Overview
Background
Professor Ian Godwin has over 30 years’ experience in plant biotechnology research, first undertaking sugar beet genetic engineering at Birmingham University in the UK in the 1980s. He joined UQ in 1990, holding an academic position in plant molecular genetics. In 2019 he joined QAAFI as Director of the Centre for Crop Science.
He leads research in the use of biotechnological tools for crop improvement, with emphasis on the sustainable production of grain crops. Major focus is on the improvement of crops for food, feed and bio-industrial end-uses. He has pioneered the use of GM and gene edited techniques in sorghum. Research projects include international collaborations with a focus on food security and plant genetic resource conservation with collaborators in Germany, Denmark, the United States, China, Ethiopia and Pacific Island countries. He is passionate about the public communication of science, and has spoken at many public events on genetics, GM plants and food, animal cloning, and the future of agriculture in a changing climate. In 2003 he was an ABC Science Media Fellow, and has appeared on ABC and BBC radio on numerous occasions.
His popular science book Good Enough to Eat?: Next Generation GM Crops was published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2019.
Availability
- Professor Ian Godwin is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Genetic improvement of plants using molecular and genomics tools. Cereals and grain crops.
Works
Search Professor Ian Godwin’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
The use of fixed shelling percentage biases genotype selection in hybrid maize multi-environment yield trials
Keno, Tolera, Mace, Emma, Godwin, Ian, Jordan, David and Kelly, Alison (2024). The use of fixed shelling percentage biases genotype selection in hybrid maize multi-environment yield trials. Field Crops Research, 315 109437, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109437
2024
Journal Article
Transgenic, high-protein sorghums display promise in poultry diets in an initial comparison
Macelline, Shemil P., Godwin, Ian D., Liu, Guoquan, Restall, Jemma, Cantor, David I., McInerney, Bernard V., Toghyani, Mehdi, Chrystal, Peter V., Selle, Peter H. and Liu, Sonia Yun (2024). Transgenic, high-protein sorghums display promise in poultry diets in an initial comparison. Poultry Science, 103 (6) 103698, 103698. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103698
2023
Journal Article
Editorial: Genome editing for agricultural sustainability: developments in tools, potential applications, and regulatory policy
Keiper, Felicity J., Sprink, Thorben and Godwin, Ian Douglas (2023). Editorial: Genome editing for agricultural sustainability: developments in tools, potential applications, and regulatory policy. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 5 1324921, 1-2. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2023.1324921
2023
Journal Article
Integrating stay-green and PIN-FORMED genes: PIN-FORMED genes as potential targets for designing climate-resilient cereal ideotypes
Wong, Albert Chern Sun, van Oosterom, Erik J., Godwin, Ian D. and Borrell, Andrew K. (2023). Integrating stay-green and PIN-FORMED genes: PIN-FORMED genes as potential targets for designing climate-resilient cereal ideotypes. AOB Plants, 15 (4) plad040, 1-10. doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plad040
2023
Journal Article
Regioselective stilbene O-methylations in Saccharinae grasses
Lui, Andy C. W., Pow, Kah Chee, Lin, Nan, Lam, Lydia Pui Ying, Liu, Guoquan, Godwin, Ian D., Fan, Zhuming, Khoo, Chen Jing, Tobimatsu, Yuki, Wang, Lanxiang, Hao, Quan and Lo, Clive (2023). Regioselective stilbene O-methylations in Saccharinae grasses. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 3462, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38908-5
2023
Conference Publication
Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes
Geetika, Geetika, Borrell, Andrew, Thornton, Erin, Hunt, Colleen, Chapman, Scott, Philp, Trevor, Fekybelu, Solomon, Potgieter, Andries, Godwin, Ian, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma and Jordan, David (2023). Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes. Global Sorghum Conference Sorghum in the 21st Century, Montpellier, France, 5-9 June 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes
Geetika, Geetika, Borrell, Andrew, Thornton, Erin, Reed, Sean, Hunt, Colleen, Chapman, Scott, Philp, Trevor, Fekybelu, Solomon, Potgieter, Andries, Godwin, Ian, Hammer, Graeme, Mace, Emma and Jordan, David (2023). Evaluating variation in stem strength in response to artificial drought stress amongst sorghum genotypes. Australian Summer Grains Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 13-15 March 2023.
2022
Journal Article
CRISPR-knockout of β-kafirin in sorghum does not recapitulate the grain quality of natural mutants
Massel, Karen, Hintzsche, Jessica, Restall, Jemma, Kerr, Edward D., Schulz, Benjamin L. and Godwin, Ian D. (2022). CRISPR-knockout of β-kafirin in sorghum does not recapitulate the grain quality of natural mutants. Planta, 257 (1) 8, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s00425-022-04038-3
2022
Conference Publication
Phenotyping innovations to develop climate resilient taro
Smith, Millicent, Campbell, Bradley, Restall, Jemma, Chapman, Scott, Godwin, Ian, Sukal, Amit and Guzzon, Filippo (2022). Phenotyping innovations to develop climate resilient taro. TropAg International Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Ensuring the future of taro
Campbell, Bradley, Godwin, Ian, Mace, Emma, Sukal, Amit, Waqainabete, Logo, Restall, Jemma and Smith, Millicent (2022). Ensuring the future of taro. TropAg International Agriculture Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 31 October - 2 November 2022.
2022
Journal Article
The impact of drought, heat and elevated carbon dioxide levels on feed grain quality for poultry production
Ledvinka, Harris D., Toghyani, Mehdi, Tan, Daniel K. Y., Khoddami, Ali, Godwin, Ian D. and Liu, Sonia Y. (2022). The impact of drought, heat and elevated carbon dioxide levels on feed grain quality for poultry production. Agriculture, 12 (11) 1913, 19-16. doi: 10.3390/agriculture12111913
2022
Conference Publication
Phenotyping innovations to harness genetic diversity for climate resilience
Smith, Millicent, Campbell, Bradley, Restall, Jemma, Dudley, Caitlin, Van Haeften, Shanice, Godwin, Ian, Chapman, Scott, Sukal, Amit, Robinson, Hannah, Ryan, Merrill, Potgieter, Andries and Hickey, Lee (2022). Phenotyping innovations to harness genetic diversity for climate resilience. International Plant Phenotyping Symposium, Wageningen, Netherlands, 27-30 September 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Genetic modification of PIN genes induces causal mechanisms of stay-green drought adaptation phenotype
Borrell, Andrew K., Wong, Albert C. S., George-Jaeggli, Barbara, van Oosterom, Erik J., Mace, Emma S., Godwin, Ian D., Liu, Guoquan, Mullet, John E., Klein, Patricia E., Hammer, Graeme L., McLean, Greg, Hunt, Colleen and Jordan, David R. (2022). Genetic modification of PIN genes induces causal mechanisms of stay-green drought adaptation phenotype. Journal of Experimental Botany, 73 (19), 6711-6726. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erac336
2022
Journal Article
Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust
Jambuthenne, Dilani T., Riaz, Adnan, Athiyannan, Naveenkumar, Alahmad, Samir, Ng, Wei Ling, Ziems, Laura, Afanasenko, Olga, Periyannan, Sambasivam K., Aitken, Elizabeth, Platz, Greg, Godwin, Ian, Voss-Fels, Kai P., Dinglasan, Eric and Hickey, Lee T. (2022). Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 135 (4), 1355-1373. doi: 10.1007/s00122-022-04037-8
2022
Journal Article
Beyond the gene: epigenetic and cis-regulatory targets offer new breeding potential for the future
Crisp, Peter A., Bhatnagar-Mathur, Pooja, Hundleby, Penny, Godwin, Ian D., Waterhouse, Peter M. and Hickey, Lee T. (2022). Beyond the gene: epigenetic and cis-regulatory targets offer new breeding potential for the future. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 73, 88-94. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.07.008
2022
Journal Article
Epigenome guided crop improvement: current progress and future opportunities
Zhang, Yan, Andrews, Haylie, Eglitis-Sexton, Judith, Godwin, Ian, Tanurdžić, Miloš and Crisp, Peter A. (2022). Epigenome guided crop improvement: current progress and future opportunities. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 6 (2), 141-151. doi: 10.1042/etls20210258
2022
Conference Publication
The pursuit of excellence; some reflections after 50+ years of plant breeding at The University of Queensland (9771)
Lambrides, Christopher , Basford, Kaye , DeLacy, Ian , Cooper, Mark , Hardner, Craig , Godwin, Ian , Dieters, Mark and Arief, Vivi (2022). The pursuit of excellence; some reflections after 50+ years of plant breeding at The University of Queensland (9771). Australasian Plant Breeding Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 9-11 May 2022.
2022
Book Chapter
Genome editing towards sorghum improvement
Wong, Albert Chern Sun, Lam, Yasmine, Hintzsche, Jessica, Restall, Jemma and Godwin, Ian D. (2022). Genome editing towards sorghum improvement. Genome Editing Technologies for Crop Improvement. (pp. 295-321) edited by Kaijun Zhao, Rukmini Mishra and Raj Kumar Joshi. Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-0600-8_14
2022
Journal Article
Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for low temperature tolerance at the young microspore stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Australian breeding material
Proud, Christopher, Campbell, Bradley, Susanti, Zuziana, Fukai, Shu, Godwin, Ian, Ovenden, Ben, Snell, Peter and Mitchell, Jaquie (2022). Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for low temperature tolerance at the young microspore stage in rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Australian breeding material. Breeding Science, 72 (3) 21096, 238-247. doi: 10.1270/jsbbs.21096
2021
Journal Article
Endogenous U6 promoters improve CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiencies in Sorghum bicolor and show potential for applications in other cereals
Massel, Karen, Lam, Yasmine, Hintzsche, Jessica, Lester, Nicholas, Botella, Jose R. and Godwin, Ian D. (2021). Endogenous U6 promoters improve CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiencies in Sorghum bicolor and show potential for applications in other cereals. Plant Cell Reports, 41 (2), 489-492. doi: 10.1007/s00299-021-02816-z
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Ian Godwin is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Nitrogen use dynamics in high protein gene edited sorghum
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karen Massel, Dr Peter Crisp, Dr Millicent Smith
-
Doctor Philosophy
Modification of root system architecture to increase climate resilience in barley
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Karen Massel, Dr Hannah Robinson
-
Master Philosophy
Canopy Manipulation of Sorghum to create a more efficient, stress tolerant plant with increased yield.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Vivi Arief
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating Diverse Taro (Colocasia) Germplasm to Enhance Food Security and Climate Resilience in the Pacific Islands
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman, Dr Eric Dinglasan, Dr Millicent Smith, Dr Bradley Campbell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating and bioengineering grain quality in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marina Fortes, Dr Milos Tanurdzic, Dr Peter Crisp
-
Doctor Philosophy
TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSIS OF OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) TOLERANT POPULATION IN RESPONSE TO Ganoderma boninense Pat. INFECTION
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnieszka Mudge
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using epigenomics to discover and modify hidden genetic control elements for crop improvement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Crisp
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improving the efficiency of selection in hybrid maize breeding in Ethiopia through advanced statistical models
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Professor Emma Mace, Dr Alison Kelly
-
Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing natural genetic variation and genome engineering to optimise barley root systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Borrell, Dr Karen Massel, Dr Peter Crisp, Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Hannah Robinson
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Building Blocks for Designer Ideotypes: Dissecting Plant Architecture Genes using CRISPR/Cas9
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Borrell, Dr Erik Van Oosterom, Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Karen Massel
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Optimising molecular tools to study nitrogen utilisation for grain protein storage in Sorghum bicolor
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jimmy Botella, Professor Emma Mace
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
The journey of nitrate from source to sink in Sorghum bicolor: Uncovering the physiology and gene expression of nitrate storage, mobilisation, assimilation and remobilisation in sorghum
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Professor Emma Mace
-
2017
Master Philosophy
Genome wide analysis and allele mining of diverse sorghum genes involved in nitrogen use efficiency
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Professor Emma Mace
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Manipulating seed storage proteins to enhance sorghum digestibility
Principal Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic characterization of flowering time in sorghum
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Professor Emma Mace, Dr Erik Van Oosterom
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Grain Proteomics of Sorghum: Improving Digestibility, Nutritional Quality and Starch Conversion to Ethanol
Principal Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic variation, species diversity, ploidy distribution, and origins of Australian Cynodon
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Lambrides
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
SWEETPOTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS (L.) LAM.)YIELD DECLINE: THE ACTIVITY AND INVOLVEMENT OF RETROTRANSPOSONS
Principal Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
THE ROLE AND POTENTIAL CONTROL OF RETROTRANSPOSONS IN SOMACLONAL VARIATION OF BARLEY TRANSGENICS
Principal Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic manipulation of grain storage protein digestibility in sorghum
Principal Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular Characterisation of the Alpha-Kafirin Multigene Family for the Genetic Improvement of Sorghum Grain Quality
Principal Advisor
-
2007
Doctor Philosophy
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE GENETICS AND PHYSIOLOGY OF SUGAR ACCUMULATION IN SWEET SORGHUM AS A POTENTIAL MODEL FOR SUGARCANE
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Scott Chapman, Professor David Jordan
-
2007
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic Diversity and Variability in Grain Quality of Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.Moench) Landraces from North-Eastern Ethiopia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
DNA BASED MARKERS FOR ERGOT RESISTANCE IN SORGHUM
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Aitken, Professor David Jordan
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
INVESTIGATING THE SORGHUM TRANSFORMATION SYSTEM AND TRANSGENIC DISEASE RESISTANCE
Principal Advisor
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
AN EVALUATION OF MARKER ASSISTED SELECTION (MAS) STRATEGIES FOR GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF WHEAT
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Carroll, Professor Mark Cooper
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
MARKER CHARACTERISATION AND VALIDATION IN BREEDING PROGRAMS FOR RUST RESISTANCE IN SUNFLOWERS, Helianthis annuus l.
Principal Advisor
-
2003
Master Philosophy
GENETIC DIVERSITY STUDIES OF MAIZE GERMPLASM IN ZIMBABWE USING MOLECULAR MARKERS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Emma Mace
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
BREEDING WHEAT FOR DISEASE RESISTANCE TO ROOT-LESION NEMATODE (Pratylenchus thornei)
Principal Advisor
-
2023
Master Philosophy
Investigating the genetics and value of root traits to support yield in barley
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Borrell, Dr Samir Alahmad, Professor Lee Hickey
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Sorghum as a Novel Biomass for the Sustainable Production of Cellulose Nanofibres: An inquiry into Quality, Sustainability, and Statistical Variability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Celine Chaleat, Professor Darren Martin
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Manipulation of plant architecture genes in sorghum to manage drought adaptation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Erik Van Oosterom, Professor Andrew Borrell
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Mining the Vavilov wheat diversity panel for new sources of adult plant resistance to stripe rust
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Aitken, Professor Lee Hickey
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
New tools and sources of genetic resistance to breed yellow spot resistant wheat
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey
-
2017
Master Philosophy
MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF OIL PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS) INFECTION BY GANODERMA BONINENSE
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnieszka Mudge
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic differentiation, heterotic performance and grain yield determinate traits of locally adapted sorghum genotypes in contrasting environments in Ethiopia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Professor Emma Mace
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Facilitating the Process of Controlling Starch Structure Through Starch-branching Enzymes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bob Gilbert, Professor Mark Turner
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Octenylsuccinylated starches: Structure and function
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bob Gilbert
-
2013
Master Philosophy
Characterisation of vegetative bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) for turf use in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Lambrides
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Genetic Diversity of Khaya senegalensis Across Tropical Africa
Associate Advisor
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of environmental and genetic effects on sorghum starch structure and functional properties
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bob Gilbert
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Genomic regions controlling the expression of adult plant resistance to leaf rust, partial resistance to powdery mildew and grain dormancy in a barley population
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Aitken
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Transgenic approaches to foreign protein expression in sorghum grain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman
-
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
The role of Protease in unlocking the nutritive value of Sorgum grain for Pigs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mike Gidley
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Combining physiology and molecular biology to improve drought performance of canola (Brassica napus)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Lambrides
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
The Physiology and Genetics of Height-Yield Associations in Sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Jordan, Professor Graeme Hammer
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT TRAITS FOR CONFECTIONERY SUNFLOWER IN AUSTRALIA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Lambrides
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
STRESS FACTORS INFLUENCING SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND REGENERATION FROM CALLUS, CELL SUSPENSION AND PROTOPLAST CULTURES IN POACEAE
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Adkins
-
2002
Doctor Philosophy
HETEROLOGOUS TRANSPOSON TAGGING IN TOMATO USING THE DEM GENE AS A NOVEL EXCISION MARKER
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bernard Carroll
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Ian Godwin directly for media enquiries about:
- Biofuel
- Biomass
- Biomaterials
- Cereal quality
- Crops - genetically modified
- Crops - grain
- Farming - GM crops
- Farming - GM food
- Food - genetically modified
- Genetic engineering - plants
- Genetically modified crops
- Genetically modified food
- Genetics - plant
- Genetics - plants
- GM crops
- GM foods
- Grain crops
- Plant genetics
- Plant molecular markers
- Plants - genetic engineering
- Sorghum
- Turf grass
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