Associate Professor Paul Dennis
Associate Professor

Paul Dennis

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32575

Background

Paul Dennis leads an exciting research group that applies cutting-edge technologies to understand the roles of microorganisms and their responses to environmental change.

He is also a passionate educator and public speaker who advocates for the importance of biological diversity and evidence-based environmental awareness. He has talked about his research on ABC Radio and a range of other media outlets.

His teaching covers aspects of ecology, microbiology, plant and soil science, and climatology. He considers these topics to be of fundamental importance for the development of more sustainable societies and takes pride in helping others to obtain the knowledge and skills they need to build a better future.

Paul's research has taken him to Antarctica, the Amazon Rainforest, high mountains and oceans. The approaches used in his lab draw on a wide range of expertise in molecular biology, ecology, statistics, computer science, advanced imaging and soil science. He applies these skills to a wide-range of topics and systems including plant-microbe interactions, Antarctic marine and terrestrial ecology, biogeography, pollution and human health.

Availability

Associate Professor Paul Dennis is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Agriculture, land and farm management Bacteriology Bioavailability and ecotoxicology Biodiscovery Biogeography and phylogeography Bioinformatics and computational biology Biological Sciences Biological control Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Bioremediation Biosecurity science and invasive species ecology Carbon sequestration science Climate change impacts and adaptation Climate change impacts and adaptation not elsewhere classified Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) Conservation and biodiversity Ecological applications Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation Ecology Ecosystem function Ecosystem services (incl. pollination) Engineering Environmental Sciences Environmental assessment and monitoring Environmental biogeochemistry Environmental biotechnology Environmental education and extension Environmental engineering Environmental management Environmental management Environmental nanotechnology and nanometrology Environmental rehabilitation and restoration Genetics Genomics Global change biology Human impacts of climate change and human adaptation Immunology Industrial biotechnology Land capability and soil productivity Medical biochemistry and metabolomics Medical biotechnology Medical microbiology Microbial ecology Microbial genetics Microbiology Mycology Nanotoxicology, health and safety Natural resource management Other biological sciences Other environmental sciences Plant biology Pollution and contamination Soil biology Soil chemistry and soil carbon sequestration (excl. carbon sequestration science) Soil sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Wales
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University College London

Search Professor Paul Dennis’s works on UQ eSpace

128 works between 2003 and 2024
All (128) Journal Article (105) Book Chapter (8) Conference Publication (14) Other Outputs (1)

101 - 120 of 128 works

2013

Journal Article

Diverse populations of lake water bacteria exhibit chemotaxis towards inorganic nutrients

Dennis, Paul G., Seymour, Justin, Kumbun, Kimber and Tyson, Gene W. (2013). Diverse populations of lake water bacteria exhibit chemotaxis towards inorganic nutrients. ISME Journal, 7 (8), 1661-1664. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2013.47

Diverse populations of lake water bacteria exhibit chemotaxis towards inorganic nutrients

2013

Journal Article

Activation of the jasmonic acid plant defence pathway alters the composition of rhizosphere bacterial communities

Carvalhais, Lilia C., Dennis, Paul G., Badri, Dayakar V., Tyson, Gene W., Vivanco, Jorge M. and Schenk, Peer M. (2013). Activation of the jasmonic acid plant defence pathway alters the composition of rhizosphere bacterial communities. PLoS ONE, 8 (2) e56457, e56457. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056457

Activation of the jasmonic acid plant defence pathway alters the composition of rhizosphere bacterial communities

2013

Journal Article

Microbial responses to carbon and nitrogen supplementation in an Antarctic dry valley soil

Dennis, P. G., Sparrow, A. D., Gregorich, E. G., Novis, P. M., Elberling, B., Greenfield, L. G. and Hopkins, D. W. (2013). Microbial responses to carbon and nitrogen supplementation in an Antarctic dry valley soil. Antarctic Science, 25 (1), 55-61. doi: 10.1017/S0954102012000855

Microbial responses to carbon and nitrogen supplementation in an Antarctic dry valley soil

2013

Journal Article

Warming constrains bacterial community responses to nutrient inputs in a southern, but not northern, maritime Antarctic soil

Dennis, Paul G., Newsham, Kevin K., Rushton, Steven P., Ord, Victoria J., O'Donnell, Anthony G. and Hopkins, David W. (2013). Warming constrains bacterial community responses to nutrient inputs in a southern, but not northern, maritime Antarctic soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 57, 248-255. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.07.009

Warming constrains bacterial community responses to nutrient inputs in a southern, but not northern, maritime Antarctic soil

2013

Conference Publication

Microbial community composition and function associated with enhanced anaerobic digestion of organic biosolids.

Pervin, H.P., Hastie, M., Dennis, P.G., Jensen, P., Gorman, J., Tyson, G.W., Batstone, D. and Bond, P.L. (2013). Microbial community composition and function associated with enhanced anaerobic digestion of organic biosolids.. 2nd Water Research Conference, Singapore EXPO, Singapore, 20-23 January, 2013.

Microbial community composition and function associated with enhanced anaerobic digestion of organic biosolids.

2013

Book Chapter

Rhizosphere Metatranscriptomics: Challenges and Opportunities

Carvalhais, Lilia C., Dennis, Paul G., Tyson, Gene W. and Schenk, Peer M. (2013). Rhizosphere Metatranscriptomics: Challenges and Opportunities. Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere. (pp. 1137-1144) edited by Frans J. de Bruijn. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781118297674.ch109

Rhizosphere Metatranscriptomics: Challenges and Opportunities

2013

Book Chapter

Do root exudates exert more influence on rhizosphere bacterial community structure than other rhizodeposits?

Hirsch, Penny R., Miller, Anthony J. and Dennis, Paul G. (2013). Do root exudates exert more influence on rhizosphere bacterial community structure than other rhizodeposits?. Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere. (pp. 229-242) edited by Frans J. de Bruijn. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781118297674.ch22

Do root exudates exert more influence on rhizosphere bacterial community structure than other rhizodeposits?

2013

Conference Publication

Microbial community dynamics correlate to reactor parameters and performance in a pre-treatment stage of temperature–phased anaerobic digestion.

Pervin, H.P., Dennis, P.G., Lim, H.J., Tyson, G.W., Batstone, D. and Bond, P.L. (2013). Microbial community dynamics correlate to reactor parameters and performance in a pre-treatment stage of temperature–phased anaerobic digestion.. 2nd Water Research Conference, Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, 20-23 January 2013.

Microbial community dynamics correlate to reactor parameters and performance in a pre-treatment stage of temperature–phased anaerobic digestion.

2012

Journal Article

Spatial uniformity of microbial diversity in a continuous bioelectrochemical system

Dennis, Paul G., Guo, Kun, Imelfort, Michael, Jensen, Paul, Tyson, Gene W. and Rabaey, Korneel (2012). Spatial uniformity of microbial diversity in a continuous bioelectrochemical system. Bioresource Technology, 129 (10), 599-605. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.098

Spatial uniformity of microbial diversity in a continuous bioelectrochemical system

2012

Journal Article

Application of metatranscriptomics to soil environments

Carvalhais, Lilia C., Dennis, Paul G., Tyson, Gene W. and Schenk, Peer M. (2012). Application of metatranscriptomics to soil environments. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 91 (2), 246-251. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2012.08.011

Application of metatranscriptomics to soil environments

2012

Journal Article

High-throughput amplicon sequencing reveals distinct communities within a corroding concrete sewer system

Cayford, Barry I., Dennis, Paul G., Keller, Jurg, Tyson, Gene W. and Bond, Philip L. (2012). High-throughput amplicon sequencing reveals distinct communities within a corroding concrete sewer system. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 78 (19), 7160-7162. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01582-12

High-throughput amplicon sequencing reveals distinct communities within a corroding concrete sewer system

2012

Journal Article

Soil fungal community composition does not alter along a latitudinal gradient through the maritime and sub-Antarctic

Dennis, Paul G., Rushton, Steven P., Newsham, Kevin K., Lauducina, Vito A., Ord, Victoria J., Daniell, Timothy J., O'Donnell, Anthony G. and Hopkins, David W. (2012). Soil fungal community composition does not alter along a latitudinal gradient through the maritime and sub-Antarctic. Fungal Ecology, 5 (4), 403-408. doi: 10.1016/j.funeco.2011.12.002

Soil fungal community composition does not alter along a latitudinal gradient through the maritime and sub-Antarctic

2012

Conference Publication

Microbial communities involved in the corrosion of concrete sewer infrastructure

Cayford, Barry I., Dennis, Paul G., Tyson, Gene W. and Bond, Philip L. (2012). Microbial communities involved in the corrosion of concrete sewer infrastructure. 14th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology (ISME14), Copenhagan, Denmark, 19-24 August 2012.

Microbial communities involved in the corrosion of concrete sewer infrastructure

2012

Journal Article

Key Biochemical Attributes to Assess Soil Ecosystem Sustainability

Laudicina, Vito Armando, Dennis, Paul C., Palazzolo, Eristanna and Badalucco, Luigi (2012). Key Biochemical Attributes to Assess Soil Ecosystem Sustainability. Environmental Protection Strategies for Sustainable Development, 193-227. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-1591-2_6

Key Biochemical Attributes to Assess Soil Ecosystem Sustainability

2012

Conference Publication

Determining ecosystem community and function important for enhanced anaerobic digestion of organic biosolids

Pervin, H. P., Hastie, M., Dennis, P. G., Gorman, J., Tyson, G. W., Batstone, D. and Bond, P. L. (2012). Determining ecosystem community and function important for enhanced anaerobic digestion of organic biosolids. Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM2012), Brisbane, Australia, 1-4 July 2012.

Determining ecosystem community and function important for enhanced anaerobic digestion of organic biosolids

2012

Conference Publication

Microbial corrosion of concrete sewer pipes

Cayford, B. I., Tyson, G. W., Dennis, P. G., Keller, J. and Bond, P .L. (2012). Microbial corrosion of concrete sewer pipes. Australian Society for Microbiology Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM2012), Brisbane, Australia, 1-4 July 2012.

Microbial corrosion of concrete sewer pipes

2011

Journal Article

Root exudation of sugars, amino acids, and organic acids by maize as affected by nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and iron deficiency

Carvalhais, Lilia C., Dennis, Paul G., Fedoseyenko, Dmitri, Hajirezaei, Mohammad-Reza, Borriss, Rainer and von Wiren, Nicolaus (2011). Root exudation of sugars, amino acids, and organic acids by maize as affected by nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and iron deficiency. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 174 (1), 3-11. doi: 10.1002/jpln.201000085

Root exudation of sugars, amino acids, and organic acids by maize as affected by nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and iron deficiency

2010

Journal Article

Are root exudates more important than other sources of rhizodeposits in structuring rhizosphere bacterial communities?

Dennis P.G., Miller A.J. and Hirsch P.R. (2010). Are root exudates more important than other sources of rhizodeposits in structuring rhizosphere bacterial communities?. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 72 (3), 313-327. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00860.x

Are root exudates more important than other sources of rhizodeposits in structuring rhizosphere bacterial communities?

2009

Journal Article

Linking rhizoplane pH and bacterial density at the microhabitat scale

Dennis, Paul G., Hirsch, Penny R., Smith, Susan J., Taylor, Richard G., Valsami-Jones, Eugenia and Miller, Anthony J. (2009). Linking rhizoplane pH and bacterial density at the microhabitat scale. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 76 (1), 101-104. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2008.09.013

Linking rhizoplane pH and bacterial density at the microhabitat scale

2009

Journal Article

Isotopic evidence for the provenance and turnover of organic carbon by soil microorganisms in the Antarctic dry valleys

Hopkins, D.W., Sparrow, A.D., Gregorich, E.G., Elberling, B., Novis, P., Fraser, F., Scrimgeour, C., Dennis, P.G., Meier-Augenstein, W. and Greenfield, L.G. (2009). Isotopic evidence for the provenance and turnover of organic carbon by soil microorganisms in the Antarctic dry valleys. Environmental Microbiology, 11 (3), 597-608. doi: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01830.x

Isotopic evidence for the provenance and turnover of organic carbon by soil microorganisms in the Antarctic dry valleys

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Controlling the lifetime of biodegradable polymers in natural environments
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Perinatal microbe-host interactions regulate neonatal dendritic cell development (NHMRC Ideas Grant led by QIMR)
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    An integrated management response to the spread of fusarium wilt of banana in southeast Asia (ACIAR grant administered by QDAF)
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024
    Sulphur speciation in rainforest, grassland, sugarcane, and banana soils from the Wet Tropics
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Rain Ready Rangelands Research Agreement 1
    Northern Territory of Australia
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Rain Ready Rangelands Research Agreement 2
    Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Rain Ready Rangelands Research Agreement 3
    Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Rain Ready Rangelands Research Agreement 4
    Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Filling gaps in our TR4 Biosecurity knowledge
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Bioplastics in the environment: lifetimes and toxicology
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Integrated management of Fusarium wilt of bananas in the Philippines and Australia (ACIAR grant administered by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries)
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Understanding the influence of maternal diet on the neonatal gut microbiome and susceptibility to respiratory disease in early life (NHMRC Project Grant led by QIMR Berghofer)
    Queensland Institute of Medical Research
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    BA14014 Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 Research Program
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    BA14013 Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 - biosecurity and sustainable solutions
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Transformation and stability of environmentally relevant forms of silver nanoparticles in soil over time when applied with biosolids
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Scoping herbicide impacts on banana production and soil health
    Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Characterisation of soil microorganisms that minimise agricultural impacts on the Great Barrier Reef
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Characterisation of the Koala gut microbiome for Australian biofuel precursor production
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Anaerobic workstations for experimental and pure culture research.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Paul Dennis is:
Available for supervision

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

Available projects

  • Microbial diversity along a pH gradient

    Soil microorganisms play critical roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In this project, we will characterise the diversity of soil bacteria, archaea, fungi and other microeukarya along a pH gradient from Rothamsted, UK. Soil pH strongly influences microbial diversity. The relationship between diversity and other attributes of community structure, however, are poorly understood. In this project we will investigate the effect of species loss on community structure. This work has ramifications for conservation of terrestrial biodiversity.

  • The language of attraction: How do plants attract microbial symbionts?

    Plants release up to 50% of photosynthetically derived carbon from their roots as a complex mixture of organic compounds known as root exudates. These compounds fuel diverse root-associated microbial communities that consist of plant growth-promoting species as well as those that cause disease or compete with plants for resources. By changing the mixture of exudates released from their roots, plants are thought to exert some level of control over the selection of their microbial symbionts.

    Current evidence indicates that most root-associated microorganisms are chemotactic, i.e. they have the ability to sense substrates released by roots and direct movement towards them. This ability enables them to respond rapidly to resources as they become available and out-compete neighboring populations. At present there is no information regarding the selectivity of different exudate components for specific groups of chemotactic organisms. Here, we will use a novel chemotaxis assay in combination with high-throughput sequencing and flow cytometry to identify and enumerate microorganisms that respond to different root exudate components. This information will identify exudates that are strongly associated with the recruitment of beneficial and/or deleterious organisms and should facilitate the development of crops that select for beneficial root-microbial communities.

  • The influence of nutrient deficiencies on root exudation

    Plants exude a complex mixture of organic compounds from their roots, which alter the availability of plant nutrients and fuel diverse microbial communities that influence plant health and nutrition. Nutrient deficiencies affect large areas of agricultural land. Nutrient deficiencies are known to strongly influence root exudation but these effects are poorly understood. Changes in root exudation could reduce crop yields by negatively affecting plant nutrient uptake and plant-microbe interactions. For this reason, better understanding of the effects of nutrient deficiencies on root exudation is needed to predict future food security. In this project, plants will be grown under differ nutrient deficiencies and root exudates will be collected and analyses using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry methods.

  • Isolation of plant stress tolerance enhancing microbes

    Nutrient deficiencies and drought are major agricultural constraints. Fertilisers and irrigation help to alleviate these issues, but rely on non-renewable resources and contribute to environmental degradation. By 2050 there will be nine billion people on Earth, which places food security at the top of society’s challenges for the 21st century1. Soils harbour a wide variety of microbial taxa that significantly enhance plant nutrient acquisition and drought tolerance. These organisms could be used to more sustainably maintain, or enhance, global food security. In this project, microbes will be isolated from the roots of stressed plants and then screened for attributes that promote plant fitness under drought and nutrient stress.

  • Microbial diversity along a 750 km drought gradient

    Soil microorganisms play critical roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In this project, we will characterise the diversity of soil bacteria, archaea, fungi and other microeukarya along a 750 km moisture gradient in South Australia. The incidence of drought is predicted to increase with climate change so better understanding of how drought influences microbially mediated ecosystems processes is key to our ability to maintain food security in the future.

  • Banana microbiome

    Banana’s are one of Queensland’s main agricultural products. Microorganisms influence the health and nutrition of banana’s but the identities of microbes that live in association with banana’s are largely unknown. In his project we will apply high throughput sequencing technologies to characterise the banana microbiome and its role in plant growth promotion and disease prevention.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Biocrust microorganisms and their function in Australian savanna grazing lands

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun

  • Doctor Philosophy

    RNA-based control of Phytophthora root rot

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Impact of land management on the ecology of soilborne plant diseases

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jiarui Sun

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Costs and benefits of plant-microbe symbioses

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Professor Mark Turner

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Which attributes of microbiomes facilitate engineering of ecosystem goods and services?

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Tim McLaren

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Microbial diversity and function along a pH gradient

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke, Dr Jiarui Sun

  • Doctor Philosophy

    International core microbiome of Musa spp.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jiarui Sun

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Impact of land management on the ecology of soilborne plant diseases

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jiarui Sun

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Assigning function to the core bacterial microbial of Musa spp.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Biocrust microorganisms and their function in Australian savanna grazing lands

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Minimising the impacts of land use on microbially mediated soil ecosystem services

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr John Dwyer, Dr Jiarui Sun, Dr Tim McLaren

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Effects of fire and grazing management on the diversity and potential function of biocrust microbiomes

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Tailoring the infant gut microbiota to enhance neonatal immune development

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Enhancing restoration success in a global biodiversity hotspot by improving site capture

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Aitken, Dr John Dwyer

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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