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My research team in crop protection is studying the biology, epidemiology and ecology of economically significant diseases and insect pests. The overarching objective of the research is to facilitate innovative and sustainable management of crop pests (insects and diseases) using disruptive new tools that can be incorporated with the less harmful existing control options in diverse farming systems.

Professor Bhagirath Chauhan joined the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at The University of Queensland in 2014. He leads research on weed biology and weed management in different crops, including wheat, maize, sorghum, mungbean, soybean, chickpea, rice, and cotton. He has studied the seed ecology of >100 weed species and he has a vast experience in developing integrated weed management options based on agronomic approaches (row spacing, seeding rates, weed-competitive cultivars, etc.). Prof Chauhan has more than 20 years of research experience in conducting trials on the improved agronomy of new production systems and integrated weed management options in Australia and >10 Asian countries. Before joining UQ, Prof Chauhan worked at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines for seven years. He has a strong collaboration in several countries, including USA, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Iran, Pakistan, Nigeria and China. His research interests include weed ecology and biology, herbicide use, management of herbicide-resistant weeds, non-chemical weed management options, integrated weed management systems using agronomic and varietal components, nanoherbicides, tillage systems, and conservation agriculture systems. He is an Associate Editor of Weed Science (Weed Science Society of America). He has published over 450 articles in peer reviewed journals and several books and book chapters. He is an Honorary Member of Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) and a life member of International Weed Science Society (IWSS), Asia Pacific Weed Science Society (APWSS), and Indian Society of Weed Science (ISWS).

Plant viruses and horticultural crop improvement

Dr Dietzgen is internationally recognised for his work on plant virus characterisation, detection and engineered resistance. Before joining UQ, Dr Dietzgen was a Science Leader in Agri-Science in the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. He previously held research positions at the University of Adelaide, University of California, Cornell University and University of Kentucky. Dr Dietzgen’s research interests are in molecular virus-plant-insect interactions, virus biodiversity and evolution, and disease resistance mechanisms. His focus is on the biology of RNA viruses in the family Rhabdoviridae and the molecular protein interactions of plant-adapted rhabdoviruses and tospoviruses. He has published extensively on plant virus characterisation and genetic variability, RNAi- mediated virus resistance and diagnostic technologies with 20 review articles and book chapters and over 65 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr Vivian Rincon is a microbiologist from Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia . She joined the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008 as RA to work in projects related to plant-pathogen interactions and soil microbiology. She obtained a scholarship from the Grain Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to start her PhD on the effect of tillage on soil microbial communities in wheat fields. Following her studies, she joined Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) at UQ to work on different aspects of disease management in broadacre crops. Currently, she is a research fellow at the Centre for Horticulturals Science (CHS) working on an integrated disease management approach for the Macadamia industry.

Dr Karl Robinson joined QAAFI’s Centre for Horticultural Science (frm. Centre for Plant Sciences) in 2012 as a molecular biologist specialising in RNAi applications against animal and plant viruses. Karl received his doctoral degree from The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science in 2009 and was awarded the 2009 UQ Deans Award. Karl has held postdoctoral research positions within Queensland Government/The University of Queensland - Agricultural Biotechnology Centre and the Viral Pathogenesis and Vaccine Group at the Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Organisation, The University of Saskatchewan, Canada, before joining QAAFI. In 2017, Dr Robinson was awarded the Queensland State Government - Advance Queensland Reseach Fellowship to conduct research into alternative insect and virus control methods using RNAi and nanotechnology. Currently, a senior research fellow, supported by Grains Research Development Corporation, Karl is leading research into spray-on RNAi applications for viruses and insects in high value grain crops. Karl supervises several higher degree research students and delivers the plant virology lectures of the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences 3rd year virology course at UQ.