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:
- Not 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
2014
Journal Article
Impacts of kafirin allelic diversity, starch content, and protein digestibility on ethanol conversion efficiency in grain sorghum
Cremer, Julie E., Liu, Liman, Bean, Scott R., Ohm, Jae-Bom, Tilley, Michael, Wilson, Jeff D., Kaufman, Rhett C., Vu, Thanh H., Gilding, Edward K., Godwin, Ian D. and Wang, Donghai (2014). Impacts of kafirin allelic diversity, starch content, and protein digestibility on ethanol conversion efficiency in grain sorghum. Cereal Chemistry, 91 (3), 218-227. doi: 10.1094/CCHEM-04-13-0068-R
2014
Book Chapter
Sorghum genetic transformation by particle bombardment
Liu, Guoquan, Campbell, Bradley C. and Godwin, Ian D. (2014). Sorghum genetic transformation by particle bombardment. Cereal genomics: methods and protocols. (pp. 219-234) edited by Robert J. Henry and Agnelo Furtado. New York, NY, United States: Humana Press. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-715-0-18
2014
Book Chapter
Genetic Transformation and Breeding
Liu, Guoquan, Gilding, Edward and Godwin, Ian D. (2014). Genetic Transformation and Breeding. Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Sorghum. (pp. 251-283) edited by Yi-Hong Wang and Chittaranjan Kole. Boca Raton: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/b17153
2013
Journal Article
Potential of Australian bermudagrasses (Cynodon spp.) for pasture in subtropical Australia
Hacker, Andrew, Puachuay, Meena, Max Shelton, H., Dalzell, Scott, Al Dabbagh, Haider, Jewell, Margaret, van Tran, Thinh, 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. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 1 (1), 81-83. doi: 10.17138/TGFT(1)81-83
2013
Journal Article
Whole-genome sequencing reveals untapped genetic potential in Africa's indigenous cereal crop sorghum
Mace, Emma S., Tai, Shuaishuai, Gilding, Edward K., Li, Yanhong, Prentis, Peter J., Bian, Lianle, Campbell, Bradley C., Hu, Wushu, Innes, David J., Han, Xuelian, Cruickshank, Alan, Dai, Changming, Frere, Celine, Zhang, Haikuan, Hunt, Colleen H., Wang, Xianyuan, Shatte, Tracey, Wang, Miao, Su, Zhe, Li, Jun, Lin, Xiaozhen, Godwin, Ian D., Jordan, David R. and Wang, Jun (2013). Whole-genome sequencing reveals untapped genetic potential in Africa's indigenous cereal crop sorghum. Nature Communications, 4 (1) 2320, 2320.1-2320.8. doi: 10.1038/ncomms3320
2013
Journal Article
Insights into sorghum starch biosynthesis from structure changes induced by different growth temperatures
Li, Enpeng, Hasjim, Jovin, Singh, Vijaya, Tizzotti, Morgan, Godwin, Ian D. and Gilbert, Robert G. (2013). Insights into sorghum starch biosynthesis from structure changes induced by different growth temperatures. Cereal Chemistry, 90 (3), 223-230. doi: 10.1094/CCHEM-09-12-0113-R
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Ian Godwin is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Master Philosophy
Canopy manipulation of Sorghum and Maize to create more efficient, stress tolerant plants with increased yield.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Vivi Arief
-
Doctor Philosophy
Modification of root system architecture to increase climate resilience in barley
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lee Hickey, Dr Hannah Robinson, Dr Karen Massel
-
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
Investigating and bioengineering grain quality in sorghum
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Marina Fortes, Associate Professor Milos Tanurdžić, Dr Peter Crisp
-
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
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
Improving meiotic recombination frequency in sorghum using gene editing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karen Massel
-
Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing natural genetic variation and genome engineering to optimise barley root systems
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hannah Robinson, Dr Karen Massel, Dr Peter Crisp, Professor Lee Hickey
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Building Blocks for Designer Ideotypes: Dissecting Plant Architecture Genes using CRISPR/Cas9
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: 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
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
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic variation, species diversity, ploidy distribution, and origins of Australian Cynodon
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Lambrides
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular Characterisation of the Alpha-Kafirin Multigene Family for the Genetic Improvement of Sorghum Grain Quality
Principal Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic manipulation of grain storage protein digestibility in sorghum
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 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
-
2025
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
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Using epigenomics to discover and modify hidden genetic control elements for crop improvement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Crisp
-
2023
Master Philosophy
Investigating the genetics and value of root traits to support yield in barley
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: 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
-
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 Mark Turner
-
-
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
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Transgenic approaches to foreign protein expression in sorghum grain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman
-
-
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
-
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
-
2002
Doctor Philosophy
HETEROLOGOUS TRANSPOSON TAGGING IN TOMATO USING THE DEM GENE AS A NOVEL EXCISION MARKER
Associate Advisor
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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