Professor Lee Hickey
Professor

Lee Hickey

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54805

Background

Professor Lee Hickey is a plant breeder and crop geneticist within the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation at The University of Queensland, Australia. He is an ARC Future Fellow and Director of the ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding. His own research group specialises in plant breeding innovation to support development of more productive food crops, such as wheat, barley and chickpea. He has a strong interest in the integration of breeding technologies, such as genomic prediction, AI, speed breeding and genome editing. His advice for speed breeding crops is sought internationally and the technology is now adopted by plant breeding programs worldwide, which is fast-tracking development of improved crop varieties for farmers. His research outcomes have featured in >90 refereed publications, including articles in high profile journals Nature Plants, Nature Protocols and Nature Biotechnology. Lee is a prolific science communicator and his research outcomes have appeared in mainstream media such as BBC World News, National Geographic, and the New York Times. He is passionate about training the next generation of plant breeders and currently mentors 18 PhD students, while 20 of his previous graduates now work for leading plant breeding companies and high-profile research institutes around the globe.

Check out the Hickey Lab website here

Follow Professor Lee Hickey on X: @DrHikov

Research interests

  • Speed breeding techniques to reduce the length of breeding cycles
  • Understanding the genetics of physiological traits that support yield in different environments
  • Integrating breeding technologies to accelerate genetic gain in breeding programs
  • Innovative genomic selection methodologies
  • Identifying novel sources of disease resistance

Availability

Professor Lee Hickey is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural biotechnology Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Biological Sciences Crop and pasture production Genetics

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Research Commercialisation, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research impacts

Tapping into roots to develop sustainable wheat

Professor Hickey's ARC Future Fellowship aims to deliver genetic solutions to optimise root systems in wheat crops, read the article here.

Digging deep to boost barley

Teaming up with Integrain, Australia’s leading barley breeding company, in an ARC Linkage project to develop innovative breeding methods develop more productive crops in the face of climate change.

Why the world needs faster food

We need to embrace new technology to feed the world in the face of climate change and rapidly evolving pests and diseases: watch Prof Hickey's TEDx talk.

Grow Faster, Grow Stronger: Speed-Breeding Crops to Feed the Future

Speed breeding technology featured in the New York Times, read the article here.

Lab-free genome editing to develop future crops

Professor Hickey reieved a UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award to develop lab-free genome editing systems, watch the video.

Search Professor Lee Hickey’s works on UQ eSpace

166 works between 2009 and 2025
All (166) Journal Article (105) Book Chapter (6) Conference Publication (43) Other Outputs (12)

81 - 100 of 166 works

2020

Journal Article

Adaptive traits to improve Durum wheat yield in drought and crown rot environments

Alahmad, Samir, Kang, Yichen, Dinglasan, Eric, Mazzucotelli, Elisabetta, Voss-Fels, Kai P., Able, Jason A., Christopher, Jack, Bassi, Filippo M. and Hickey, Lee T. (2020). Adaptive traits to improve Durum wheat yield in drought and crown rot environments. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21 (15) 5260, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ijms21155260

Adaptive traits to improve Durum wheat yield in drought and crown rot environments

2020

Conference Publication

How do crops balance water supply and demand when water is limiting?

Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, Oosterom, Erik van, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma, Godwin, Ian, Liu, Guoquan, Wong, Albert, Matiwos, Temesgen, Bantte, Kassahun, Christopher, Jack, Hickey, Lee, Richard, Cecile, Robinson, Hannah and Jordan, David (2020). How do crops balance water supply and demand when water is limiting?. The Third International Tropical Agriculture Conference TropAg 2019 , Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11–13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036208

How do crops balance water supply and demand when water is limiting?

2020

Conference Publication

Combining Trait Physiology, Crop Modelling and Molecular Genetics to Improve Wheat Adaptation to Terminal Water-Stress Targeting Stay-Green and Root Traits

Christopher, Jack, Richard, Cecile, Chenu, Karine, Christopher, Mandy, Paccapello, Valeria, Borrell, Andrew and Hickey, Lee (2020). Combining Trait Physiology, Crop Modelling and Molecular Genetics to Improve Wheat Adaptation to Terminal Water-Stress Targeting Stay-Green and Root Traits. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036196

Combining Trait Physiology, Crop Modelling and Molecular Genetics to Improve Wheat Adaptation to Terminal Water-Stress Targeting Stay-Green and Root Traits

2020

Journal Article

A roadmap for gene functional characterisation in crops with large genomes: lessons from polyploid wheat

Adamski, Nikolai M., Borrill, Philippa, Brinton, Jemima, Harrington, Sophie A., Marchal, Clémence, Bentley, Alison R., Bovill, William D., Cattivelli, Luigi, Cockram, James, Contreras-Moreira, Bruno, Ford, Brett, Ghosh, Sreya, Harwood, Wendy, Hassani-Pak, Keywan, Hayta, Sadiye, Hickey, Lee T., Kanyuka, Kostya, King, Julie, Maccaferrri, Marco, Naamati, Guy, Pozniak, Curtis J., Ramirez-Gonzalez, Ricardo H., Sansaloni, Carolina, Trevaskis, Ben, Wingen, Luzie U., Wulff, Brande Bh and Uauy, Cristobal (2020). A roadmap for gene functional characterisation in crops with large genomes: lessons from polyploid wheat. eLife, 9 e55646, e55646. doi: 10.7554/eLife.55646

A roadmap for gene functional characterisation in crops with large genomes: lessons from polyploid wheat

2020

Journal Article

Response of barley genotypes to weed interference in Australia

Mahajan, Gulshan, Hickey, Lee and Chauhan, Bhagirath Singh (2020). Response of barley genotypes to weed interference in Australia. Agronomy, 10 (1) x, 99. doi: 10.3390/agronomy10010099

Response of barley genotypes to weed interference in Australia

2020

Journal Article

Overcoming polyploidy pitfalls: a user guide for effective SNP conversion into KASP markers in wheat

Makhoul, M., Rambla, C., Voss-Fels, K. P., Hickey, L. T., Snowdon, R. J. and Obermeier, C. (2020). Overcoming polyploidy pitfalls: a user guide for effective SNP conversion into KASP markers in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 133 (8), 2413-2430. doi: 10.1007/s00122-020-03608-x

Overcoming polyploidy pitfalls: a user guide for effective SNP conversion into KASP markers in wheat

2019

Other Outputs

A roadmap for gene functional characterisation in wheat

Adamski, Nikolai M, Borrill, Philippa, Brinton, Jemima, Harrington, Sophie, Marchal, Clemence, Bentley, Alison R, Bovill, Wiliam D, Cattivelli, Luigi, Cockram, James, Contreras-Moreira, Bruno, Ford, Brett, Ghosh, Sreya, Harwood, Wendy, Hassani-Pak, Keywan, Hayta, Sadiye, Hickey, Lee T, Kanyuka, Kostya, King, Julie, Maccaferri, Marco, Naamati, Guy, Pozniak, Curtis J, Ramirez-Gonzalez, Ricardo H, Sansaloni, Carolina, Trevaskis, Ben, Wingen, Luzie U, Wulff, Brande BH and Uauy, Cristobal (2019). A roadmap for gene functional characterisation in wheat. doi: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.26877v2

A roadmap for gene functional characterisation in wheat

2019

Journal Article

Can a speed breeding approach accelerate genetic gain in pigeonpea?

Saxena, K. B., Saxena, R. K., Hickey, L. T. and Varshney, R. K. (2019). Can a speed breeding approach accelerate genetic gain in pigeonpea?. Euphytica, 215 (12) 202. doi: 10.1007/s10681-019-2520-4

Can a speed breeding approach accelerate genetic gain in pigeonpea?

2019

Journal Article

Multivariate genomic selection and potential of rapid indirect selection with speed breeding in spring wheat

Watson, Amy, Hickey, Lee T., Christopher, Jack, Rutkoski, Jessica, Poland, Jesse and Hayes, Ben J. (2019). Multivariate genomic selection and potential of rapid indirect selection with speed breeding in spring wheat. Crop Science, 59 (5), 1945-1959. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2018.12.0757

Multivariate genomic selection and potential of rapid indirect selection with speed breeding in spring wheat

2019

Journal Article

High-resolution mapping of rachis nodes per rachis, a critical determinant of grain yield components in wheat

Voss-Fels, Kai P., Keeble-Gagnère, Gabriel, Hickey, Lee T., Tibbits, Josquin, Nagornyy, Sergej, Hayden, Matthew J., Pasam, Raj K., Kant, Surya, Friedt, Wolfgang, Snowdon, Rod J., Appels, Rudi and Wittkop, Benjamin (2019). High-resolution mapping of rachis nodes per rachis, a critical determinant of grain yield components in wheat. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 132 (9), 2707-2719. doi: 10.1007/s00122-019-03383-4

High-resolution mapping of rachis nodes per rachis, a critical determinant of grain yield components in wheat

2019

Journal Article

Insights into deployment of DNA markers in plant variety protection and registration

Jamali, Seyed Hossein, Cockram, James and Hickey, Lee T. (2019). Insights into deployment of DNA markers in plant variety protection and registration. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 132 (7), 1911-1929. doi: 10.1007/s00122-019-03348-7

Insights into deployment of DNA markers in plant variety protection and registration

2019

Journal Article

A major root architecture QTL responding to water limitation in Durum Wheat

Alahmad, Samir, El Hassouni, Khaoula, Bassi, Filippo M., Dinglasan, Eric, Youssef, Chvan, Quarry, Georgia, Aksoy, Alpaslan, Mazzucotelli, Elisabetta, Juhasz, Angela, Able, Jason A., Christopher, Jack, Voss-Fels, Kai P. and Hickey, Lee T. (2019). A major root architecture QTL responding to water limitation in Durum Wheat. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10 436, 436. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00436

A major root architecture QTL responding to water limitation in Durum Wheat

2019

Journal Article

Genetic characterization of resistance to Pyrenophora teres f. teres in the international barley differential Canadian Lake Shore

Dinglasan, Eric, Hickey, Lee, Ziems, Laura, Fowler, Ryan, Anisimova, Anna, Baranova, Olga, Lashina, Nina and Afanasenko, Olga (2019). Genetic characterization of resistance to Pyrenophora teres f. teres in the international barley differential Canadian Lake Shore. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10 326, 326. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00326

Genetic characterization of resistance to Pyrenophora teres f. teres in the international barley differential Canadian Lake Shore

2019

Journal Article

Technological perspectives for plant breeding

Godwin, Ian D., Rutkoski, Jessica, Varshney, Rajeev K. and Hickey, Lee T. (2019). Technological perspectives for plant breeding. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 132 (3), 555-557. doi: 10.1007/s00122-019-03321-4

Technological perspectives for plant breeding

2019

Journal Article

Q&A: modern crop breeding for future food security

Voss-Fels, Kai P., Stahl, Andreas and Hickey, Lee T. (2019). Q&A: modern crop breeding for future food security. BMC Biology, 17 (1) 18, 18. doi: 10.1186/s12915-019-0638-4

Q&A: modern crop breeding for future food security

2019

Conference Publication

Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments

Chenu, Karine, Fletcher, Andrew, Ababaei, Behnam, Christopher, Jack, Kelly, A., Hickey, Lee, Van Oosterom, Erik and Hammer, Graeme (2019). Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments. International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TropAg2019), Brisbane, QLD Australia, 11-13 November 2019.

Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments

2019

Conference Publication

Canopy and root plasticity for drought adaptation in cereals

Borrell, Andrew, George-Jaeggli, Barbara, van Oosterom, Erik, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma, Godwin, Ian, Liu, G., Wong, Albert, Temesgen, M., Kassahun, B., Christopher, Jack, Hickey, Lee, Richard, Cecile, Robinson, Hannah and Jordan, David (2019). Canopy and root plasticity for drought adaptation in cereals. Climate Change Linked Stress Tolerance in Plants (M4) (Keystone Symposia), Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany, 13-16 May 2019.

Canopy and root plasticity for drought adaptation in cereals

2019

Conference Publication

Environmental characterization facilitate G × E interaction to highlight the role of stay-green traits for genetic gain

Amin, Asad, Christopher, Jack, Ababaei, Behnam, Cooper, Mark, Hayes, Ben, Voss-Fels, Kai, Hickey, Lee and Chenu, Karine (2019). Environmental characterization facilitate G × E interaction to highlight the role of stay-green traits for genetic gain. Translational Photosynthesis Conference: Innovations in Agriculture for Food Security (ASPS 2019), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 30 June - 3 July 2019.

Environmental characterization facilitate G × E interaction to highlight the role of stay-green traits for genetic gain

2019

Journal Article

Allelic effects and variations for key bread-making quality genes in bread wheat using high-throughput molecular markers

Rasheed, Awais, Jin, Hui, Xiao, Yonggui, Zhang, Yan, Hao, Yuanfeng, Zhang, Yong, Hickey, Lee T., Morgounov, Alexey I., Xia, Xianchun and He, Zhonghu (2019). Allelic effects and variations for key bread-making quality genes in bread wheat using high-throughput molecular markers. Journal of Cereal Science, 85, 305-309. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2018.12.004

Allelic effects and variations for key bread-making quality genes in bread wheat using high-throughput molecular markers

2019

Conference Publication

Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments in the Australian wheatbelt

Chenu, Karine, Fletcher, Andrew, Ababaei, Behnam, Christopher, Jack, Kelly, Alison, Hickey, Lee, Van Oosterom, Erik and Hammer, Graeme (2019). Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments in the Australian wheatbelt. International Tropical Agriculture Conference (TROPAG 2019), Brisbane, Australia, 11–13 November 2019. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI AG. doi: 10.3390/proceedings2019036004

Integrating crop modelling, physiology, genetics and breeding to aid crop improvement for changing environments in the Australian wheatbelt

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Unlocking crop epigenomics to uncover and engineer hidden diversity
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Program 2 - Resistance Sources: Using 'FastStack' to develop effective durable net blotch resistance gene stacks
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Genetic initiative to transform symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Australian pulse crops
    PROC-9176963 Genetic initiative to transform symbiotic nitrogen fixation in Australian pulse crops
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Achieving improved genetic gain for yield in chickpea, faba bean and lentil using genetic diversity (GRDC grant administered by Murdoch University)
    Murdoch University
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Fast tracking deployment of chickpea heat tolerance
    GRDC - PROC-9176886 - Fast tracking deployment of chickpea heat tolerance to develop chickpea varieties with improved high temperature tolerance
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Root structure and function traits: Overcoming the root phenotyping bottleneck in cereals
    PROC-9176895 Phenomics methods and tools to enable improved resource capture efficiency in grain crops
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    Enhancing Genomic Prediction for Changing Environments in Wheat
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    RustHapSelect: Fast-tracking rust resistance haplotypes into high-yielding germplasm (GRDC grant administered by CSIRO)
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Improving crops from the ground up: genetic solutions to optimise roots
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Digging deeper to improve yield stability
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    International Mungbean Improvement Network 2 (ACIAR-funded sub-contract with World Vegetable Center)
    Mungbean Improvement Network
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2024
    Screening of diverse barley germplasm for rapid discovery and utilisation of novel disease resistance in barley using R-HapSelect : A haplotype-based toolkit
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Lab-free genome editing to develop our future crops
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    Cereal blueprints for a water-limited world
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Delivery of Legumes and Cereals in Africa (AVISA)
    International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Establishment of wheat shortening the breeding-cycle using speed breeding
    Rural Development Administration
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Rooty: a root ideotype toolbox to support improved wheat yields
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    FastStack - evolutionary computing to stack desirable alleles in wheat
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Postdoctoral Fellowship interfacing crop improvement and agronomy/nutrition programs
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Mechanisms controlling root architecture in crop plants
    Universities Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Accelerated genomic selection to speed up genetic gain in wheat
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Winter wheat selection
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Speed pre-breeding for rapid trait pyramiding in durum wheat
    Monsanto Company
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A high-throughput phenotyping platform for transpiration efficiency in cereal crops
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Mining novel disease resistance genes in wheat landraces from the VIR (N I Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry) collection
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2019
    Accelerating the utilisation and deployment of durable adult plant resistance to leaf rust in barley (Grains and Research Development Corporation grant administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2019
    Delivery of wheat root traits that contribute to water limited yield stability
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2019
    Maintaining a barley pre-breeding capability in Queensland (Grains Research & Development Corporation grant administered by QLD Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)
    Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Resistance to Pathogens - UQ - CSP155
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Validation of rapid gene transfer methodology in barley
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Lee Hickey is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Lee Hickey directly for media enquiries about:

  • Barley breeding
  • Barley disease
  • Barley genetics
  • Crops
  • Food production
  • Speed breeding
  • Wheat breeding
  • Wheat disease resistance
  • Wheat genetics

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