Nationality Irish Died 1984 | Name Phyllis Clinch Known for Plant viruses | |
Born 12 September 1901 Dublin, Ireland | ||
Education University College Dublin | ||
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.
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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. She went on to study a PhD in plant physiology at Imperial College London specializing in the biochemistry of Coniferales. After graduating from her PhD in 1928 she became assistant to the professor of biology at University College, Galway. In 1929 she became a Research Assistant for the investigation of Plant Virus Diseases, Department of Plant Pathology, University College, Dublin. In 1949 she transferred to the Botany Department, the following year was appointed as a lecturer in Botany.
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. The department of agriculture used this knowledge to develop virus free stocks of potatoes. She also carried out work on viruses affecting tomato and sugar beet crops.
Awards
She was one of the first four women elected to membership of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) in 1949. She was awarded the Boyle Medal in 1961. She was the first woman to have received this award.