Research

Research in the PSB group focuses on root ‘phenotyping’ in field contexts, employing new measurement techniques, engineering and computer science alongside ecosystem ecology. We are interested in understanding unknowns in ecosystem functioniing, particularly belowground, and collaboration with researchers working both on similar problems and at other scales and fields.

Projects

These are the projects that we are currently leading:

RODEO: Root Dynamics for Ecosystem Observation

In RODEO, we aim to understand the links between phenology (seasonal cycles) above and belowground between roots and shoots, and what this means for greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently there are many uncertainties in our understanding of phenology belowground; we know its often not the same as aboveground, but don’t understand why. We are building robotic instruments to set up a network of root observatories. We will use AI for image analysis to gather data on root phenology. We will use these data to improve representation of roots in climate models.

RODEO is funded via a Research Ireland-Royal Society University Research Fellowship awarded to Richard from 2023 to 2031 Team Members: Richard, Phoebe, Asrit

SoilSymphony

In SoilSymphony we are working on understanding soil respiration, the ‘breathing’ or release of CO2 from soils. We are interested in how this is controlled by growth and death of roots in natural ecosystems, and if by knowing the patterns of root activity we can improve prediction of this important carbon flux. Our work on SoilSymphony is collaboration with artist Siobhan McDonald .

SoilSymphony is funded by Research Ireland as a Frontiers for the Future project from 2025 to 2029 Team Members: Richard, Ian, Jason, Ryan

Members of the PSB Group are also involved in the following projects:

DECARB-AI:

We have funding under the DECARB-AI Enterprise Ireland training school (PI: Andrew Parnell, UCD), focusing on AI applications to sustainability problems, to integrate and upscale diverse environmental sensor data. Team Members: Asrit

TERRAFORM:

The ERC-funded TERRAFORM project (PI:Jenny McElwain, TCD) investigates how plant life has shaped Earth’s habitability over millions of years, examining the evolution of plant traits and their impact on large-scale processes like the hydrological cycle and weathering over the past 300 million years. Through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing ecology, paleo-Earth experiments, climate modeling, and fossil plant analysis, TERRAFORM aims to quantify plants’ influence on carbon, nutrient, and hydrological cycles throughout palaeotime. Richard is a collaborator on the TERRAFORM project.

CLEANFOREST:

CLEANFOREST: Joint effects of CLimate Extremes and Atmospheric depositioN on European FORESTs (PI: Rosella Guerrieri, University Bologna) is an EU COST Action bringing together researchers across the EU and beyond to work on forest responses to global change. Richard is a working group co-lead in WG4 of the project and also collaborates on WG3.

Former projects:

RootCheck

In RootCheck we worked on new tools to improve root health assessment in agricultural systems. Roots are essential for sustainable and productive agriculture but in-field assesment lags well behind above-ground parts of plants. We took a stakeholder-focused approach to investigate an approachable technical solution for root management in future food systems. RootCheck was led Richard, with collaborators Saoirse Tracy (UCD), Aoife Gowan (UCD) and Gillian Young (AFBI Newgrange). RootCheck was funded via the SFI National Challenge Fund Future Food Systems call.
Team Members: Richard, Asrit, Nadja

Other Collaborations

The PSB group also collaborates with engineering teaching. In particular, we have sponsored/supported SUGAR NETWORK projects which have produced tools for detecting tree health from images and tools to measure soil properties.

Student projects

The PSB Group hosts student projects from both Trinity College Dublin and elsewhere. Projects which students have worked on include measuring root exudates, linking endophyte infection to root traits, sporocarp phenology, and plant effects on weathering. Please get in touch if you are interested in a project hosted in the group.