Elizabeth Heather Jakobsen Neilson

Short presentation

Plant Ecophysiology Research Group

The Plant Ecophysiology Research Group aims to understand the molecular regulation, integration and evolution of plant general and specialized pathways, providing fundamental knowledge for application to environmental, agricultural and biotechnological platforms. This is achieved by utilizing a full “omics” toolbox, combing phenomics, metabolomics, proteomics and transcriptomics.

Scientific Highlights
- Role and regulation of specialized metabolism in Eucalyptus in response to biotic and abiotic stress using a full and integrated “omics” approach

- Utilization of plant phenomics to visualize and improve drought tolerance and recovery in sorghum by redirection of nitrogen between specialized and general metabolism

- Identification and characterization of pathway partners involved in general and specialized metabolism, with a focus on cytochromes P450 and flavin containing monooxygenases (FMOs)

- Evolution of general and specialized metabolite pathways in ferns

- Using an untargeted metabolomic approach to understand the detoxification of specialized metabolites by marsupials 

Current Funding
2019 - 2024 Novo Nordisk Emerging Investigator "liftOFF! Optimizing plant FMOs for Future production"

2016 - 2020 VILLUM Young Investigator “How does climate change impact plants and their herbivores?”

2016 - 2020 Danish Council for Independent Research “Improved drought tolerance and recovery via redirection of nitrogen between specialized and general metabolism”

Previous Funding
2014-2015 Carlsberg Foundation Postdoctoral Grant "Plant adaptation to a changing environment"
2013-2019 VILLUM Research Center for Plant Plasticity (co-PI)
2006-2008 Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund 
2009 ANZ NZ Research Network for Vegetation Function

Current Group Members
Gunbileg Disan, Postdoc
Mette Sørensen, PhD
Sara Thodberg, PhD
Bruna Marques dos Santos, PhD
Cecilie Cetti Hansen, Integrated MSc & PhD
Xinxing Xia, PhD
Amalie Kofoed, MSc
Mona Nourbakhsh, Bachelor

Former Group Members
Juliane Zibrandtsen, MSc
Thiago Veiga, Visiting research from Fedral University of Sao Paulo
Anne Jeppesen, MSc

 Group Photo January 2018

Student projects are currently available: 

Chemical defense in Eucalypt trees
Are eucalypt leaf volatiles inducible?

Collaborating Partners
Prof Riikka Rinnan, University of Copenhagen
VOC emission and specialized metabolism in trees
Prof Ros Gleadow, Monash University 
Regulation of growth and chemical defense in response to abiotic stress in Sorghum
Dr Bettina Berger, University of Adelaide
Phenomic imaging of cereals in response to abiotic stress
Prof Philip Hugenholtz, University of Queensland
Specialized metabolite detoxification by marsupials: animal, microbe or both?
Dr Ben Moore, University of Western Sydney
How does climate change impact wildlife systems? Eucalyptus and the koala
Prof Ian Godwin, University of Queensland
Nitrogen use efficiency in Sorghum
Prof Thomas Sicheritz-Ponten, Technical University of Denmark
Using deep learning to link plant phenotype and metabolism

CV

I am inspired by nature and motivated by curiosity-driven science. My research pursuits apply state-of-art biotechnological platforms to interesting biological and agricultural systems with global impact. I want to contribute knowledge towards an improved and sustainable food supply and protect the environment for the generations to come. 

Scientific Focus Areas and Practical Expertise
My scientific research group focuses on plant specialized metabolism and how plant chemistry interacts with the environment (both biotic and abiotic interactions). I have broad knowledge, expertise and practical experience in plant ecophysiology (plant defense systems, abiotic stress, high- throughput phenotyping, plant-animal interactions, tree and crop biology), targeted metabolomics (GC-MS, LC-MS, MS imaging and data management), molecular biology and biochemistry. 

Short CV
2016 - Assistant Professor, Copenhagen University
2014 - 2016 Carlsberg Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Copenhagen University
2013 - 2014 Postdoctoral Fellow, Copenhagen University
2012 - 2013 Postdoctoral Fellow, Monash University

Educational Qualifications
2013 PhD (Science), The University of Melbourne "Regualtion of cyanogenic glucoside synthesis in Eucalyptus"
2006 Honours in Science (Masters Equivalent), Plant Physiology 

Grants & Prizes
2016 - 2020 Villum Young Investigator “How does climate change impact plants and their herbivores?”
2016 - 2019 Danish Council for Independent Research “Improved drought tolerance and recovery via redirection of nitrogen between specialized and general metabolism”
2014 - 2016 Carlsberg Foundation “Plant adaptation to a changing environment”
2006 - 2008 Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund "Chemical defense in Eucalyptus camphora"

2016 Sapere Aude Research Talent
2006 Deans Honours List (Science)
2006 Bruce Knox Honours Prize