Caitlin Byrt

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.

  • 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)

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)

  • 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
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2016 - ongoing - Adelaide Protein Group -
    2013 - ongoing - American Society of Plant Biologists -
    2006 - ongoing - Australian Society of Plant Scientists -

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External Profiles