Dr Melanie Wilkinson
Dr

Melanie Wilkinson

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Background

Plant geneticist specialising in predictive breeding and evolutionary genetics, Melanie's research focuses on accelerating crop improvement by integrating genomics and predictive modelling across both horticultural and field crops.

Her recent work includes uncovering the role of chromosomal inversions in driving variation in mango breeding traits, the ensemble of genomic prediction methods through the EasiGP framework, and integrating APSIM crop growth models with genomic prediction for soybean and sorghum.

Melanie leads interdisciplinary collaborations combining quantitative genetics, machine learning, and crop modelling, with active partnerships across industry and international research institutions.

Availability

Dr Melanie Wilkinson is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Search Professor Melanie Wilkinson’s works on UQ eSpace

24 works between 2013 and 2026
All (24) Journal Article (19) Other Outputs (4) Conference Publication (1)

21 - 24 of 24 works

2019

Other Outputs

The genetic basis of adaptive evolution and divergence in an Australian wildflower

Wilkinson, Melanie (2019). The genetic basis of adaptive evolution and divergence in an Australian wildflower. PhD Thesis, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2019.338

The genetic basis of adaptive evolution and divergence in an Australian wildflower

2018

Journal Article

Environmentally induced development costs underlie fitness tradeoffs

Walter, Greg M., Wilkinson, Melanie J., Aguirre, J. David, Blows, Mark W. and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2018). Environmentally induced development costs underlie fitness tradeoffs. Ecology, 99 (6), 1391-1401. doi: 10.1002/ecy.2234

Environmentally induced development costs underlie fitness tradeoffs

2016

Journal Article

Diversification across a heterogeneous landscape

Walter, Greg M., Wilkinson, Melanie J., James, Maddie E., Richards, Thomas J., Aguirre, J. David and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2016). Diversification across a heterogeneous landscape. Evolution, 70 (9), 1979-1992. doi: 10.1111/evo.13009

Diversification across a heterogeneous landscape

2013

Journal Article

Convergence and divergence during the adaptation to similar environments by an Australian groundsel

Roda, Federico, Liu, Huanle, Wilkinson, Melanie J., Walter, Gregory M., James, Maddie E., Bernal, Diana M., Melo, Maria C., Lowe, Andrew, Rieseberg, Loren H., Prentis, Peter and Ortiz-Barrientos, Daniel (2013). Convergence and divergence during the adaptation to similar environments by an Australian groundsel. Evolution, 67 (9), 2515-2529. doi: 10.1111/evo.12136

Convergence and divergence during the adaptation to similar environments by an Australian groundsel

Past funding

  • 2023
    Haplotagging, a low-cost sequencing approach for genomic improvement of horticultural tree crops
    UQ Knowledge Exchange & Translation Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Melanie Wilkinson is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Incorporating Structural Variation into Genomic Prediction Models in Mango

    This project investigates strategies for incorporating structural variation, such as chromosomal inversions, into genomic prediction models to improve prediction performance. There are opportunities to apply this research in mango and macadamia, with potential applications across other crops and tree species.

  • Cost-efficient Genome Phasing Methods in Apple

    This project will compare short-read and long-read sequencing approaches to identify the most cost-effective and accurate method for genome phasing in apple.

  • Ensemble of Genomic Prediction Models and APSIM-WGP Integration in Legumes

    This project will evaluate different approaches for integrating crop growth models with ensembles of genomic prediction models to improve prediction accuracy in legumes such as mungbean, chickpea and soybean.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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