Dr Demelza Carne
Profiles

Dr Demelza Carne

Senior Technician

School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Biography

Biography

I am currently working as senior technician in plant sciences based at Skardon Garden. I am responsible for the management of three Tomtech heated glasshouses, two unheated glasshouses and around 100m2 of outside plots.  I propagate and collect plant material primarily for biotechnology and plant ecology based lab practical’s.My areas of expertise include woodland and grassland ecology and plant identification.

I also provide support for research in plant sciences where both students and academics are using our heated glasshouses or outside plots for research.

I demonstrate on various plant ecology based field trips and laboratory practical’s and can provide help with project design and statistics when needed.

I can also provide training and help with the use of the specialist equipment used in analysis of photosynthetic parameters such as the 'PEA' meters and 'IRGAs', various biomass techniques, and interpretation of data.

Qualifications

NVQ2 Nursery Horticulture

FdSc (HONS) Rural EnvironmentalManagement (Duchy College) 

BSc (HONS) Wildlife ConservationPlymouth University (1:1) 

PhD 'Carbon Sequestration Potentialin Evergreen and Deciduous Oaks in Relation to their Environment, SouthwestUK'.

Other role related training and qualifications

Basic Canopy Access

Emergency First Aid

Manual Handling

Risk assessment

COSHH

Legionella

Pesticide PA1 & PA6

My specialist area is woodlandecology and management having completed research into understorey and canopystructure and their relationships and also successfully defending my PhD inevergreen and deciduous oak growth in 2013. I have worked as a woodland managerfor a local community group for several years and also as a research assistantin the Ham woods Invasive species project under the Vice Chancellors researchaward (2012-13), this and my continued support in demonstrating duringundergraduate fieldwork mean I have extensive knowledge in this field.

I also have a background in horticulturehaving completed my NVQ2 in nursery horticulture and working in a Mediterraneanplant nursery in maintenance and plant aftercare.

currentlymy role as Senior technician here at Skardon brings all these skills together;as horticulturist and plant ecologist plus making use of project managementskills gained during the completion of my PhD.