Archive for: Papua New Guinea

You are here: / Papua New Guinea

Dr Bree Wilson

/in , , , , , , , , , /by

Research fellow (Plant pathology, biofertlisers, biological control)
Dr Bree Wilson works at the Centre for Crop Health, University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ). She is an Adjunct at the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research, University of Sunshine Coast (UniSC).
Yes. Bree is able to supervise PhD or MSc students in the areas of insect biological control, plant pathology, mycorrhizal fungi and other microbial related studies
Papua New Guinea (PNG), 7 years
Fiji, 2 years
Bree has supervised 5 PhDs to completion and 4 MSc to completion in the areas of insect biological control, plant pathology, mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). She has supervised a students from several different countries including Australia, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Cambodia and Fiji.

I enjoy supervising higher degree by research students (HDR students), and watching them become experts in their chosen fields.

Prof Phil Brown

/in , , , , , , /by

Professor of Horticultural Science
Prof Phil Brown is Professor of Horticultural Science and Director of the Institute for Future Farming Systems at CQUniversity. Over the past 25 years, he has led research teams delivering new knowledge and better production practices for the horticultural industry both in Australia and in neighbouring Pacific Island countries. His research approach is to develop improved horticultural industry agronomic and post-harvest practices based on sound scientific knowledge. This approach has been applied in over 40 large industry supported research grants and consultancy contracts, including projects in PNG, Fiji Samoa and Tonga. Phil is a past President of the Australian Society for Horticultural Science and has been an invited speaker at conferences in Asia, Europe and North America.
Yes (2)
Topics of interest:
Crop agronomy/physiology topics, preferably with an agtech or protected cropping systems component.
PNG: Research Leader on ACIAR funded project HORT/2014/097 Supporting commercial sweetpotato production and marketing in the PNG highlands, and collaborating research on project ASEM/2006/023 Re-Commercialisation of the PNG Pyrethrum Industry to Improve the Harvested Yields in Australia. Collaboration with staff at NARI and FPDA. Successful supervision of one PNG Masters student.
Fiji, Samoa, Tonga: Research Leader on ACIAR funded project HORT/2014/080 Integrating protected cropping systems into high value vegetable value chains in the Pacific and Australia. Collaboration with staff at SPC, Fiji MoA and Tonga MAFFF. Successful supervision of two Masters students.

Dr Cooper Schouten

/in , , , , , , , , /by

Lecturer, Project Leader
Dr Cooper Schouten’s research passion is developing impactful international agricultural research programs for the benefit of Australia and partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Yes, up to 3 students.
Topics of interest:
Beekeeping, honey bee nutrition, biosecurity, queen bee breeding and genetics, post-harvest handling and marketing, training, education and extension, and gender equity and participatory approaches to agriculture
Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Ministry of Agriculture Fiji
Biosecurity Authority of Fiji
Fiji Beekeepers Association
Coffee Industry Cooperation
PNG Department of Agriculture and Livestock

Dr Agnieszka Mudge

/in , , , , , /by

Research Officer, Centre for Crop Science
Dr Agnieszka Mudge has the following qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
How many depends on HDR projects and my role in those.
Topics of interest:
Ganoderma population structure
Effect of BSR on oil palm yield
GWAS to identify markers linked to phenotypic traits of interest in oil palm (yield and disease related)
Biochar as sanitation measure in smallholder blocks
Use of biochar as fertiliser
Use of biochar to suppress disease
Papua New Guinea – PNG Oil Palm Research Association

Solomon Islands – Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Pty Ltd, SI Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

Prof Michael Furlong

/in , , , , , , , , /by

Professor
Prof Michael Furlong’s research focuses on the biological control and integrated management of insect pests. Understanding the ecological and biological relationships between insects and their natural enemies (pathogens, parasitoids and predators) and the interactions between these natural enemies is fundamental to effective biological control and is central to my research. Strategies which manipulate natural enemies to enhance their impact on pest populations are under development, examples include:
• Integration of biological stressors and fungal entomopathogens for improved control of insect pests
• Reduced insecticide inputs combined with the provision of adult food sources to enhance endemic parasitoid performance
• Utilising inducible plant defences to manipulate pests and improve the effectiveness of natural enemies.
Externally funded research projects concentrate on the development of sustainable pest management strategies for insect pests in developing countries. In Indonesia the structure and function of the natural enemy complexes attacking the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and the cabbage cluster caterpillar (Crocidolomia pavonana) are being determined. In Samoa the biology and ecology of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis is being investigated and the possibility of its release as a biological control agent of C. pavonana in Fiji, Tonga and Solomon Islands explored. Research in Fiji is focused on quantifying field resistance of the diamondback moth to commonly used insecticides. An insecticide resistance management strategy has been developed and will be implemented in collaboration with UN-FAO.
I cannot take on any new students in 2023.

Principal Supervisor to 10 PhD students.
Co-Supervisor to 5 PhD students.

Dr William Leggate

/in , , , , , , /by

Team Leader & Principal Research Scientist
Dr William Leggate is a Wood Products Specialist/Scientist with more than 27 years’ experience in research, technical, commercial and management roles within the timber industry, both nationally and internationally.
Up to 3 students. Topics of interest: Forest products, wood science, wood processing, wood treatment, wood durability, wood quality.
Involvement in ACIAR Forestry projects in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Vanuatu. This has involved research work, provision of training and capacitation of local people from these countries. It has also involved collaboration with diverse government, industry, academic and community stakeholders from these countries.
Currently Co-Supervisor to 1 Masters and 1 PhD student

Dr Carmel A. Pilotti

/in , , , , , /by

Associate Scientist Coconut Genetic Resources
Dr Carmel Pilotti has a Ph.D. in Botany (Plant Pathology) and has worked on plant diseases of tree crops for over 25 years, specialising in mycological investigations. She has extensive practical experience in both conventional and molecular diagnosis and detection of fungal and bacterial (phytoplasma) diseases and familiar with the methods for molecular diagnosis of viruses. Carmel has authored and co-authored numerous publications including papers presented at conferences and book chapters. She continues to review articles for several prominent international scientific journals. Her interests include – diversity of Pacific crops, plant pathology, research and development in Agriculture; enhancing capacity in PICTs
Up to 3 students. Research topics of interest: Tree crops, field trials, molecular biology, plant pathology, tissue culture
Extensive experience in the agricultural sector in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands; tree crops research and phytopathology; molecular diagnostics and bacterial and mycological research; training and supervision of fourth year undergraduate final year projects and Masters students (UNITECH PNG); reviewer of theses (UNITECH) and journal articles for peer reviewed journals such as Plant Pathology and Mycologia and others
Currently supervising 2 Masters students as Co-Supervisor

The Pacific Supervisor Register is an initiative of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). © University of the Sunshine Coast – 2023.

     

The University of the Sunshine Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and study. We pay our respects to local Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging and recognises the strength, resilience and capacity of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.