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

266 works between 1951 and 2025
All (266) Journal Article (156) Book Chapter (26) Conference Publication (80) Book (1) Other Outputs (3)

101 - 120 of 266 works

2013

Journal Article

Additive effects of three auxins and copper on sorghum in vitro root induction

Liu, Guoquan, Gilding, Edward K. and Godwin, Ian D. (2013). Additive effects of three auxins and copper on sorghum in vitro root induction. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant, 49 (2), 191-197. doi: 10.1007/s11627-012-9488-2

Additive effects of three auxins and copper on sorghum in vitro root induction

2013

Journal Article

Allelic variation at a single gene increases food value in a drought-tolerant staple cereal

Gilding, Edward K., Frere, Celine H., Cruickshank, Alan, Rada, Anna K., Prentis, Peter J., Mudge, Agnieszka M., Mace, Emma S., Jordan, David R. and Godwin, Ian D. (2013). Allelic variation at a single gene increases food value in a drought-tolerant staple cereal. Nature Communications, 4 (1) 1483, 1483.1-1483.5. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2450

Allelic variation at a single gene increases food value in a drought-tolerant staple cereal

2013

Book Chapter

Molecular markers in plant improvement

Prentis, Peter J., Gilding, Edward K., Pavasovic, Ana, Frere, Celine H. and Godwin, Ian D. (2013). Molecular markers in plant improvement. Molecular markers in plants. (pp. 67-78) edited by Robert J. Henry. Ames, IA, United States: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781118473023.ch5

Molecular markers in plant improvement

2013

Conference Publication

The allergome, proteome and transcriptome of pollen from the prominent subtropical Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense)

Campbell, B., Gilding, E., Lomas, V., Guru, P., Loo, D., Solley, G., Mari, A., Hill, M., Godwin, I. and Davies, J. M. (2013). The allergome, proteome and transcriptome of pollen from the prominent subtropical Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense). World Allergy and Asthma Congress of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and World Allergy Organization, Milan, Italy, 22 - 26 June 2013. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.. doi: 10.1111/all.12247

The allergome, proteome and transcriptome of pollen from the prominent subtropical Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense)

2013

Conference Publication

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

Medek, Danielle, Vicendese, Don, Jaggard, Alison, Campbell, Bradley, Johnston, Fay, Godwin, Ian, Huete, Alfredo, Green, Brett, Newnham, Rewi, Bowman, David, Newbigin, Ed, Erbas, Bircan, Beggs, Paul, Haberle, Simon and Davies, Janet (2013). Regional and seasonal variation in airborne grass pollen levels between cities of Australia and New Zealand. 24th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), Perth, Australia, 11-13 September 2013. Malden, MA United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/imj.12252

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

2013

Conference Publication

Ecoturf - a case study on genetic variation and agronomic potential of bermudagrass (cynodon spp.) germplasm collected from Australian biodiversity

Lambrides, Christopher J., Zhou, Yi, Fukai, Shu, Jewell, Margaret, Loch, Don, Godwin, Ian, Holton, Tim, Innes, David, Frere, Celine, Hanna, Wayne, Ye, Changrong, Van Tran, Thinh, Le, Thu, Cao, Ninh, Al Dabbagh, Haider, O'Brien, Chris, Roche, Matt, Fullelove, Garry, Ballard, Emma, Kearns, Ryan, Pearce, Will, Hacker, Andrew, Puachuay, Meena, Shelton, Max, Dalzell, Scott, Anderson, Bill, Harris-Shultz, Karen and Cremer, Julia (2013). Ecoturf - a case study on genetic variation and agronomic potential of bermudagrass (cynodon spp.) germplasm collected from Australian biodiversity. ITRC 2013: 12th International Turfgrass Research Conference, Beijing, China, 14-19 July 2013. Overland Park, KS, USA: Intertec Publishing.

Ecoturf - a case study on genetic variation and agronomic potential of bermudagrass (cynodon spp.) germplasm collected from Australian biodiversity

2013

Conference Publication

Introduction and adaptation of Cynodon L.C. Rich species in Australia

Jewell, M. C., Anderson, W. F., Loch, D. S., Godwin, I. D. and Lambrides, C. J. (2013). Introduction and adaptation of Cynodon L.C. Rich species in Australia. 29th Meeting of the Eucarpia Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section, Dublin, Ireland, 4-8 September 2011. Dordrecht , Netherlands: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-4555-1_29

Introduction and adaptation of Cynodon L.C. Rich species in Australia

2013

Conference Publication

Selection for tolerance to both drought and frost among a large number of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) ecotypes collected from different climatic zones

Zhou, Yi, Fukai, Shu, Loch, Donald S., Godwin, Ian D. and Lambrides, Christopher J. (2013). Selection for tolerance to both drought and frost among a large number of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) ecotypes collected from different climatic zones. ITRC 2013: 12th International Turfgrass Research Conference, Beijing, China, 14-19 July, 2013. Overland Park, KS, USA: Intertec Publishing.

Selection for tolerance to both drought and frost among a large number of bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) ecotypes collected from different climatic zones

2013

Conference Publication

Potential of Australian bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) for pasture in subtropical Australia

Hacker, Andrew, Puachuay, Meena, Shelton, H. Max, Dalzell, Scott, Al Dabbagh, Haider, Jewell, Margaret, Tran, Thinh Van, Ngo, The, Zhou, Yi, Halliday, Michael, Giles, Hayley, Loch, Don S., Godwin, Ian D., Fukai, Shu, O'Brien, Chris, Pearce, Will, Anderson, William F. and Lambrides, Christopher J. (2013). Potential of Australian bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) for pasture in subtropical Australia. IGC2013: 22nd International Grassland Congress 2013, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 15-19 September, 2013. Santiago de Cali, Colombia: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical.

Potential of Australian bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) for pasture in subtropical Australia

2012

Journal Article

Phylogenetic analysis reveals multiple introductions of Cynodon species in Australia

Jewell, M., Frere, C. H., Harris-Shultz, K., Anderson, W. F., Godwin, I. D. and Lambrides, C. J. (2012). Phylogenetic analysis reveals multiple introductions of Cynodon species in Australia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 65 (2), 390-396. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.06.026

Phylogenetic analysis reveals multiple introductions of Cynodon species in Australia

Featured

2012

Journal Article

Highly efficient sorghum transformation

Liu, Guoquan and Godwin, Ian D. (2012). Highly efficient sorghum transformation. Plant Cell Reports, 31 (6), 999-1007. doi: 10.1007/s00299-011-1218-4

Highly efficient sorghum transformation

2012

Journal Article

Characterisation of grain quality in diverse sorghum germplasm using a Rapid Visco-Analyzer and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Shewayrga, Hailemichael, Sopade, Peter A., Jordan, David R. and Godwin, Ian D. (2012). Characterisation of grain quality in diverse sorghum germplasm using a Rapid Visco-Analyzer and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 92 (7), 1402-1410. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.4714

Characterisation of grain quality in diverse sorghum germplasm using a Rapid Visco-Analyzer and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

2012

Journal Article

Maximizing genetic, morphological, and geographic diversity in a core collection of Australian bermudagrass

Jewell, Margaret C., Zhou, Yi, Loch, Don S., Godwin, Ian D. and Lambrides, Christopher J. (2012). Maximizing genetic, morphological, and geographic diversity in a core collection of Australian bermudagrass. Crop Science, 52 (2), 879-889. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2011.09.0497

Maximizing genetic, morphological, and geographic diversity in a core collection of Australian bermudagrass

2012

Journal Article

Rapid phenotyping for adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in wheat

Hickey, Lee T., Wilkinson, Peter M., Knight, Cheridan R., Godwin, Ian D., Kravchuk, Olena Y., Aitken, Elizabeth A. B., Bansal, Urmil K., Bariana, Harbans S., DeLacy, Ian H. and Dieters, Mark J. (2012). Rapid phenotyping for adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in wheat. Plant Breeding, 131 (1), 54-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0523.2011.01925.x

Rapid phenotyping for adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in wheat

2012

Journal Article

Factors controlling self-fertility in sunflower: The role of GCA/SCA effects, S alleles, and floret characteristics

Sun, Yue, Godwin, Ian D., Arief, Vivi N., Delacy, Ian H., Jackway, Paul T. and Lambrides, Christopher J. (2012). Factors controlling self-fertility in sunflower: The role of GCA/SCA effects, S alleles, and floret characteristics. Crop Science, 52 (1), 128-135. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2011.04.0188

Factors controlling self-fertility in sunflower: The role of GCA/SCA effects, S alleles, and floret characteristics

2012

Conference Publication

Novel pollen allergens of the subtropical Johnson grass (sorghum Halepense) that are important for allergic respiratory disease

Lomas, Victoria, Guru, Preethi, Campbell, Bradley, Loo, Dorothy, Hill, Michelle, Godwin, Ian and Davies, Janet (2012). Novel pollen allergens of the subtropical Johnson grass (sorghum Halepense) that are important for allergic respiratory disease. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting, Wellington, New Zealand, 5–8 September 2012. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia.

Novel pollen allergens of the subtropical Johnson grass (sorghum Halepense) that are important for allergic respiratory disease

2012

Journal Article

Expression pattern of the alpha-kafirin promoter coupled with a signal peptide from Sorghum bicolor L. Moench

Ahmad, Norazlina, Sant, Rajnesh, Bokan, Milovan, Steadman, Kathryn J. and Godwin, Ian D. (2012). Expression pattern of the alpha-kafirin promoter coupled with a signal peptide from Sorghum bicolor L. Moench. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2012 752391, 752391.1-752391.8. doi: 10.1155/2012/752391

Expression pattern of the alpha-kafirin promoter coupled with a signal peptide from Sorghum bicolor L. Moench

2011

Journal Article

Lack of low frequency variants masks patterns of non-neutral evolution following domestication

Frere, Celine H., Prentis, Peter J., Gilding, Edward K., Mudge, Agnieszka M., Cruickshank, Alan and Godwin, Ian D. (2011). Lack of low frequency variants masks patterns of non-neutral evolution following domestication. PLoS One, 6 (8 Article # e23041) e23041, e23041-1-e23041-5. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023041

Lack of low frequency variants masks patterns of non-neutral evolution following domestication

2011

Journal Article

Occurrence of LINE, gypsy-like, and copia-like retrotransposons in the clonally propagated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Okpul, Tom, Harding, Robert M., Dieters, Mark J. and Godwin, Ian D. (2011). Occurrence of LINE, gypsy-like, and copia-like retrotransposons in the clonally propagated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.). Genome, 54 (7), 603-609. doi: 10.1139/G11-027

Occurrence of LINE, gypsy-like, and copia-like retrotransposons in the clonally propagated sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

2011

Journal Article

Cultivar-specific effects of pathogen testing on storage root yield of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas

Okpul, T., Maltby, J., Guaf, E., Coleman, E. A., Dennien, S., Harding, R. M., Dieters, M. J. and Godwin, I. D. (2011). Cultivar-specific effects of pathogen testing on storage root yield of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas. Annals of Applied Biology, 158 (3), 288-296. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7348.2011.00463.x

Cultivar-specific effects of pathogen testing on storage root yield of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2027
    Unlocking crop epigenomics to uncover and engineer hidden diversity
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 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

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
  • 2019 - 2024
    Cereal blueprints for a water-limited world
    ARC Discovery Projects
    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

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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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