Michelle Walker
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr Michelle Walker is a Visiting Research Fellow associated with the Wine Microbiology Group led by Professor Vladimir Jiranek (School of Agriculture, Food and Wine). She has extensive experience (30+ years) in genetics and micro (molecular) biology of laboratory and industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts. Her interests include understanding the genetic basis of stress tolerance and fermentation attributes of wine yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and applying this knowledge in strain improvement strategies strain improvement strategies (evolutionary engineering, classical breeding, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing). More recently, this has included the study of non-Saccharomyces yeast and lactic acid bacteria (as potential wine starters) and the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea (Grey Mould) at a fundamental and applied level.
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I am associated with the Wine Microbiology Group (led by Professor Vladimir Jiranek) in the University of Adelaide’s Department of Wine Science as a Visiting Research Fellow. I have extensive experience in the genetics and micro (molecular) biology of laboratory and industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts. More recently, my research has included Botrytris cinerea (Grey Mould), non-Saccharomyces yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) both at a fundamental and applied level.
Research Interests
New and Improved yeast and bacterial starter cultures – novel attributes, process efficiency and wine distinctiveness – Wine Australia funded
- Directed evolution of superior LAB for more reliable malolactic fermentation
- Screening of non-Saccharomyces yeasts for novel enzymatic activities of benefit to winemaking
- Screening of indigenous LAB for more reliable malolactic fermentation
- CRISPR gene editing of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
For more information go to https://sciences.adelaide.edu.au/agriculture-food-wine/research/wine-food-nutrition-science
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2021 - 2024 Visiting Research Fellow University of Adelaide 2018 - 2019 University Research Fellow, Level B (casual contract) University of Adelaide 2018 - 2021 University Research Fellow, Level B ( University of Adelaide 2013 - 2017 University Research Fellow, Level B (0.8 FTE) University of Adelaide 2009 - 2013 University Research Fellow, Level B (0.5 FTE) University of Adelaide 2007 - 2009 University Research Fellow, Level B (0.4 FTE) University of Adelaide 2000 - 2007 University Research Fellow, Level A (0.4 FTE) University of Adelaide -
Language Competencies
Language Competency Dutch; Flemish Can read, speak and understand spoken -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 1984 - 1987 University of Edinburgh United Kingdom PhD 1980 - 1983 Aberystwyth University United Kingdom BSc Honours (Class 2-1) -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
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Conference Items
Year Citation 2022 Lin, M., Boss, P., Sumby, K., Walker, M., & Jiranek, V. (2022). Kazachstania spp.: A non-Saccharomyces yeast that to enhances fruity and floral aromas in wine. Poster session presented at the meeting of Abstracts of the 18th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference (AWITC, 2022). Glen Osmond, South Australia: The Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference Inc.. 2016 Peter, J. J., Watson, T., Walker, M., Gardner, J. M., & Jiranek, V. (2016). Identification of wine yeast genes influencing fermentation duration under limited nitrogen conditions. Poster session presented at the meeting of The 16th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference. Adelaide, Australia. 2015 Peter, J. J., Watson, T., Walker, M. E., Gardner, J. M., & Jiranek, V. (2015). Screening for wine yeast mutants, whereby gene deletion results in faster fermentation under limited nitrogen conditions. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian conference on Yeast: Products and Discovery. Adelaide. 2015 Peter, J. J., Watson, T., Walker, M. E., Gardner, J. M., & Jiranek, V. (2015). Screening for wine yeast mutants, whereby gene deletion results in faster fermentation under limited nitrogen conditions. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian conference on Yeast: Products and Discovery. Adelaide. 2015 Huang, C., Gardner, R., Fedrizzi, B., Walker, M. E., & Jiranek, V. (2015). Identification of yeast genes responsible for the production of hydrogen sulfide and volatile thiols in wine.. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian conference on Yeast: Products and Discovery. Adelaide. 2015 Huang, C., Gardner, R., Fedrizzi, B., Walker, M. E., & Jiranek, V. (2015). Identification of yeast genes responsible for the production of hydrogen sulfide and volatile thiols in wine.. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian conference on Yeast: Products and Discovery. Adelaide. 2015 Valentine, G. D. S., Walker, M. E., Gardner, J. M., Schmid, F., & Jiranek, V. (2015). The impact of brief temperature shifts on wine fermentation. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian conference on Yeast: Products and Discovery. Adelaide. 2015 Valentine, G. D. S., Walker, M. E., Gardner, J. M., Schmid, F., & Jiranek, V. (2015). The impact of brief temperature shifts on wine fermentation. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian conference on Yeast: Products and Discovery. Adelaide. 2014 Peter, J. J., Watson, T., Walker, M., & Jiranek, V. (2014). Use of prototrophic deletion library as a tool to identify genes related to nitrogen assimilation. Poster session presented at the meeting of ISSY31: 31st International Specialised Symposium on Yeast. Slovenia. 2014 Peter, J. J., Watson, T., Walker, M., & Jiranek, V. (2014). Use of prototrophic deletion library as a tool to identify genes related to nitrogen assimilation. Poster session presented at the meeting of AgPogs: Postgraduate symposium 2014. Adelaide, Australia. 2013 Nguyen, T. D., Walker, M. E., Gardner, J. M., & Jiranek, V. (2013). Vacuolar acidification may play a key role in the ability of yeast to successfully complete industrial fermentation. Poster session presented at the meeting of AWITC 2013 Conference program and abstracts. Sydney, Australia. 2013 Walker, M. E., Haggerty, J., Zhang, J., Nguyen, T. D., Sundstrom, J., Liccioli, T., . . . Jiranek, V. (2013). Overexpression studies – an approach to understand the mechanisms behind successful alcoholic fermentation.. Poster session presented at the meeting of YPD 2013 Conference Program and Abstracts. Massey University, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand. 2013 Liccioli, T., Walker, M., Schmid, F., Kalatzis, N., Gardner, J., Grbin, P., & Jiranek, V. (2013). Genome wide screening for the identification of genes influencing colour in red wine fermentations. Poster session presented at the meeting of YPD 2013 Conference Program and Abstracts. Massey University, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand. 2013 Zhang, J., Gardner, J. M., Walker, M. E., Astorga, M. A., Grbin, P., & Jiranek, V. (2013). Investigation and characterization of an High Nitrogen Efficient (HNE) wine yeast strain. Poster session presented at the meeting of YPD 2013 Conference Program and Abstracts. Massey University, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand. 2013 Nguyen, T., Walker, M., Gardner, J., & Jiranek, V. (2013). Evaluation of fermentation efficiency of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae △tps1 and △tps2 deletants with over-expression of HXK2 and TreA genes. Poster session presented at the meeting of YPD 2013 Conference Programme and Abstracts. Auckland. 2013 Walker, M. E., Liccioli, T., Schmid, F., Gardner, J. M., Kalatzis, N., Grbin, P. R., & Jiranek, V. (2013). Genome screening as an approach to understand the cellular mechanisms behind yeast adaptation during fermentation to allow for successful completion. Poster session presented at the meeting of AWITC 2013 Conference Program and Abstracts. Sydney. 2013 Liccioli, T., Gardner, J., Walker, M., Sundstrom, J., & Shearer, M. (2013). Re-starting stuck wine fermentations using an evolved wine yeast.. Poster session presented at the meeting of AWITC 2013 Conference Program and Abstracts. Sydney. 2013 Zhang, J., Gardner, J. M., Walker, M. E., Astorga, M. A., Sundstrom, J., Grbin, P., & Jiranek, V. (2013). Investigation of the genetic basis of high nitrogen efficiency (HNE) in wine yeast. Poster session presented at the meeting of AWITC 2013 Conference program and abstracts. Sydney. 2012 Zhang, J., Gardner, J. M., Walker, M. E., & Jiranek, V. (2012). Investigation of the genetic basis of high nitrogen efficiency (HNE) in wine yeast. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conference programme and abstracts. Adelaide. 2011 Walker, M. E., Liccioli, T., Schmid, F., Trung, N. D., Kalatzis, N., Sundstrom, J., . . . Jiranek, V. (2011). Identification and classification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes required for high-sugar fermentation using a genome-wide screening approach. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conference Programme and Abstracts. Adelaide. 2010 Walker, M. E., Liccioli, T., Schmid, F., Kalatzis, N., Gardner, J. M., Grbin, P. R., & Jiranek, V. (2010). The identification of genes with the potential to influence wine colour and fermentation duration. Poster session presented at the meeting of 14th Australian Wine Industries Technical Conference. Adelaide. 2009 Gardner, J. M., McBryde, C., Walker, M., & Jiranek, V. (2009). Progress towards characterisation of an adaptively evolved wine yeast strain. Poster session presented at the meeting of YPD conference programme and abstracts. Adelaide. 2009 Walker, M. E., Gardner, J. M., Liccioli, T., Schmid, F., McBryde, C., & Jiranek, V. (2009). Progress towards improvement of industrial yeast for the wine industry. Poster session presented at the meeting of YPD conference programme and abstracts. Adelaide. 2009 McBryde, C., Gardner, J. M., Walker, M. E., & Jiranek, V. (2009). Adaptive evolution strategies for the generation of novel wine yeast. Poster session presented at the meeting of 24th International meeting on yeast genetics and molecular biology. Manchester, United Kingdom. 2009 Topic 13. Other (2009). Poster session presented at the meeting of Yeast. Wiley.
2007 Capaldo, A., Walker, M. E., Ford, C., & Jiranek, V. (2007). Expression and characterisation of a β-glucosidase gene from Oenococcus oeni for oenological use. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conference Programme and Abstracts. Adelaide. 2007 Schmid, F., Walker, M., & Jiranek, V. (2007). An automated fermentation system for evaluation of large numbers of yeast strains in laboratory wine fermentations. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conference Programme and Abstracts. Adelaide. 2007 Lam, N., Walker, M. E., & Jiranek, V. (2007). Construction and of wine yeast with increased tolerance to osmotic stress and their evaluation under wine fermentation. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conference Programme and Abstracts. Adelaide. 2007 Walker, M. E., Gardner, J. M., McBryde, C., Schmid, F., Macintyre, A., & Bishop, A. (2007). Strategies for the Generation of Wine Yeast Strains with Novel Fermentation Traits. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conference Programme and Abstracts. Adelaide. 2007 01. Yeasts in brewing, wine and biotechnology (2007). Poster session presented at the meeting of Yeast. Wiley.
2007 Schmid, F., Walker, M. E., & Jiranek, V. (2007). An automated fermentation system for evaluation of large numbers of yeast strains in laboratory wine fermentations. Poster session presented at the meeting of Yeast. Melbourne: John Wiley and Sons.
2007 Walker, M. E., Gardner, J. M., McBryde, C., Macintyre, A., Bishop, A., & Jiranek, V. (2007). Strategies for the Generation of Wine Yeast Strains with Novel Fermentation Traits. Poster session presented at the meeting of Yeast. Melbourne: John Wiley and Sons.
2004 Walker, M., Vystavelova, A., Pedler, S., Eglinton, J., & Jiranek, V. (2004). Towards tools for ‘seamless’ modification of genes in industrial yeast. Poster session presented at the meeting of Proc. 12th Aust. Wine Ind. Tech. Conf. July, 2004, Melbourne. p 290.. Melbourne. -
Report for External Bodies
Year Citation 2017 Walker, M., Sumby, K. M., Gardner, J., Sundstrom, J., Watson, T., Grbin, P., & Jiranek, V. (2017). Fit-for-Purpose Yeast and Bacteria via Directed Evolution. University of Adelaide. 2015 Walker, M. E., & Liccioli, T. (2015). Incubator initiative: Mapping of genes responsible for yeast-derived modulation of colour in model red wine (UA1405). The University of Adelaide. 2013 Walker, M., Gardner, J., Sunstrom, J., & Jiranek, V. (2013). Innovative microbials for winemaking excellence (UA 11/01). University of Adelaide. 2013 Walker, M. E. (2013). Second generation yeast with limited hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide production (Wine 2030 Small Grant (2012)).
Category 1 Research Grants
2018 Wine Australia Research Grant UA 1803-2.1: New and Improved yeast and bacterial starter cultures novel attributes, process efficiency and wine distinctiveness. Vladimir Jiranek (PS), Michelle Walker (CI), Jennifer Gardner, Joanna Sundstrom, Paul Grbin.
2013-2017 Wine Australia Research Grant UA1302: Fit for purpose yeast and bacteria via Directed Evolution. Vladimir Jiranek (PS), Michelle Walker (CI), Jennifer Gardner, Joanna Sundstrom Tommaso Liccioli-Watson, Krista Sumby, Paul Grbin.
2014-2015 GWRDC Research Grant UA1405: Mapping of genes responsible for yeast-derived modulation of colour in model red wine. Michelle Walker (PS), Tommaso Liccioli-Watson (CI).
2011-2013 GWRDC Research Grant UA1101: Innovative Microbials for Wine Making Excellence. Vladimir Jiranek (PS), Michelle Walker (CI), Jennifer Gardner, Joanna Sundstrom.
2008-2011 GWRDC Research Grant UA 0501: Better wine through novel and better informed application of microbiology. Vladimir Jiranek (PI), Michelle Walker (CI), Jennifer Gardner, Frank Schmid.
Category 2 Research Grants
2018 AGWA Travel Grant WAT1708: Identifying new ideas for an improved ‘microbial toolkit’ for Australian winemaking: attendance of ISSY34 –
‘Yeast Odyssey from Nature to Industry’ and 1st International Workshop on Brewing (Bariloche, Argentina).Michelle Walker (CI), Vladimir Jiranek (PS).
2016 AGWA Travel Grant AGT 1525: Identifying further opportunities and strategies for further strain optimization: attendance of 14th International Congress on Yeasts (Awaji Is). Hyogo, Japan. Michelle Walker (CI), Vladimir Jiranek (PS).
2013 GWRDC Travel Grant GWT 1303: Planning for the next GWRDC project: Attendance of a 'local' meeting of the international yeast research community. Michelle Walker (CI), Vladimir Jiranek (PS).
2012 Wine 2030 grant: Second generation yeast with reduced hydrogen sulfide. Michelle Walker (CI), Vladimir Jiranek (PS).
Research only
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Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2019 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Isolation and Characterisation of Yeasts with Biotechnological Properties Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Mandy Man-Hsi Lin 2016 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Yeast Strain Construction Using CRISPR/Cas9: A Tool for Research and Strain Optimisation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Tom Angus Lang 2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Identification of Yeast Genes Enabling Efficient Oenological Fermentation under Nitrogen-limited Conditions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Josephine Jasmine Peter 2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Identification of Yeast Genes Affecting Production of Hydrogen Sulfide and Volatile Thiols from Cysteine Treatment during Fermentation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Chien-Wei Huang 2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Determination of the genetic basis for successful fermentation in high sugar media Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Trung Dung Nguyen 2010 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Investigation and Characterisation of Highly Nitrogen Efficient Wine Yeast Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jin Zhang 2007 - 2012 Co-Supervisor Genes and Mechanisms Responsible for Beta-Glucose Metabolism in the Oenologically Important Lactic Acid Bacterium Oenococcus Oeni Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Alana Seabrook
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2020 - ongoing Member Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Australia 2014 - 2019 Member Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Australia 2009 - ongoing Member The Australasian Yeast Group Australia
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