Kate Baker

Biography

Dr Kate Baker became a Lecturer in Bioscience at Keele in January 2024, having joined as a Senior Demonstrator.

Kate undertook her undergraduate Biology degree at the University of York, during which she worked at AstraZeneca using molecular biology and cell culture skills to investigate potential pharmaceutical targets. She also worked with members of Stockholm Environment Institute York for her final year project, examining greenhouse gas release from leaf litter degradation compounds in soils.

During her BBSRC-CASE PhD in Molecular Microbial Ecology at the University of Aberdeen, Syngenta (Switzerland and Berkshire) and the James Hutton Research Institute (Aberdeen), Kate focused on the molecular microbial ecology of soils. She undertook work combining novel molecular methods with analytical and isotope chemistry, microbiology and soil science, to examine the spatial distribution of soil bacterial communities over different scales, and the relative influence of microbial communities and soil type on rates of fungicide degradation.

At the Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Aberdeen, Kate worked as the Educational Researcher and Developer lead on various projects including a Higher Education Academy and Scottish Funding Council project, developing publications and resources available to all Scottish HEIs.

Her lecturing and postdoctoral research roles at Harper Adams University focused on sustainable agricultural practices pertaining to food production in a changing climate. She collaborated with Scotland’s Rural University College, Dumfries, on a long-term, dual site, AHDB Dairy sponsored project, examining mitigation treatments following compaction by machinery and cattle on grassland. Effects of these treatments on greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient cycling, grass quality and yield were monitored.

Kate was also involved in research with the Technology Strategy Board and others, investigating yield decline in oil seed rape, by examining geographic distribution of two rhizosphere fungal pathogens, and in research investigating the role of biochar in nutrient cycling (British Ecological Society project).
Additionally, she has undertaken geoarchaeological research with the Department of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, investigating anthropogenic effects on soil in a Viking longhouse in Iceland.

Kate is currently involved in soils research on the BioGain project, which aims to examine the effects of land-based solar farms on above and below ground biodiversity and nutrient cycling, with a particular focus on soils, plants and animals.

Research and scholarship

Kate’s research interests focus around ecology and environmental science with particular interest in sustainable agricultural practices in the face of a changing climate.
She is currently involved in soils research on the BioGain project, which aims to examine the effects of land-based solar farms on above and below ground biodiversity and nutrient cycling, with a particular focus on soils, plants and animals.

She is also interested in educational research and scholarship, particularly surrounding engagement and personal development planning.

Teaching

• Animal Welfare (module manager)
• Communication Skills for Biologists (module manager)
• Plant Science and Sustainability
• Human Evolution
• Microbes, Immune system and Environment
• Animal Behaviour
• Animal Biology
• Practical Skills in Bioscience
• Core Practical Skills
• Fundamentals of Biology