J. and Ort, DR., (2024). Shortcutting Photorespiration Protects Potato Photosynthesis and Tuber Yield Against Heatwave Stress. Global Change Biology. 30 (12), e17595-
Cavanagh, AP., Slattery, R. and Kubien, DS., (2023). Temperature induced changes in Arabidopsis Rubisco activity and isoform expression. Journal of Experimental Botany. 74 (2), 651-663
Cavanagh, AP. and Ort, DR., (2023). Transgenic strategies to improve the thermotolerance of photosynthesis.. Photosynthesis Research. 158 (2), 109-120
Cavanagh, AP., South, PF., Bernacchi, CJ. and Ort, DR., (2022). Alternative pathway to photorespiration protects growth and productivity at elevated temperatures in a model crop.. Plant Biotechnology Journal. 20 (4), 711-721
Harvey, CM., Cavanagh, AP., Kim, SY., Wright, DA., Edquilang, RG., Shreeves, KS., Perdomo, JA., Spalding, MH., Ort, DR., Bernacchi, CJ. and Huber, SC., (2022). Removal of redox-sensitive Rubisco Activase does not alter Rubisco regulation in soybean. Photosynthesis Research. 154 (2), 169-182
Ely, KS., Rogers, A., Agarwal, DA., Ainsworth, EA., Albert, LP., Ali, A., Anderson, J., Aspinwall, MJ., Bellasio, C., Bernacchi, C., Bonnage, S., Buckley, TN., Bunce, J., Burnett, AC., Busch, FA., Cavanagh, A., Cernusak, LA., Crystal-Ornelas, R., Damerow, J., Davidson, KJ., De Kauwe, MG., Dietze, MC., Domingues, TF., Dusenge, ME., Ellsworth, DS., Evans, JR., Gauthier, PPG., Gimenez, BO., Gordon, EP., Gough, CM., Halbritter, AH., Hanson, DT., Heskel, M., Hogan, JA., Hupp, JR., Jardine, K., Kattge, J., Keenan, T., Kromdijk, J., Kumarathunge, DP., Lamour, J., Leakey, ADB., LeBauer, DS., Li, Q., Lundgren, MR., McDowell, N., Meacham-Hensold, K., Medlyn, BE., Moore, DJP., Negrón-Juárez, R., Niinemets, Ü., Osborne, CP., Pivovaroff, AL., Poorter, H., Reed, SC., Ryu, Y., Sanz-Saez, A., Schmiege, SC., Serbin, SP., Sharkey, TD., Slot, M., Smith, NG., Sonawane, BV., South, PF., Souza, DC., Stinziano, JR., Stuart-Haëntjens, E., Taylor, SH., Tejera, MD., Uddling, J., Vandvik, V., Varadharajan, C., Walker, AP., Walker, BJ., Warren, JM., Way, DA., Wolfe, BT., Wu, J., Wullschleger, SD., Xu, C., Yan, Z. and Yang, D., (2021). A reporting format for leaf-level gas exchange data and metadata. Ecological Informatics. 61, 101232-101232
Moore, CE., Meacham-Hensold, K., Lemonnier, P., Slattery, RA., Benjamin, C., Bernacchi, CJ., Lawson, T. and Cavanagh, AP., (2021). The effect of increasing temperature on crop photosynthesis: from enzymes to ecosystems.. Journal of Experimental Botany. 72 (8), 2822-2844
Chibani, K., Pucker, B., Dietz, K. and Cavanagh, A., (2021). Genome‐wide analysis and transcriptional regulation of the typical and atypical thioredoxins in Arabidopsis thaliana. FEBS Letters. 595 (21), 2715-2730
Choquette, NE., Ainsworth, EA., Bezodis, W. and Cavanagh, AP., (2020). Ozone tolerant maize hybrids maintain Rubisco content and activity during long-term exposure in the field.. Plant, Cell and Environment. 43 (12), 3033-3047
Cavanagh, AP., (2020). Big progress for small subunits: new Rubisco mutants in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany. 71 (19), 5721-5724
Kim, SY., Harvey, CM., Giese, J., Lassowskat, I., Singh, V., Cavanagh, AP., Spalding, MH., Finkemeier, I., Ort, DR. and Huber, SC., (2019). In vivo evidence for a regulatory role of phosphorylation of Arabidopsis Rubisco activase at the Thr78 site. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116 (37), 18723-18731
South, PF., Cavanagh, AP., Liu, HW. and Ort, DR., (2019). Synthetic glycolate metabolism pathways stimulate crop growth and productivity in the field. Science. 363 (6422), 45-+
Boyd, RA., Cavanagh, AP., Kubien, DS. and Cousins, AB., (2019). Temperature response of Rubisco kinetics inArabidopsis thaliana: thermal breakpoints and implications for reaction mechanisms. Journal of Experimental Botany. 70 (1), 231-242
South, PF., Cavanagh, AP., Lopez‐Calcagno, PE., Raines, CA. and Ort, DR., (2018). Optimizing photorespiration for improved crop productivity. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology. 60 (12), 1217-1230
Głowacka, K., Kromdijk, J., Kucera, K., Xie, J., Cavanagh, AP., Leonelli, L., Leakey, ADB., Ort, DR., Niyogi, KK. and Long, SP., (2018). Photosystem II Subunit S overexpression increases the efficiency of water use in a field-grown crop. Nature Communications. 9 (1), 868-
South, PF., Walker, BJ., Cavanagh, AP., Rolland, V., Badger, M. and Ort, DR., (2017). Bile Acid Sodium Symporter BASS6 Can Transport Glycolate and Is Involved in Photorespiratory Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Cell. 29 (4), 808-823
Perdomo, JA., Cavanagh, AP., Kubien, DS. and Galmés, J., (2015). Temperature dependence of in vitro Rubisco kinetics in species of Flaveria with different photosynthetic mechanisms. Photosynthesis Research. 124 (1), 67-75
Cavanagh, AP. and Kubien, DS., (2014). Can phenotypic plasticity in Rubisco performance contribute to photosynthetic acclimation?. Photosynthesis Research. 119 (1-2), 203-214
Jesson, LK., Perley, DS., Cavanagh, AP., Cameron, JAC. and Kubien, DS., (2012). Mating and Fitness Consequences of Sexual System in the Moss Atrichum undulatum s.l. (Polytrichaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences. 173 (1), 16-25
Jesson, LK., Cavanagh, AP. and Perley, DS., (2011). Polyploidy influences sexual system and mating patterns in the moss Atrichum undulatum sensu lato. Annals of Botany. 107 (1), 135-143
Book chapters (2)
Raines, C., Cavanagh, A., Afamefule, C., Chibani, K., Gherli, H. and Lopez, P., (2023). Understanding the biochemistry of C3 photosynthesis in crop plants. In: Understanding and Improving Crop Photosynthesis. Editors: Sharwood, R., . Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing. 1003287174. 9781003287179
Raines, CA., Cavanagh, AP. and Simkin, AJ., (2022). Improving carbon fixation. In: Photosynthesis in Action. Elsevier. 175- 192. 9780128237816
Reports and Papers (1)
Boyd, RA., Cavanagh, AP., Kubien, DS. and Cousins, AB., (2018). Temperature response of Rubisco kinetics in Arabidopsis thaliana: thermal breakpoints and implications for reaction mechanisms
Grants and funding
2024
Non-Invasive Technological Approaches to Crop Health Detection
Innovate UK (formerly Technology Strategy Board)
2023
Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency for Sustainable Increases in Crop Yield (RIPE) Phase 3 Funding - Objective 5
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Dynamic Plant Phenotyping for future proofing crop productivity
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
The carbon garden: Determining carbon capture from perennial planting
[UOE_BIAA] University of Essex (BBSRC IAA)
To assess the potential for restoration of saltmarsh, seagrass and native oyster beds at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay NNR
EXO Environmental Ltd
Quantifying photosynthetic plasticity in heat-tolerant wheat germplasm
The Royal Society
2021
A transgenic approach to assess the balance between crop photosynthesis and photorespiration under elevated temperature
The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Identifying mechanisms to boost crop productivity in a warming world
Rank Prize