Skip to main content

Staff Profile

Dr Tracey Stevenson

Biological Labs Technical Team Leader

Background

I serve as the Biological Technical Lead at the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, based in the Devonshire research labs. My research interests have evolved over the years: starting with cellular and molecular biology as an undergraduate, then moving to Biotechnology during my master's studies, and finally pursuing a plant molecular PhD at Durham University. From January 2023 to August 2024, I was seconded as a research technician to Professor William Willats' group, collaborating with Proctor and Gamble. This role involved identifying specific glycoproteins in various samples, primarily using microarray analysis. Currently, I manage a small team supporting core and research functions. Although my focus has shifted towards management, I remain actively involved in research—currently assisting the Andriotis group with investigating heat stress effects on Arabidopsis seed growth. Additionally, I am a certified first aider and serve as a fire marshal/warden for the school. I am also working toward Chartered Scientist (CSci) accreditation and plan to complete a team leader level three management course by October. 


Qualifications:


PhD Plant molecular biology


MSc Industrial and Commercial Biotechnology


BSc (Hons) Cellular and Molecular Biology



Professional affiliations:


Member of the Institute of Science and Technology (MIScT)

Research
  • In the Andriotis group, I am currently examining how heat stress affects seed development.
  • My research within the Willats group mainly involved determining specific glycoproteins in varied samples by adopting microarray analysis


  • My PhD research involved investigating the specificity of calcium signature decoding mechanisms in their regulation of transcript and protein expression in Arabidopsis thaliana.


  • For nine months I worked with Professor Anne Borland conducting research on the role of the PHS1 gene in CAM photosynthesis in particular reference to the CAM plant Kalanchoe fedtschenko.


  • For my PhD I investigated the specificity of calcium signature decoding mechanisms in their regulation of transcript and protein expression in Arabidopsis thaliana.


  • During my MSC I researched specificity of Ca2+ signalling during stress and the movement of McCPK1 (Mesembryanthemum crystallinium calcium dependent protein Kinase) from the plasma membrane to the nucleus.



  • During my BSc I wrote a comprehensive literature review on the emergence of Mycobacterium lepromatosis as a possible alternative to Mycobacterium leprae.


Publications