penny hirsch

Science

Prof. Penny Hirsch

Plant and Soil Microbiologist

Sustainable Soils and Crops

PUBLICATIONS
Location
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ
Tel
+44 (0) 1582 938 669
Email
penny.hirsch@rothamsted.ac.uk
Professional Platforms
LinkedIn
ORCID
ResearchGate
Research ID

Biography

Penny is a microbiologist who investigates microbial ecology of soil and plants in agricultural systems. She is especially interested in using metagenomics and transcriptomics to study communities in situ. She aims to understand the relationship between the abundance and activity of particular microbial groups and their contribution to the emergent functions of the communities in the context of nutrient cycling and soil and plant health. The nitrogen cycle is an abiding interest; she started her career as a microbial geneticist working on symbiotic N fixation by rhizobia. In addition to soil and plant bacteria, where research included mechanisms of gene transfer and antibiotic resistance elements, she has worked with mycorrhizal and nematophagous fungi. This is combined with long-term expertise on the extraction, PCR-amplification and bioinformatics analysis of DNA and RNA sequences derived from soil and the rhizosphere. Recent work has focused on the N cycle in soil using metagenomics, transcriptomics and functional measures in long-term experiments at Rothamsted Research and elsewhere. The purpose was to identify which nitrifier and denitrifier groups are present and active under contrasting conditions, with the aim of optimising fertiliser use. She is also investigating links between crop health and yield and the soil and rhizosphere microbiome.

Strategic Programme

  • Soil 2 Nutrition (S2N)

Science Projects

  • Roots of decline? Assembly and function of the rhizosphere microbiome in relation to crop yield
  • U-grass: Understanding and enhancing soil ecosystem services and resilience in UK grass and croplands
  • UK-China Virtual Joint Centre for Improved Nitrogen Agronomy CINAG
  • Exploitation of the rhizosphere microbiome for sustainable wheat production
  • Food Waste voucher - An investigation of insect frass biodiversity as a function of food waste diet

PhD Projects

  • Rhizosphere bacteria promote sustainable crop growth

Awards

  • 1978 PhD, Microbial Genetics, John Innes Institute / University of East Anglia, Norwich
  • 1974 BSc (Hons) Biological Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich

Measures of Esteem

  • Visiting Professor at the University of Reading School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science
  • Member of the HSE Scientific Advisory Committee on Genetic Modification - contained use (ACGM-CU)
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology