Projects
We constantly try to identify new proteins that are involved in plant immunity, and use molecular techniques to understand their interaction partners and how they work together. The sorts of proteins we are interested are pathogen receptors, components of signal transduction pathways that elaborate the immune response, and pathogen virulence molecules called effectors that seek to destroy immunity. We use cutting edge biochemical techniques including high resolution mass spectrometry to perform these studies. It is a fascinating area because the pathogens always seek to evolve new proteins to overcome host immunity, and the plants must change their receptors and use innovative mechanisms to trap the pathogens.
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Infection and immunity
- Plant genetics and gene regulation
- Plant-microbe interactions
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- John Rathjen, Supervisor
The goal of this project is to improve our understanding of the impacts of two key drivers of global climate change – rising temperatures and increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide ([CO2]) – on leaf respiration (Rd).
Theme
- Photosynthesis and plant energy biology
- Plant environmental biology and functional ecology
Student intake
Open for PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Eric Dusenge, Supervisor
- Owen Atkin, Principal investigator
This project investigates how stress-induced splice variants of nuclear-encoded genes lead to chloroplast-targeted protein isoforms with differential biochemical, structural and/or molecular properties. The impact of these changes on chloroplast function in response to environmental stress will be investigated.
Theme
- Plant genetics and gene regulation
- Photosynthesis and plant energy biology
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Kai Chan, Supervisor
- Su Yin Phua , Support officer
Design the Ultimate Cellular Security System!
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Barry Pogson, Principal investigator
- Marten Moore, Researcher
Are You Ready to Film RNA in Action Inside Living Plant Cells?
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Barry Pogson, Principal investigator
- Marten Moore, Researcher
Invent a Kinder, Gentler Way to Engineer Plant Cells!
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Barry Pogson, Principal investigator
- Marten Moore, Researcher
Create the GPS System for Plant Cells!
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Barry Pogson, Principal investigator
- Marten Moore, Researcher
- Rebeccah Tyrrell, Researcher
Use Physics to Solve Biology's Toughest Challenge!
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Barry Pogson, Principal investigator
- Marten Moore, Researcher
Crack the Code of Cellular Import/Export Systems!
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Barry Pogson, Principal investigator
- Marten Moore, Researcher
Solve the Bottleneck That Slows Down All Plant Biotechnology!
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Barry Pogson, Principal investigator
- Marten Moore, Researcher
We are studying interrelationships between salinity tolerance and the functional coordination of plant hydraulics, leaf morphology and gas exchange characteristics in mangroves.
Theme
- Plant environmental biology and functional ecology
Details of projects for Honours and PhD students are not advertised on this public website. However, a number of highly suitable projects are always available, so if you are interested in any area mentioned above please phone or email for a discussion on designing a challenging project that suits your interests.
Theme
- Plant genetics and gene regulation
- Plant environmental biology and functional ecology
- Phylogenetics, population genetics and biodiversity
- Photosynthesis and plant energy biology
- Membrane transporters and channels
- Evolutionary genetics and genomics
- Bioinformatics and bio-mathematical modelling
A wide range of student opportunities are available in conjunction with our current research.
Theme
- Plant environmental biology and functional ecology
- Photosynthesis and plant energy biology
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Susanne von Caemmerer, Supervisor
Terrestrial photosynthesis forms an important part of the global carbon balance as sinks for atmospheric CO2. In agricultural systems, photosynthesis is a vital component of crop yield.
Theme
- Photosynthesis and plant energy biology
- Plant environmental biology and functional ecology
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Murray Badger, Researcher
- Spencer Whitney, Researcher
- Susanne von Caemmerer, Supervisor
We have recently shown that S. nodorum produces proteins (knownn as effectors) that have a significant role in causing disease.
Theme
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Bioinformatics and bio-mathematical modelling
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- Peter Solomon, Supervisor
This project uses a synthetic biology strategy to engineer disease resistance in crops to dangerous fungal pathogens.
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Plant-microbe interactions
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- John Rathjen, Supervisor
- Simon Williams, Supervisor
This project uses in vitro protein evolution and a novel Rubisco-dependent-E. coli selection system to bioengineer mutant forms of RuBisCO with improvements in catalysis and holoenzyme biogenesis.
Theme
- Photosynthesis and plant energy biology
The molecular basis for plant susceptibility and immunity to Fusarium wilt disease
Theme
- Host-microbe biology
- Plant-microbe interactions
Student intake
Open for Bachelor, Honours, PhD students
Status
Current
People
- David Jones, Collaborator
- Simon Williams, Supervisor
Understanding the role and function of post translational protein modifications in chloroplasts using the model protein Rubisco.
Theme
- Photosynthesis and plant energy biology
- Plant environmental biology and functional ecology
From our interactome capture project we envision that we will isolate many proteins that we previously not known to bind RNA.
Theme
- Plant genetics and gene regulation