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Professor Ian Godwin
Professor

Ian Godwin

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32681

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

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

266 works between 1951 and 2025

121 - 140 of 266 works

2011

Journal Article

Effect of a gibberellin-biosynthesis inhibitor treatment on the physicochemical properties of sorghum starch

Li, Enpeng, Hasjim, Jovin, Dhital, Sushil, Godwin, Ian D. and Gilbert, Robert G. (2011). Effect of a gibberellin-biosynthesis inhibitor treatment on the physicochemical properties of sorghum starch. Journal of Cereal Science, 53 (3), 328-334. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2011.02.002

Effect of a gibberellin-biosynthesis inhibitor treatment on the physicochemical properties of sorghum starch

2011

Journal Article

IRAP, a retrotransposon-based marker system for the detection of somaclonal variation in barley

Campbell, Bradley C., LeMare, Sophie, Piperidis, George and Godwin, Ian D. (2011). IRAP, a retrotransposon-based marker system for the detection of somaclonal variation in barley. Molecular Breeding, 27 (2), 193-206. doi: 10.1007/s11032-010-9422-4

IRAP, a retrotransposon-based marker system for the detection of somaclonal variation in barley

2011

Conference Publication

Gibberellin-biosynthesis inhibitor treatment on sorghum plants does not affect the structural properties of the starch

Li, Enpeng, Hasjim, Jovin, Dhital, Sushil, Godwin, Ian D. and Gilbert, Robert G. (2011). Gibberellin-biosynthesis inhibitor treatment on sorghum plants does not affect the structural properties of the starch. Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA, 11-14 June 2011.

Gibberellin-biosynthesis inhibitor treatment on sorghum plants does not affect the structural properties of the starch

2011

Conference Publication

The effects of trinexapac-ethyl treatment on the physicochemical properties of sorghum starch

Li, Enpeng, Hasjim, Jovin, Dhital, Sushil, Godwin, Ian D and Gilbert, Robert G (2011). The effects of trinexapac-ethyl treatment on the physicochemical properties of sorghum starch. Australian Food Science Summer School, Brisbane, Australia, 9-11 February 2011.

The effects of trinexapac-ethyl treatment on the physicochemical properties of sorghum starch

2011

Conference Publication

The effects of high growing-temperature on the structure of sorghum starch

Li, Enpeng, Hasjim, Jovin, Singh, Vijaya, Tizzotti, Morgan, Godwin, Ian D. and Gilbert, Robert G. (2011). The effects of high growing-temperature on the structure of sorghum starch. 61st Australian Cereal Chemistry Conference, Coolongatta, NSW, Australia, 4-8 September 2011.

The effects of high growing-temperature on the structure of sorghum starch

2011

Conference Publication

Effects of high growing temperature on starch structure in sorghum grains

Li, Enpeng, Hasjim, Jovin, Singh, Vijaya, Tizzotti, Morgan, Godwin, Ian D. and Gilbert, Robert G. (2011). Effects of high growing temperature on starch structure in sorghum grains. American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Conference, Palm Springs, CA, United States, 16-19 October 2011.

Effects of high growing temperature on starch structure in sorghum grains

2010

Journal Article

Characterization, inheritance, and molecular study of opaque leaf mutant in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

Rungnoi, Ornuma, Chanprem, Sonthichai, Toojinda, Theerayut, Godwin, Ian, Lambrides, Chris and Srinives, Peerasak (2010). Characterization, inheritance, and molecular study of opaque leaf mutant in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology, 13 (4), 219-226. doi: 10.1007/s12892-010-0059-y

Characterization, inheritance, and molecular study of opaque leaf mutant in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

2010

Journal Article

A QTL controlling low temperature induced spikelet sterility at booting stage in rice

Ye, C., Fukai, S., Godwin, I. D., Koh, H., Reinke, R., Zhou, Y., Lambrides, C., Jiang, W., Snell, P. and Redona, E (2010). A QTL controlling low temperature induced spikelet sterility at booting stage in rice. Euphytica, 176 (3), 291-301. doi: 10.1007/s10681-010-0226-8

A QTL controlling low temperature induced spikelet sterility at booting stage in rice

2010

Journal Article

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae)

Sexton, G. J., Frere, C. H., Dieters, M. J., Godwin, I. D. and Prentis, P. J. (2010). Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae). American Journal of Botany, 97 (11), E111-E113. doi: 10.3732/ajb.1000300

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae)

2010

Journal Article

Allelic variation of the β-, γ- and δ-kafirin genes in diverse Sorghum genotypes

Laidlaw, H.K.C., Mace, E.S., Williams, S.B., Sakrewski, K., Mudge, A.M., Prentis, P.J., Jordan, D.R. and Godwin, I.D. (2010). Allelic variation of the β-, γ- and δ-kafirin genes in diverse Sorghum genotypes. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 121 (7), 1227-1237. doi: 10.1007/s00122-010-1383-9

Allelic variation of the β-, γ- and δ-kafirin genes in diverse Sorghum genotypes

2010

Journal Article

Characterization and multiplexing of EST-SSR primers in Cynodon (Poaceae) species

Jewell, MC, Frere, CH, Prentis, PJ, Lambrides, CJ and Godwin, ID (2010). Characterization and multiplexing of EST-SSR primers in Cynodon (Poaceae) species. American Journal of Botany, 97 (10), E99-E101. doi: 10.3732/ajb.1000254

Characterization and multiplexing of EST-SSR primers in Cynodon (Poaceae) species

2010

Book Chapter

Development of a regional core collection (Oceania) for taro, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, based on molecular and phenotypic characterization

Mace, E. S., Mathur, P. N., Godwin, I. D., Hunter, D., Taylor, M. B., Singh, D., DeLacy, I. H. and Jackson, G. V. H. (2010). Development of a regional core collection (Oceania) for taro, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, based on molecular and phenotypic characterization. The Global Diversity of Taro: Ethnobotany and Conservation. (pp. 185-201) edited by V. Ramanatha Rao, P. J. Matthews, P. B. Eyzaguirre and D. Hunter. Rome, Italy: Bioversity International.

Development of a regional core collection (Oceania) for taro, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, based on molecular and phenotypic characterization

2010

Conference Publication

Eco-turf: Water use efficient turfgrasses from Australian biodiversity

Kearns, R., Zhou, Yi, Fukai, Shu, Ye, Changrong, Loch, D., Godwin, I., Holton, T., Innes, D., Stirling, H., Cao, Ninh, Jewell, M., Duff, A. and Lambrides, C. (2010). Eco-turf: Water use efficient turfgrasses from Australian biodiversity. VIth International Symposium on In Vitro Culture and Horticultural Breeding, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 24-28 August, 2008. Leuven, Belgium: International Society for Horticultural Science.

Eco-turf: Water use efficient turfgrasses from Australian biodiversity

2010

Book Chapter

Transgenic plants for abiotic stress resistance

Jewell, Margaret C., Campbell, Bradley C. and Godwin, Ian D. (2010). Transgenic plants for abiotic stress resistance. Transgenic Crop Plants. (pp. 67-132) edited by Chittaranjan Kole, Charles H. Michler, Albert G. Abbott and Timothy C. Hall. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-04812-8_2

Transgenic plants for abiotic stress resistance

2009

Journal Article

Multifunctional grains for the future: genetic engineering for enhanced and novel cereal quality

Godwin, I.D., Williams, S.B., Pandit, P.S. and Laidlaw, H.K.C. (2009). Multifunctional grains for the future: genetic engineering for enhanced and novel cereal quality. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-plant, 45 (4), 383-399. doi: 10.1007/s11627-008-9175-5

Multifunctional grains for the future: genetic engineering for enhanced and novel cereal quality

2009

Conference Publication

The use of infrared thermometer to detect drought resistance of green couch grass (Cynodon sp.) genotypes collected from the world'd driest inhabited continent

Zhou, Y., Fukai, S., Cao, N., Ye, C. R., Le, T., Loch, D., Godwin, I., O'Brien, C., Dunne, R., Giles, H., Wilson, M., Halliday, M. and Lambrides, C. (2009). The use of infrared thermometer to detect drought resistance of green couch grass (Cynodon sp.) genotypes collected from the world'd driest inhabited continent. The 3rd International Conference on Integrated Approaches to Improve Crop Production Under Drought Prone Environments, Shanghai, China, 11-16 October 2009.

The use of infrared thermometer to detect drought resistance of green couch grass (Cynodon sp.) genotypes collected from the world'd driest inhabited continent

2009

Journal Article

Cold tolerance in rice varieties at different growth stages

Ye, C., Fukai, S., Godwin, I., Reinke, R., Snell, P., Schiller, J. and Basnayake, J. (2009). Cold tolerance in rice varieties at different growth stages. Crop and Pasture Science, 60 (4), 328-338. doi: 10.1071/CP09006

Cold tolerance in rice varieties at different growth stages

2009

Conference Publication

Identifying genetic resources and QTL for cold tolerance in rice

Ye, C., Fukai, S., Godwin, I., Reinke, R., Snell, P. and Koh, H. (2009). Identifying genetic resources and QTL for cold tolerance in rice. 14th Australasian Plant Breeding Conference (APBC) and the 11th Congress of the Society for the Advancement of Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania (SABRAO), Cairns, Australia, 10-14 August 2009. Bangkok, Thailand: Society for the Advancement of Breeding Researches in Asia and Oceania.

Identifying genetic resources and QTL for cold tolerance in rice

2008

Journal Article

Identification of QTL for sugar-related traits in a sweet x grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) recombinant inbred population

Ritter, KB, Jordan, DR, Chapman, SC, Godwin, ID, Mace, ES and McIntyre, CL (2008). Identification of QTL for sugar-related traits in a sweet x grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) recombinant inbred population. Molecular Breeding, 22 (3), 367-384. doi: 10.1007/s11032-008-9182-6

Identification of QTL for sugar-related traits in a sweet x grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) recombinant inbred population

2008

Journal Article

Iron-fortified parboiled rice: A novel solution to high iron density in rice-based diets

Prom-u-thai, Chanakan, Fukai, Shu, Godwin, Ian D., Rerkasem, Benjavan and Huang, Longbin (2008). Iron-fortified parboiled rice: A novel solution to high iron density in rice-based diets. Food Chemistry, 110 (2), 390-398. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.02.043

Iron-fortified parboiled rice: A novel solution to high iron density in rice-based diets

Funding

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

Supervision

Availability

Professor Ian Godwin is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

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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