Caitlin Byrt
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
My expertise is in the area of plant biology, particularly as it relates to membrane transport and cell wall biology. The main focus of my research is identifying traits that influence cereal crop productivity. For example, I am part of a team that identified a gene in a wild wheat which contributes to salinity tolerance. Using this information we were able to improve the salinity tolerance of modern durum wheat resulting in increased grain yields on saline soil. I am also interested in plant water channels that function like pores in cell membranes that can be opened and closed to control the flow of solutes throughout the plant. We have discovered that some water channels can transport salt and we are using this information to figure out how salt and drought tolerant plants control this mechanism to help them maintain growth in challenging environmental conditions.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2019 - ongoing Affiliate researcher University of Adelaide 2019 - ongoing ARC Future Fellow Australian National University 2015 - 2019 Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow The University of Adelaide 2014 - 2015 Postdoctoral Researcher ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology 2011 - 2014 Postdoctoral Researcher ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls 2008 - 2011 Postdoctoral Researcher Plant Science Group, University of Newcastle -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2018 Award ASPS Peter Goldacre Award Australian Society of Plant Scientists Australia - 2017 Award Women in Innovation Award for Science 2017 - - - 2017 Award 2017 Science and Innovation Awards for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Grains Research and Development Corporation Winner - - - 2016 Award ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology and Grains Research and Development Corporation Inaugural Rana Munns Award - - - 2016 Award University of Adelaide Faculty of Sciences Early Career Researcher 2017 International Conference Travel Award - - - 2016 Achievement Waite In The Spotlight 2016 https://youtu.be/SNK4UjHE1Vc Waite Research Institute - - 2015 Award 2015 Australian Institute of Policy and Science South Australian Young Tall Poppy Award - - - 2015 Fellowship Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award 2015 - - - 2014 Award University of Adelaide 2014 Edith Dornwell Medal for Early-Career Research Excellence - - - 2011 Research Award Journal of Integrative Plant Biology Best Expert Review Article Award - - - 2008 Invitation Invited interview for the educational documentary Seed Hunter - - - 2007 Research Award CSIRO Plant Industry Chief's Award for Excellence in Team Research CSIRO Australia - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2005 - 2008 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD 2000 - 2004 The University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons)
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Journals
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Book Chapters
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2016 Byrt, C. S., Zhao, M., Kourghi, M., Bose, J., Henderson, S. W., Qui, J., . . . Tyerman, S. (2016). Charging up water transport with plant aquaporins permeable to ions. Poster session presented at the meeting of Combio2016. Brisbane, Australia. 2016 Byrt, C. S. (2016). Charging up water transport with plant aquaporins permeable to ions. Poster session presented at the meeting of ComBio2016. Brisbane. -
Recorded/Rendered Creative Works
Year Citation 2008 Authors: Ingleton S. Title: Seed Hunter. Description: N/A. Extent: 1 hour. -
Patents
Year Citation 2010 Byrt, C. S., Grof, C. P. L., & Cahyanegara, R. (2010). 2010904236, An enzyme. 2008 Byrt, C. S., James, R. A., Lagudah, E. S., Munns, R., Platten, J. D., & Spielmeyer, W. (2008). WIPO Patent Application WO/2008/006169, Polynucleotides and methods for enhancing salinity tolerance in plants. 2006 Byrt, C. S., Huang, S., James, R. A., Lagudah, E. S., Munns, R., & Spielmeyer, W. (2006). 20069047, Salt tolerant plants. -
Theses
Year Citation 2008 Byrt, C. S. (2008). Genes for sodium exclusion in wheat. (University of Adelaide).
Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Grains Research Development Corporation Award
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology and Grains Research and Development Corporation Inaugural Rana Munns Award 2017
ARC DECRA Fellowship (2015-2018)
Development and delivery of two laboratory practical courses and lectures for Masters in Biotechnology students (2012-2016). Guest Lectures for Biomolecules undergraduate course (University of Newcastle): Applications of plant genetic engineering (2009-2010). Guest lectures for Masters in Plant Biotechnology: Studying salinity tolerance by combining forward and reverse genetics approaches (2007)
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2023 Co-Supervisor Establish the role of HKT in driving crop salinity tolerance and yield in a water limited environment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alex Seward -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2017 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Heterogeneity in apoplastic barrier deposition, respiration and ion accumulation in the roots of diverse barley seedlings Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Ahmad Sohaimi 2017 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Investigating the Role of Arabidopsis Plasma Membrane Intrinsic Protein Atpip2;1 in Seed Germination Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Hoai Phan 2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Plant Aquaporins that Facilitate Cation Transport and their Regulation by Phosphorylation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Samantha McGaughey 2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Molecular and Genetic Cues Influencing Ovule Development in Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Laura Gay Wilkinson 2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Regulation of Reserve Carbohydrates in Hull-less Barley Grain Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Wai Li Lim 2012 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Characterization of Agro-Industrial Residues and Development of Processing Strategies for Conversion to Bioethanol Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Kendall Corbin 2011 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Metabolic Engineering of C4 Grasses for Biofuel Applications Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Riksfardini Annisa Ermawar
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2016 - ongoing - Adelaide Protein Group - 2013 - ongoing - American Society of Plant Biologists - 2006 - ongoing - Australian Society of Plant Scientists -
Connect With Me
External Profiles