Research funding

"The CoE for Plant Success will draw on the world-leading research of its Chief and Partner Investigators to deepen and extend knowledge of genetic networks that control key functional processes to understand how they have evolved and are integrated in the context of whole-plant performance and success in agriculture and nature. Beginning with established model plant systems, the Centre team will combine biological discovery with advanced mathematics to extend its research across diverse natural and crop systems to model and predict mechanisms and strategies for adaptation to heat and drought."

"Darwin believed that natural selection drove the origin of new species, or speciation. However, research on speciation during the 20th century shifted focus from studying adaptation within a population to examining the causes of reproductive isolation (lack of interbreeding) between populations. This Project aims to unify our understanding of adaptation and reproductive isolation by examining their shared heredity. Using an established system in natural conditions, this project will generate new knowledge on the genetic processes driving speciation. This interdisciplinary research will clarify how biodiversity originates with implications for crops, conservation biology and species responses to environmental change."

"This project aims to evaluate how genomes become different during the origin of species by utilising an innovative system where multiple replicates of the speciation process exist. This project expects to generate knowledge in the area of speciation genetics by exploring the effects of sex, migration and selection on the diversity of hundreds of genomes from an Australian wildflower. Expected outcomes of this project include a deeper understanding of the maintenance of genetic diversity in natural populations, and development of a model organism for studying the genetics and ecology of speciation. This project should provide significant benefits such as training of HDR students and enhanced capacity in evolutionary genetics in Australia."

"This program is about harnessing cutting-edge genetic technologies for the benefit of Australian horticultural tree crop industries. New tools are currently being developed in the program to enable Australian plant breeders to deliver new varieties with key productivity and profitability traits, and new tools for growers to enhance farm productivity. This program involves separate components working together to deliver a deeper understanding of the relationship between tree crop traits ('phenotypes') and their underlying genetics ('genotypes') and genetic mechanisms. This will then feed into the ultimate development of tools and opportunities for rapidly and more efficiently addressing current and future needs of industry. There are four components within the program including the Genomics Toolbox, Genotype Prediction Toolbox, Phenotype Prediction Toolbox, and a new Molecular Physiology component that will complement research in the genotype prediction toolbox.

Crops that will be used as case studies in the program include almond, avocado, citrus, mango and macadamia."

​The evolution of recombination cold spots during speciation


(2014–2017) ARC Discovery Projects


The genetics of replicated evolution


(2012–2014) ARC Discovery Projects



Does divergent natural selection drive the early stages of speciation?
(2009–2011) ARC Discovery Projects



Speciation and the breakdown of co-evolution during hybridisation
(2009–2011) ARC Discovery Projects​

Building Capacity in Quantitative Genomics
(2009) UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
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The genetics of speciation in Kangaroo Paws
(2009) UQ Early Career Researcher
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Patterns of speciation in Australian daisies
(2008–2009) UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund

Controlled Environment Facilities for the Challenges of the 21st Century
(2008) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure