Dr Joana Amaral

Senior Research Associate Plant Physiologist

Research Overview

I am a postdoc researcher in Professor Elizabete Carmo-Silva’s lab at Lancaster Environment Centre (Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK), which focuses on photosynthesis research.

My research interests include understanding plant responses to their surrounding environment and enhancing plant performance under different scenarios.

I have worked in several projects focused on understanding forest trees/woody species response to biotic and abiotic stresses using an integrated approach – from physiology to Omics.

As part of the CAPITALISE project, I am currently studying strategies to improve photosynthesis for higher yielding crops based on Rubisco regulation by Rubisco activase.

Combining Approaches for Photosynthetic Improvement to Allow Increased Sustainability in European Agriculture
01/01/2022 → 30/11/2024
Research

Halotolerant rhizobacteria for enhanced tolerance of Olea europaea to saline stress and infection
29/03/2021 → 28/03/2024
Research

UnRaveling host­pathoGEn iNteracTions in pine pitch canker disease
01/06/2016 → 30/11/2019
Research

Improving biofuel production by the regulation of central metabolism through abiotic stress mimicking. Are four novel cAMP-dependant kinases suitable as targets for Chlamydomonas strain engineering?
01/03/2014 → 01/06/2015
Research

An integrated approach to identify stress-related regulatory genes in cork oak
10/02/2012 → 01/02/2014
Research

Physiological and gene expression profiles for early selection of Eucalyptus globulus in a climate change context
01/04/2011 → 31/08/2014
Research

Combining Approaches for Photosynthetic Improvement to Allow Increased Sustainability in European Agriculture
01/01/1900 → …
Research

Regulation of Rubisco activase activity in shade-sun transitions
Invited talk

SEB Centenary Conference 2023
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Rubisco regulation by light in tomato
Invited talk

Plant Metabolic Engineering Gordon Research Seminar & Conference
Participation in workshop, seminar, course

CAPITALISE: Combining Approaches for Photosynthetic Improvement To Allow Increased Sustainability in European agriculture
Invited talk

Tree Physiology (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Photosynthesis Research (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Seaweed potential to fight Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight
Examination

Light Up Lancaster
Festival/Exhibition/Concert

New Phytologist (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Science of the Total Environment (Journal)
Editorial activity

Frontiers in Plant Science (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Functional characterization and biotechnological implications of the molecular mechanisms of response to thermal stress and xenobiotic agents in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Examination

Physiologia Plantarum (Journal)
Publication peer-review

11th SPPS PhD Student Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Forests (Journal)
Editorial activity

Biomolecules (Journal)
Publication peer-review

Research Summit 2020
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

XXV IUFRO World Congress 2019
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Working Groups Meeting COST Action FP1408 – PINESTRENGTH, Workshop Conferences
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Training School COST Action FP1408 – PINESTRENGTH
Participation in workshop, seminar, course

Course on Genes associated to forest pathologies
Participation in workshop, seminar, course

IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress 2017
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Fitopatología
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience

III Annual Workshop MAPBioPlant
Participation in workshop, seminar, course