Our technology platforms: Molecular Phenomics

The Molecular Phenomics Platform (MPP) was successfully commissioned in autumn 2020, and now resides within the analytical suite of the newly refurbished North Lab at Sutton Bonington. The LCMS system, consisting of a UHPLC front end and high-resolution Quadrupole-Time of Flight tandem mass spectrometer, can resolve thousands of chemical compounds in a single analytical run, across a …

Next Generation X-ray Computed Tomography system awarded to UoN Hounsfield Facility, boosting soil research capacity

Soils represent a major store of global carbon, much more so than that held in vegetation or the atmosphere. However, this reservoir of soil organic carbon (SOC) is highly susceptible to destabilisation and loss, leading to declines in soil health, loss of biodiversity, and nutrient capital, and the release of harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs). We …

Our technology platforms: Ionomics facility

Over the next few weeks we will be featuring stories about our different technology platforms, their work and research, and the facilities available to researchers. These are also featured in our 2021 Annual Report. Today, we turn our attention to the Ionomics Facility. Based in the Gateway building on our Sutton Bonington campus, the Ionomics …

Our technology platforms: Maker Space

Over the next few weeks we will be featuring stories about our different technology platforms, their work and research, and the facilities available to researchers. These are also featured in our 2021 Annual Report. Today, we turn our attention to the Maker Space. The MakerSpace is a design and innovation hub built to support research at …

Our technology platforms: AEDNA

Over the next few weeks we will be featuring stories about our different technology platforms, their work and research, and the facilities available to researchers. These are also featured in our 2021 Annual Report. Today, we turn our attention to our new Ancient and Environmental DNA laboratory.  We are very pleased that our Ancient and …

Our technology platforms: Genomics

Over the next few weeks we will be featuring stories about our different technology platforms, their work and research, and the facilities available to researchers. These are also featured in our 2021 Annual Report. First up, we look at the genomics facility: Deep Seq.  The Future Food Beacon invested in numerous items of equipment to increase …

The growing power of the rhizotrons! – An interview with Dr Jonathan Atkinson

Dr Jonathan Atkinson is a Senior Research Fellow, Technologist in Phenomics, and co-founder of the Future Food Beacon’s Makerspace. He stars in our new video Future Food: an introduction to the Makerspace, which we highly recommend that you watch! In this blog, we ask why and how Dr Atkinson designed and built his largest creations …

Rovercam is here! by Lorna McAusland

In July 2020, the Murchie Group at The University of Nottingham took delivery of an exciting new piece of equipment; Rovercam! Measuring over 2 m tall and 1.6 m wide, Rovercam is designed to be wheeled over plots, imaging in a top-down position. Designed for large-scale imaging of field plots, Rovercam is an impressive addition …

Mini-Traction Machine (MTM-2): Tribometer / Soft Contact Tribometer

We spoke to Dr Gleb Yakubov about the mini-traction machine (MTM-2): tribometer used in Food Science for experiments and research. Tell us about your research? What kind of things are you exploring? In my group, we are interested in linking molecular and structural features of polysaccharides (polymeric sugars) with their functionality in foods, plants, and …

Genomic sequencing and Covid-19

Deep Seq, the University of Nottingham’s state of the art high-throughput genomics facility, is currently part of the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium, mapping the spread of coronavirus. We spoke to Prof Matt Loose and Dr Christopher Moore, about the work, the equipment they use, and how they are adjusting to this new challenge. Tell us …