Professor Ian Godwin
Professor

Ian Godwin

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32681

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

Agricultural biotechnology Crop and pasture production Plant biology

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.

Search Professor Ian Godwin’s works on UQ eSpace

261 works between 1951 and 2024
All (261) Journal Article (153) Book Chapter (25) Conference Publication (80) Book (1) Other Outputs (2)

61 - 80 of 261 works

2017

Journal Article

The wheat Lr34 multipathogen resistance gene confers resistance to anthracnose and rust in sorghum

Schnippenkoetter, Wendelin, Lo, Clive, Liu, Guoquan, Dibley, Katherine, Chan, Wai Lung, White, Jodie, Milne, Ricky, Zwart, Alexander, Kwong, Eunjung, Keller, Beat, Godwin, Ian, Krattinger, Simon G. and Lagudah, Evans (2017). The wheat Lr34 multipathogen resistance gene confers resistance to anthracnose and rust in sorghum. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 15 (11), 1387-1396. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12723

The wheat Lr34 multipathogen resistance gene confers resistance to anthracnose and rust in sorghum

2017

Journal Article

The vegetative nitrogen response of sorghum lines containing different alleles for nitrate reductase and glutamate synthase

Diatloff, Eugene, Mace, Emma S., Jordan, David R., Filleur, Sophie, Tai, Shuaishuai, Schmidt, Susanne and Godwin, Ian D. (2017). The vegetative nitrogen response of sorghum lines containing different alleles for nitrate reductase and glutamate synthase. Molecular Breeding, 37 (11) 138. doi: 10.1007/s11032-017-0738-1

The vegetative nitrogen response of sorghum lines containing different alleles for nitrate reductase and glutamate synthase

2017

Journal Article

VERNALIZATION1 modulates root system architecture in wheat and barley

Voss-Fels, Kai P., Robinson, Hannah, Mudge, Stephen R., Richard, Cecile, Newman, Saul, Wittkop, Benjamin, Stahl, Andreas, Friedt, Wolfgang, Frisch, Matthias, Gabur, Iulian, Miller-Cooper, Anika, Campbell, Bradley C., Kelly, Alison, Fox, Glen, Christopher, Jack, Christopher, Mandy, Chenu, Karine, Franckowiak, Jerome, Mace, Emma S., Borrell, Andrew K., Eagles, Howard, Jordan, David R., Botella, Jose R., Hammer, Graeme, Godwin, Ian D., Trevaskis, Ben, Snowdon, Rod J. and Hickey, Lee T. (2017). VERNALIZATION1 modulates root system architecture in wheat and barley. Molecular Plant, 11 (1), 226-229. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.10.005

VERNALIZATION1 modulates root system architecture in wheat and barley

2017

Journal Article

Post-anthesis nitrate uptake is critical to yield and grain protein content in Sorghum bicolor

Worland, Belinda, Robinson, Nicole, Jordan, David, Schmidt, Susanne and Godwin, Ian (2017). Post-anthesis nitrate uptake is critical to yield and grain protein content in Sorghum bicolor. Journal of Plant Physiology, 216, 118-124. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2017.05.026

Post-anthesis nitrate uptake is critical to yield and grain protein content in Sorghum bicolor

2017

Journal Article

Whole-genome analysis of candidate genes associated with seed size and weight in Sorghum bicolor reveals signatures of artificial selection and insights into parallel domestication in cereal crops

Tao, Yongfu, Mace, Emma S., Tai, Shuaishuai, Cruickshank, Alan, Campbell, Bradley C., Zhao, Xianrong, Van Oosterom, Erik J., Godwin, Ian D., Botella, Jose R. and Jordan, David R. (2017). Whole-genome analysis of candidate genes associated with seed size and weight in Sorghum bicolor reveals signatures of artificial selection and insights into parallel domestication in cereal crops. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8 1237, 1237.1-1237.14. doi: 10.3389/fp/s.2017.01237

Whole-genome analysis of candidate genes associated with seed size and weight in Sorghum bicolor reveals signatures of artificial selection and insights into parallel domestication in cereal crops

2017

Journal Article

Expression patterns of the native shrunken-2 promoter in sorghum bicolor visualised through use of the GFP reporter gene

Lamont, Kyle C., Mudge, Stephen R., Liu, Guoquan and Godwin, Ian D. (2017). Expression patterns of the native shrunken-2 promoter in sorghum bicolor visualised through use of the GFP reporter gene. Plant Cell Reports, 36 (11), 1689-1700. doi: 10.1007/s00299-017-2182-4

Expression patterns of the native shrunken-2 promoter in sorghum bicolor visualised through use of the GFP reporter gene

2017

Conference Publication

Understanding the genetic control of quantitative resistance to yellow spot in wheat

Dinglasan, E., Singh, D., Godwin, I. and Hickey, L. (2017). Understanding the genetic control of quantitative resistance to yellow spot in wheat. Annual Meeting the American-Phytopathological-Society (APS), San Antonio TX, United States, 05-09 August 2017. St. Paul, MN United States: American Phytopathological Society.

Understanding the genetic control of quantitative resistance to yellow spot in wheat

2017

Journal Article

The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide

Liu, Guoquan, Lamont, Kyle C., Ahmad, Norazlina, Tomkins, Alison, Mudge, Stephen R., Gilding, Edward K. and Godwin, Ian D. (2017). The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 128 (1), 133-143. doi: 10.1007/s11240-016-1093-3

The functionality of α-kafirin promoter and α-kafirin signal peptide

2016

Journal Article

Heterosis in locally adapted sorghum genotypes and potential of hybrids for increased productivity in contrasting environments in Ethiopia

Mindaye, Taye T., Mace, Emma S., Godwin, Ian D. and Jordan, David R. (2016). Heterosis in locally adapted sorghum genotypes and potential of hybrids for increased productivity in contrasting environments in Ethiopia. The Crop Journal, 4 (6), 479-489. doi: 10.1016/j.cj.2016.06.020

Heterosis in locally adapted sorghum genotypes and potential of hybrids for increased productivity in contrasting environments in Ethiopia

2016

Journal Article

Domestication and the storage starch biosynthesis pathway: signatures of selection from a whole sorghum genome sequencing strategy

Campbell, Bradley C., Gilding, Edward K., Mace, Emma S., Tai, Shuaishuai, Tao, Yongfu, Prentis, Peter J., Thomelin, Pauline, Jordan, David R. and Godwin, Ian D. (2016). Domestication and the storage starch biosynthesis pathway: signatures of selection from a whole sorghum genome sequencing strategy. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 14 (12), 2240-2253. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12578

Domestication and the storage starch biosynthesis pathway: signatures of selection from a whole sorghum genome sequencing strategy

2016

Journal Article

Whole genome sequencing reveals potential new targets for improving nitrogen uptake and utilization in Sorghum bicolor

Massel, Karen, Campbell, Bradley C., Mace, Emma S., Tai, Shuaishuai, Tao, Yongfu, Worland, Belinda G., Jordan, David R., Botella, Jose R. and Godwin, Ian D. (2016). Whole genome sequencing reveals potential new targets for improving nitrogen uptake and utilization in Sorghum bicolor. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7 (OCTOBER2016) 1544, 1544. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01544

Whole genome sequencing reveals potential new targets for improving nitrogen uptake and utilization in Sorghum bicolor

2016

Journal Article

Rice-cold tolerance across reproductive stages

Mitchell, J. H., Zulkafli, S. L., Bosse, J., Campbell, B., Snell, P., Mace, E. S., Godwin, I. D. and Fukai, S. (2016). Rice-cold tolerance across reproductive stages. Crop and Pasture Science, 67 (8), 823-833. doi: 10.1071/CP15331

Rice-cold tolerance across reproductive stages

2016

Journal Article

Regional and seasonal variation in airborne grass pollen levels between cities of Australia and New Zealand

Medek, Danielle E., Beggs, Paul J., Erbas, Bircan, Jaggard, Alison K., Campbell, Bradley C., Vicendese, Don, Johnston, Fay H., Godwin, Ian, Huete, Alfredo R., Green, Brett J., Burton, Pamela K., Bowman, David M. J. S., Newnham, Rewi M., Katelaris, Constance H., Haberle, Simon G., Newbigin, Ed and Davies, Janet M. (2016). Regional and seasonal variation in airborne grass pollen levels between cities of Australia and New Zealand. Aerobiologia, 32 (2), 289-302. doi: 10.1007/s10453-015-9399-x

Regional and seasonal variation in airborne grass pollen levels between cities of Australia and New Zealand

2016

Journal Article

Erratum: SorGSD: a sorghum genome SNP database (Biotechnology for Biofuels (2016) 9:6 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-015-0415-8)

Luo, Hong, Zhao, Wenming, Wang, Yanqing, Xia, Yan, Wu, Xiaoyuan, Zhang, Limin, Tang, Bixia, Zhu, Junwei, Fang, Lu, Du, Zhenglin, Bekele, Wubishet A., Tai, Shuaishuai, Jordan, David R., Godwin, Ian D., Snowdon, Rod J., Mace, Emma S., Luo, Jingchu and Jing, Hai-Chun (2016). Erratum: SorGSD: a sorghum genome SNP database (Biotechnology for Biofuels (2016) 9:6 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-015-0415-8). Biotechnology for Biofuels, 9 (1) 37, 37-37. doi: 10.1186/s13068-016-0450-0

Erratum: SorGSD: a sorghum genome SNP database (Biotechnology for Biofuels (2016) 9:6 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-015-0415-8)

2016

Journal Article

Into the vault of the Vavilov wheats: old diversity for new alleles

Riaz, Adnan, Hathorn, Adrian, Dinglasan, Eric, Ziems, Laura, Richard, Cecile, Singh, Dharmendra, Mitrofanova, Olga, Afanasenko, Olga, Aitken, Elizabeth, Godwin, Ian and Hickey, Lee (2016). Into the vault of the Vavilov wheats: old diversity for new alleles. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 64 (3), 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s10722-016-0380-5

Into the vault of the Vavilov wheats: old diversity for new alleles

2016

Journal Article

SorGSD: A sorghum genome SNP database

Luo, Hong, Zhao, Wenming, Wang, Yanqing, Xia, Yan, Wu, Xiaoyuan, Zhang, Limin, Tang, Bixia, Zhu, Junwei, Fang, Lu, Du, Zhenglin, Bekele, Wubishet A., Tai, Shuaishuai, Jordan, David R., Godwin , Ian D., Snowdon, Rod J., Mace, Emma S., Jing, Jingchu and Luo, Hai‑Chun (2016). SorGSD: A sorghum genome SNP database. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 9 (1) 6, 6. doi: 10.1186/s13068-015-0415-8

SorGSD: A sorghum genome SNP database

2016

Conference Publication

Sorghum – an important cereal for human health

Netzel, Michael, Lim, Jane, Netzel, Gabriele, Cruickshank, Alan, Godwin, Ian, Jordan, David and Fox, Glen (2016). Sorghum – an important cereal for human health. The Australian Summer Grains Conferences (ASGC) 2016, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 7-9 March, 2016.

Sorghum – an important cereal for human health

2016

Book Chapter

Genomic approaches for improving grain quality of sorghum

Mudge, Stephen R., Campbell, Bradley C., Mustapha, Nurazilah B. and Godwin, Ian D. (2016). Genomic approaches for improving grain quality of sorghum. The sorghum genome . (pp. 189-205) edited by Sujay Rakshit and Yi-Hong Wang. Springer, Cham: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-47789-3_10

Genomic approaches for improving grain quality of sorghum

2016

Journal Article

Microsatellite analysis of oil palms and their progenies bred in Papua New Guinea

Mudge, A. M., Hamdani, A. D., Pilotti, C. A. and Godwin, I. D. (2016). Microsatellite analysis of oil palms and their progenies bred in Papua New Guinea. Tropical Plant Biology, 9 (4), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s12042-016-9179-y

Microsatellite analysis of oil palms and their progenies bred in Papua New Guinea

2016

Journal Article

Resistance to yellow spot in wheat grown under accelerated growth conditions

Dinglasan, Eric, Godwin, Ian D., Mortlock, Miranda Y. and Hickey, Lee T. (2016). Resistance to yellow spot in wheat grown under accelerated growth conditions. Euphytica, 209 (3), 693-707. doi: 10.1007/s10681-016-1660-z

Resistance to yellow spot in wheat grown under accelerated growth conditions

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Enhancing drought tolerance and food security in Papua New Guinea: the potential of new taro germplasm
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    North Queensland cotton-grains-cattle farming systems
    CRC for Developing Northern Australia
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Digging deeper to improve yield stability
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2027
    Reducing lodging risk in sorghum to increase grower confidence and profitability
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Evaluating Salinity Tolerance in Diverse Taro (Colocasia) Wild Relatives to enhance Food Security in the Pacific Islands
    Australia & Pacific Science Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2026
    Hy-Gain for Smallholders (2020-2025)
    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    Cereal blueprints for a water-limited world
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    The impact of climate on sorghum utilisation in poultry diet (AgriFutures project administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Traits of importance for aerobic 'DryRice' varieties for the southern Australian rice industry
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Development of sterile Leucaena to enhance red-meat production in new regions of Australia
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Better sorghum: larger grain with more protein
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Proving that PIN genes are associated with drought adaptation in sorghum: A targeted research project to enhance commercialisation opportunities
    Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Molecular characterization of complex biological polymers
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Sweet sorghum for high-value sugars
    Queensland-Chinese Academy of Sciences (Q-CAS) Collaborative Science Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Towards the Australian Pollen Allergen Partnership for better management of pollen exposure and respiratory health outcomes
    Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australasia
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2022
    Developing a foundation for the long-term management of basal stem rot of oil palm in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Sorghum with more feed grain energy: bigger grain with higher starch content
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2014
    A preliminary investigation of basal stem rot in oil palm smallholdings in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Breaking the nexus: more biomass in cereal grain
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Accelerated crop development and environmental compliance of agricultural and food systems
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Integrating the genome with the abiotic stress tolerance phenome in sorghum
    Go8 Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Smarter fermentations through starter culture genomics
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2018
    Cold tolerant traits and QTLs for improved efficiency of rice breeding program
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Analysis of an engineered seed storage protein gene in transgenic sorghum
    UQ - Purdue University Early Career Mobility Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Environmental monitoring of subtropical grass pollen allergens that contribute to hay fever and asthma
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Phosphorus Use Efficiency (PUE) in Sugarcane Genotypes
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Trait based water efficiency improvement in rice
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    NextGen Sorghum: Genomic approaches to novel renewable bioproducts
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2013
    The control of basal stem rot of oil palm caused by Ganoderma in Solomon Islands
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2013
    eSorghum as a bio-fuel feedstock for arid environments
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Development of sophisticated genotyping methods
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Factors controlling higher-level starch structure
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Graft copolymers from starch and synthetic monomers
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Methods to improve the nutritional value of sorghum for broilers
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Sorghum protein in the manufacture of controlled-release delivery systems for bioactives
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    The wheat phenome atlas and phenome atlas toolbox
    International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2010
    Eco-Turf: Water and nutrient use efficient turfgrasses from Australian biodiversity
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Identification of the key attributes affecting starch content and availability in sorghum grain
    CRC for an Internationally Competitive Pork Industry
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    Combining Molecular Plant Physiology And Breeding To Improve Canola (Brassica napus) Performance In Dry Environments
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Adoption Study - Overcoming production constraints to sorghum in rain fed environments in India and Australia (CSI/1994/968)
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Nutriomics of Iron (fe) Sink-Source Relationship in Rice During Grain-filling
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Atrazine residues in Australian subtropical soils
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2008
    Manipulation of protein and starch quality in sorghum
    Grain Foods CRC Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2007
    Manipulation of Protein and Starch Quality in Sorghum
    Grain Foods CRC Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Travel Grant - DNA Fingerprinting Workshop A/P Ian Godwin, Dr E Mace
    Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Improving moisture stress tolerance of sunflower through enhanced transpiration efficiency
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Improving the digestibility of sorghum grain: Molecular and protein analysis of transgenic sorghum
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Travel grant - Staff at UQ to attend the 12th Australiasian Plant Breeding Conference, Perth, September 2002
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Travel Grant for Ian Godwin to attend 10th International Association for Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology Conference, Florida, USA (23-28 June 2002)
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Travel Grant - Dr Izquierdo, Ms Gray, Mrs Williams, Mr Laidlaw, Mr Donohoe, Mr Parh, Mr Chigeza to attend the 4th Australian Sorghum Conference, Kooralbyn Valley
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2005
    Bioscience Australia Pty Ltd Project - School of Land and Food Science
    Bioscience Australia Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Travel Grant - Dr Ian Godwin to attend the American Society of Agronomy - Crop Science Society of America Annual Meeting
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Travel grant- Mr Jason Able to attend the 6th International Congress of Plant Molecular biology - Quebec June 2000
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1998 - 2003
    Virus indexing and DNA fingerprinting for the international movement and conservation of taro gerplasm
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Attendance at the Plant and Animal Genome VI conference in San Diego, USA, January 1998.
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Travel Scheme for collaborative research by Dr I D Godwin at Instit of Plant Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Molecular analysis of a chloroplast genome rearrangement conferring dwarfism and cold terance in banana
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1999
    Genetic engineering of grain sorgham for improved pest resistance
    Grains Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Ian Godwin 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 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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