Below is a list of the type of Research Projects available for Honours, Masters and PhD students. However, I am also flexible in designing projects that suit the student's interests so contact me to discuss further.

1. Impact of adverse exposures on organ development.

In response to adverse exposures, such as those that may occur during pregnancy, animals change in response to these exposures. These changes may include modifications in the development of organs like the kidney, heart or liver. In addition, these developmental changes can differ depending on the sex of the animal. This project will study why males and females respond differently to adverse exposures and if these changes are passed on to the next generation.

2. Seed priming to improve stress tolerance and seed quality.

Seed priming involves treating seeds to improve germination rates and increase plant tolerance to stress. The benefits of seed priming include uniform germination in crops, the development of stress resistance, increased germination, and increased crop yield. There are several methods of seed priming with evidence that micronutrients used in combination, can enhance germination and plant vigour. In addition, seed priming may result in plant stress memory so that subsequent generations also have improved stress tolerance.

We need an understanding of what happens when plants are stressed and whether simple, cheap and effective seed priming options will improve plant tolerance to salt and drought stress. This may have the potential added benefit of biofortification, hence increasing the anti-oxidant content and therefore the health benefits of consuming the seeds from plants that have been primed.

3. Testing the 'super' in superfoods.

Interest in highly nutritious plant seeds is increasing as we are becoming more aware of the need to eat a balanced and varied diet. We already consume a wide variety of seeds in our food but some of these have been called “superfoods”, including flax, quinoa and chia. This is based on their desirable lipid contents (omega 3 vs omega 6 amounts and ratios), protein profiles because they contain all the essential amino acids or superior dietary fibre content. But how many of these properties have been thoroughly tested and verified, for example using bioavailability assays, and what effects do the seeds have on cells that are exposed to them? Does this vary according to whether the seeds are whole or ground (as we would eat them)? Our project aims to answer these questions.

Below is a video created by Agricultural Genetics students showing the importance of epigenetics.

4. First Nations knowledge sharing to identify native ingredients for health

In collaboration with First Nations people, we are identifying native ingredients that can be used in food and beverages to provide healthier alternatives. These ingredients are being incorporated into new food and beverage products.