Phyllis Clinch
Dr Phyllis E. M. Clinch | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 September 1901 |
| Died | 19 October 1984 Teneriffe, Canary Islands |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Known for | Plant viruses |
Phyllis E. M. Clinch (12 September 1901 – 19 October 1984) was an Irish botanist most recognised for her work in the field of plant viruses.[1][2]
Dr Clinch attained her undergraduate degree from University College Dublin in 1923 with a first class honours in botany and chemistry. She was then awarded a scholarship and continued to study at University College Dublin obtaining a Masters in 1924.[1] She went on to study a PhD in plant physiology at Imperial College London specializing in the biochemistry of Coniferales.[1] After graduating from her PhD in 1928 she became assistant to the professor of biology at University College, Galway.[1] In 1929 she became a Research Assistant for the investigation of Plant Virus Diseases, Department of Plant Pathology, University College, Dublin.[1] In 1949 she transferred to the Botany Department, the following year was appointed as a lecturer in Botany.[1]
Notable work
Dr Clinch is most recognised for her work on degenerative diseases in potato plants. She identified symptomless viruses and viruses that damaged potato stocks.[3][4][5] The department of agriculture used this knowledge to develop virus free stocks of potatoes.[1] She also carried out work on viruses affecting tomato and sugar beet crops.[6]
Awards
She was one of the first four women elected to membership of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in 1949.[1] She was awarded the Boyle Medal in 1961.[1] She was the first woman to have received this award.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Royal Dublin Society listing for Phyllis Clinch". Royal Irish Academy.
- ^ Mulvihill, Mary. "Ireland's Greatest Woman Inventor finalist – Phyllis Clinch, tamer of viruses". Silicon Republic. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ Clinch, Phyllis (January 1932). "Cytological studies of potato plants affected with certain virus diseases". The Scientific proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society. XX: 143–172.
- ^ Clinch, Phyllis (August 1944). "Observations on a severe strain of potato virus X". The Scientific proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society. XXIII: 273–299.
- ^ Clinch, Phyllis (December 1941). "A strain of the tuber blotch virus causing top necrosis in potato". The Scientific proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society. XXII: 435–445.
- ^ Clinch, Phyllis (March 1941). "Virus diseases of tomato". Department of Agriculture. XXXVIII: 24–47.
- ^ "University College Dublin article on Pioneering Women Professors". UCD.