Postgraduate

The battle between plant immunity and fungal infections: A microscopic arms race.

2025 Research Spotlight, Biotechnology and Biomedical Science, PGRA, Research /

By Georgia Barrington-Smith & Dr Rebecca Duncan The agricultural industry is constantly under threat from fungal pathogens that infect important plant crops like tomatoes, bananas, and cotton. In response, plants have developed new defence mechanisms, fuelling an ongoing arms race against these invaders as they, in turn, develop new ways to circumvent these defences. How […]

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Fight against the fungus: Understanding the relationship between fungal pathogens and plant infection.

2025 Research Spotlight, Biotechnology and Biomedical Science, PGRA, Research /

By Georgia Barrington-Smith & Dr Rebecca Duncan Ensuring our ongoing food availability in the face of a rising global population is a critical challenge. Infectious plant diseases pose a significant threat to our agricultural food production, costing the global economy around $220 billion USD each year. One particularly destructive disease is ‘blast disease’, which targets

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Will the rivers run dry?

2025 Research Spotlight, Archaeology and Geoscience, Environmental Science, PGRA, Uncategorized /

Understanding how decreasing rainfall is impacting river regions in South-Western Australia. By Georgia Barrington-Smith & Dr Rebecca Duncan Global rainfall patterns are changing, leading to dryer conditions in numerous biodiversity hotspots. Rivers in the Southern Hemisphere are particularly sensitive to these climate-induced changes. To mitigate biodiversity loss and manage our precious water resources, we need

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Student Research Spotlight: Melanie Fuller

PGRA, Research /

As part of National Science Week 2019, we are highlighting some of the high-impact research being carried out by AINSE scholars. In the Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences research theme, Flinders University student and AINSE PGRA scholar Melanie Fuller is investigating how gold nanoparticles could be used in combination with antibiotics to combat multi-resistant bacterial infections. Understanding

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Student Research Spotlight: Thomas McCoy

PGRA, Research /

As part of National Science Week 2019, we are highlighting some of the high-impact research being carried out by AINSE scholars. In the Materials Science and Engineering area, Monash University student and AINSE PGRA scholar Thomas McCoy is developing new methods to control atomically-thin materials with applications in water purification and oil recovery. Controlling atomically-thin carbon

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Student Research Spotlight: Kaitlyn O’Mara

PGRA, Research /

As part of National Science Week 2019, we are highlighting some of the high-impact research being carried out by AINSE scholars. In our Archaeology, Geoscience and Environmental Sciences research theme, Griffith University student and AINSE PGRA scholar Kaitlyn O’Mara is investigating how aquatic organisms accumulate and react to heavy metal contamination. Uptake and assimilation of

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Student Research Spotlight: Mitchell Klenner

PGRA, Research /

As part of National Science Week 2019, we are highlighting some of the high-impact research being carried out by AINSE scholars. In the Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences field, Curtin University student and AINSE PGRA scholar Mitchell Klenner is working to develop techniques to synthesize new diagnostic nuclear medicines. Unlocking the potential of rhenium for improved

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