Thi Diem Nguyen

Mrs Thi Diem Nguyen

Technical Officer - Controlled environment, GRDC Root Phenotyping

School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

College of Science

Diem earned her PhD in 2025; her PhD project investigated root-soil-microbe interactions, focusing on plant nutrition and the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on cereal grain nutrition. She has developed strong competencies in plant physiology, including root colonization, root scanning, phytate analysis, and grain nutrition. She currently works as a Technical Officer-controlled environment room of the root phenotyping project, focusing on wheat, barley, and faba bean plants. 

Diem currently works as a Technical Officer in Controlled Environment Facilities for the Root Phenotyping Project. Her work focuses on investigating salt-tolerant wheat, barley, and faba bean plants to identify differences in root architecture and morphology.

Date Position Institution name
2026 - ongoing Technical Officer Adelaide University
2025 - 2026 Research Assistant Adelaide University
2022 - 2025 PhD Student University of Adelaide
2018 - ongoing Researcher Hue University
2017 - 2018 Master of Plant Biotechnology University of Adelaide
2013 - 2018 Researcher Hue University

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak and understand spoken
Vietnamese Can read, write, speak and understand spoken

Date Institution name Country Title
2022 - 2025 University of Adelaide Australia PhD of Philosophy
2017 - 2018 University of Adelaide Australia Master of Plant Biotechnology
2008 - 2013 Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry Vietnam Bachelor Degree of Crop Sciences

Date Title Institution name Country
2021 Rsearcher-Third Class Institue for Science, Technology and Innovation Viet Nam

Year Citation
2026 Nguyen, T. D., Johnson, A. A. T., Lombi, E., Doolette, C. L., Smith, E., & Watts‐Williams, S. J. (2026). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation increases the bioavailability of zinc and iron in wheat grain. Plants, People, Planet, 8(3), 924-936.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2026 Nguyen, T. D., Jewell, N., Brien, C., Berger, B., Johnson, A. A. T., & Watts-Williams, S. J. (2026). Growing Australian Rice in Non-Flooded Soil Increases Water Use Efficiency and Mycorrhizal Colonisation, but Reduces Grain Micronutrient Concentrations. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, 5(2), 12 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2026 Watts-Williams, S. J., Thomas, S., Gill, A. R., Nguyen, T. D., & Kabiri, S. (2026). Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can increase the concentration of per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in cereal crops. Mycorrhiza, 36(3), 31-1-31-11.
DOI
2026 Watts-Williams, S. J., Gill, A. R., Nguyen, T. D., & Wen, Y. (2026). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can reduce the bioavailability of Zn and Fe in the grain of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and oat (Avena sativa). Functional Plant Biology Fpb, 53(7), FP26109.
DOI
2026 Gill, A. R., Nguyen, T. D., Jewell, N., Brien, C., & Watts-Williams, S. J. (2026). Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Can Increase Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Aerobically Grown Rice Under Water-Limited Conditions. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, 5(3), e70190-1-e70190-9.
DOI
2025 Nguyen, T. D., & Watts-Williams, S. J. (2025). Phytate content and micronutrient bioavailability of cereal and pulse products available in Australian supermarkets. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 143, 107165-1-107165-7.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7
2025 Nguyen, T. D., Sai, N., Johnson, A. A. T., Lombi, E., Smith, E., Doolette, C. L., . . . Watts‐Williams, S. J. (2025). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increase aleurone layer zinc concentration but reduce overall zinc bioavailability in rice grain. Plants, People, Planet, 7(5), 1299-1310.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4
2025 Watts‐Williams, S. J., Gill, A. R., Nguyen, T. D., Tavakkoli, E., Jewell, N., & Brien, C. (2025). Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Can Improve the Water Use and Phosphorus Acquisition Efficiencies of Aerobically Grown Rice. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, 4(1), e70040-1-e70040-9.
DOI Scopus8 WoS8
2020 Watts-Williams, S. J., Nguyen, T. D., Kabiri, S., Losic, D., & McLaughlin, M. J. (2020). Potential of zinc-loaded graphene oxide and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to improve the growth and zinc nutrition of Hordeum vulgare and Medicago truncatula. Applied Soil Ecology, 150, 1-8.
DOI Scopus24 WoS17 Europe PMC7
2019 Nguyen, T. D., Cavagnaro, T. R., & Watts-Williams, S. J. (2019). The effects of soil phosphorus and zinc availability on plant responses to mycorrhizal fungi: a physiological and molecular assessment. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 14880-1-14880-13.
DOI Scopus91 WoS68 Europe PMC20
2017 Nguyen Van Khanh., Nguyen Thi Diem., Le Thi Tuyet Nhan., Phan Van Cu., Tran Quang Khanh Van., & Ngo Thi Hoan. (2017). The Effects of Nutritional Media and Initial Cell Density on the Growth and Development of Spirulina platensis. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology A, 7(10).
DOI
- Cương, L. N., Nhung, N. T., & Diễm, N. T. (2018). KHẢ NĂNG KHÁNG NẤM VÀ HẠN CHẾ BỆNH HÉO RŨ GỐC MỐC TRẮNG LẠC (Sclerotium rolfsii) CỦA DUNG DỊCH NANO BẠC. Hue University Journal of Science: Agriculture and Rural Development, 127(3A).
DOI
- Diễm, N. T., Oanh, N. T., Tâm, H. T., Thọ, N. H., & Cúc, N. T. K. (2021). MỘT SỐ BIỆN PHÁP KỸ THUẬT TRỒNG VÀ CHĂM SÓC CÂY LAN GIẢ HẠC DI LINH (Dendrobium anosmum DL.) TỪ CÂY CON IN VITRO. Hue University Journal of Science: Natural Science, 130(1A), 107-115.
DOI
- Nguyen, T. O., Nguyen, T. D., Truong, H. T. H., Hang La, T. T., & Nguyen, T. K. C. (2021). EFFECT OF SPENT MUSHROOM SUBSTRATE ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF THREE CULTIVARS OF MUSKMELONS (Cucumis melo). Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 9(3), 276-286.
DOI
- Cuc, N. T. K., Oanh, N. T., Diem, N. T., & Tho, N. H. (2022). Optimal condition for Propagation and Growing of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 10(3), 524-532.
DOI
- Nguyen, T. D., Nguyen, T. O., Ho, T. -T., Nguyen, H. T., Hang La, T. T., & Cuc Nguyen, T. K. (2022). Effects of hormone and fertilizers on early flower induction of Dendrobium anosmum hybrid seedlings under ex vitro condition. Journal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences, 10(5), 1168-1179.
DOI
  • Australian Plant Phenomics Network Postgraduate Internship Award: 10,000 AUD (Dec 2024)
  • Best speaker prize in Soil Science at the Postgraduate Symposium, Waite Campus (Sep 2024)
  • Rice Growers’ Association of Australia, supporting attendance at the USA rice paddy tour: 10,000 AUD (Jun 2024)
  • AgriFutures Australia rice industry PhD top-up scholarship: 30,000 AUD (Aug 2023-June 2026)
  • University of Adelaide Research Scholarship (May 2022-Aug 2025)
  • Australia Awards Scholarship for Master’s degree (Jan 2017-Dec 2018)

Date Role Membership Country
2024 - ongoing Member International Mycorrhiza Society United Kingdom
2023 - 2025 Member Australian Society of Plant Scientists Australia

Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
2024 - 2024 Exploring the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on aerobic rice grain nutrition International Temperate Rice Conference 2024 New Orleans United States
2023 - 2023 Exploring the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on rice grain nutrition ASPS Conference 2023 The University of Tasmania Australia

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