Overview
Background
Michael is passionate about plant-based foods, with a particular focus on their nutritional composition, quality, bioactivity, digestibility, and potential for promoting healthy diets. He has served as a Chief Investigator on several flagship initiatives, including the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods, the CRC for Developing Northern Australia, and the HIA-funded Naturally Nutritious project. His research emphasizes the importance of understanding both in vitro bioaccessibility—how compounds are released from the food matrix and become available for intestinal absorption—and the more complex in vivo bioavailability and metabolism, including microbial degradation in the gut. These processes are critical for predicting the bioactivity and potential health benefits of dietary phytochemicals in humans.
Availability
- Dr Michael Netzel is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Justus Liebig University Giessen
Research interests
-
Phytochemicals and Health
My primary research interests focus on phytochemicals—specifically polyphenols (both bound and free), carotenoids, and betalains—as well as vitamins. I investigate their analysis, binding characteristics within the plant (food) matrix, and structural modifications or degradation during processing and digestion. This includes studying their bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and metabolism, essentially tracing the journey “from raw produce to absorbed and metabolised bioactive compounds.”
Works
Search Professor Michael Netzel’s works on UQ eSpace
1995
Conference Publication
Untersuchungen zum Gehalt von Riboflavin und seinen Coenzymformen in fetaler Leber und fetalem Gehirn der Wistarratte in Abhaengigkeit von der Ernaehrung der Muttertiere
Netzel, M., Ziems, M., Niebisch, M. and Bitsch, I. (1995). Untersuchungen zum Gehalt von Riboflavin und seinen Coenzymformen in fetaler Leber und fetalem Gehirn der Wistarratte in Abhaengigkeit von der Ernaehrung der Muttertiere. 32. Wissenschaftliche Kongress der DGE, Jena, Germany, 3-5 March 1996.
1995
Conference Publication
A new method for the determination of BTMP and SBT in human blood with HPLC
Ziems, M., Netzel, M., Peter, S. and Bitsch, (1995). A new method for the determination of BTMP and SBT in human blood with HPLC. 5th Symposium on Vitamins and Additives in Human and Animal Nutrition, Jena, Germany, 28-29 September 1995. Jena, Germany: FRIEDRICH-SCHILLER-UNIVERSITAT.
1995
Conference Publication
Entwicklung einer HPLC-Methode zur Bestimmung von Benfotiamin und seinem Metaboliten S-Benzoylthiamin in menschlichem Vollblut
Ziems, M., Netzel, M., Peter, S. and Bitsch, I. (1995). Entwicklung einer HPLC-Methode zur Bestimmung von Benfotiamin und seinem Metaboliten S-Benzoylthiamin in menschlichem Vollblut. Vitamine und Zusatzstoffe in der Ernaehrung von Mensch und Tier, Jena, Germany 1995, Jena, Germany, 28-29 September 1995.
1993
Conference Publication
Die Konzentrationen der Vitamine B1, B2 und B6 im Plazenta- und fetalen Leber- und Gehirngewebe von Wistarratten
Eberle, T., Link, G., Netzel, M., Ziems, M., Vogel, I. and Bitsch, I. (1993). Die Konzentrationen der Vitamine B1, B2 und B6 im Plazenta- und fetalen Leber- und Gehirngewebe von Wistarratten. 30. Wissenschaftliche Kongress der DGE, Bonn, Germany, 3-5 March 1996.
1992
Journal Article
HPLC-Bestimmungen von Vitamin B1, B2 und B6 in Plazenta- und fetalem Leber- und Gehirngewebe von Wistarratten
Eberle, T., Link, G., Netzel, M., Dietrich, M., Vogel, I. and Bitsch, I. (1992). HPLC-Bestimmungen von Vitamin B1, B2 und B6 in Plazenta- und fetalem Leber- und Gehirngewebe von Wistarratten. VitaMinSpur, 7, 194-197.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Michael Netzel is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring and understanding the nutritional quality and functional properties of wild harvested Australian grown elderberries (native elderberries)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Olivia Wright, Professor Heather Smyth, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the nutritional and bioactive properties of native Australian Citrus species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Natasha Hungerford, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
Doctor Philosophy
Morphological, physicochemical, phytochemical, nutritional, and bioactivities of different Persoonia fruits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dharini Sivakumar, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Nutritional and Functional Quality of Australian Indigenous Yam
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Femi Akinsanmi, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Nutritional quality and Food Functionality of Salt Bush (Atriplex semibaccata) - an Australian Indigenous Edible Halophyte
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dharini Sivakumar, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing the effect of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on human gut microbiota and metabolite production: an in vitro fermentation study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, Dr Loan Nguyen
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Effect of storage on the nutritional quality of 'Rubycot' plumcot and 'Queen Garnet' plum
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Australian indigenous edible halophytes - potential sources of functional ingredients
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Olivia Wright, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Nutritional Potential of Carica papaya Linn Cultivars
Principal Advisor
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the nutritional quality and food functionality of Burdekin plum (Pleiogynium timoriense)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Daniel Cozzolino, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Opening the Discussion on Harnessing Traditional Knowledge and Plants for Indigenous Health: Development of a Bush Food-based Carbonated Beverage
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, Dr Olivia Wright
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Australian Native Plants (Kakadu plum and Davidson plum) on the Safety and Quality of Value-added Meat Products
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Heather Smyth, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, Professor Louw Hoffman
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Nutritional and Functional Quality of Flour and Proteins from Australian Acacia seed
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mike Gidley, Professor Louw Hoffman, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of growing region and processing on the quality and functionality of wild harvested Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell fruits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Daniel Cozzolino, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Use of Novel Green Technologies for Preservation of Horticultural Produce using Plant Bioactives
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of photosensitization on the nutrient profile and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds in Australian grown strawberries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing the safe use of Terminalia ferdinandiana for dietary purposes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emerita Professor Mary Fletcher, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a microalgal biorefinery to produce omega-3 fatty acid EPA and other high-value compounds from Nannochloropsis
Associate Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
IDENTIFICATION AND INDUCED BIOSYNTHESIS OF NATURAL HEALTH COMPOUNDS IN MICROALGAE
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harendra Parekh, Dr Karnaker Reddy Tupally
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Induction of carotenoid and phytosterol accumulation in microalgae
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Michael Netzel's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: