Alexandra Burgess: Plant Physiology First Author

Alexandra Burgess, co-first author of “A future in 3D: analysing morphology in all dimensions”

Current Position: Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Nottingham, UK

Education: BA in Biological Sciences, University of Oxford, UK; PhD in Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK

Non-scientific Interests: walking my dogs, reading, gardening

Brief bio: I am interested in quantifying how architectural traits of crop plants influence their ability to intercept light and the corresponding effect on photosynthetic processes. I achieve this through a combination of plant physiology, advanced image analysis, 3-dimensional reconstruction and empirical mathematical modelling. This has led to the development of new methodologies for creation of virtual crop models, deep learning approaches for plant phenotyping and methods to characterise rapid changes in the light environment within canopies. Further research interests include the use alternative cropping practices such as intercropping and agroforestry, for sustainable agriculture and maximising resource interception by component crops.