School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment
La Trobe University > School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment > Research
The School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment contributes extensively to research within La Trobe. It makes important contributions to the major research strengths in the university - in particular to the areas of environmental science and management, and molecular and physiological cell biology.
Our staff have a proud history of achieving valuable research and consultancy outcomes, in successful partnership with business and other research organisations.
For a booklet containing information on all of our research labs within the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment see below
School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment Research [PDF 12.4MB]
Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems (CFE)
The Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems delivers world-leading research focused on healthy freshwater ecosystems. Our research covers a range of themes and provides critical knowledge that supports the sustainable management of these important ecosystems.
Centre for Future Landscapes (CFL)
The Research Centre for Future Landscapes will pioneer the development of a new, internationally significant, scientific discipline - landscape transformation science. Conducting fundamental and applied research in landscape change, CFL will link La Trobe's ecological expertise with social and economic research. By building on our existing industry partnerships, we will devise and test next-generation tools and solutions for environmental and social sustainability.
Research Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease
The formation of a centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease is an important step in the development of La Trobe's partnership with the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute.
Cardiovascular disease and diabetes – collectively known as 'cardiometabolic disease' – are responsible for more deaths and morbidity worldwide than any other disease. As such, they are both recognized as National Health Priority areas by the Australian Government. There is an urgent need for more research and greater public awareness to address the enormous socioeconomic impact of cardiometabolic disease.
Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecosystems
The Research Centre for Applied Alpine Ecology aims to undertake research and scholarly activity that will gain and communicate an understanding of the ecology of alpine landscapes that can be used for their wise and sustainable management. The Centre specifically conducts research based on the needs of alpine landscapes and ecosystems, attracts research funds from governments and industry and involves researchers and postgraduate students.
La Trobe Institute of Agriculture and Food (LIAF)
LIAF will tackle the issues of growing enough food, crop diversification and changing diets, with research that considers the crop plant environment (Golden Soil), identifies innovative methods for improved production of specialty grains (Fit-for-Purpose Seeds) and develops enhanced nutritional quality (Quality Dietary Fibre).
AgriBio international graduate program
The AgriBio international graduate program is specifically designed for international students to enter an Australian graduate research program either directly from their honors degree program (4 year course) or masters program.
The student will immediately enter a world-class research environment, starting research with their supervisor of choice. In addition to this one-on-one research-training program, the following enrichment modules will be offered in this graduate research program.
10 week English course designed to sharpen both oral and written English skills.
Research seminar and poster presentation to train and develop skills in scientific presentation.
Dedicated courses in systems biology, lecture and workshop based to ensure training in all emerging technologies.
Dedicated training in issues of intellectual property and commercialisation of scientific discoveries.
Training in marketing and economics of agriculture.
Training in writing scientific manuscripts.
Training in multi-media forums and in graphical design techniques for scientific visualisation of data.
Training in media and presentation of science to community and non-expert end-users.
International conference attendance and presentation in your discipline field.
Training in grant application on how to obtain research and fellowship funding.
Career advice and development of a web based scientific profile and web page.
For further details about the program and to download the pre-application form, please click here
Featured research students
Daniel Espinosa
Supervisors: Dr Peter Sale and Professor Caixian Tang
Role of break crops in mobilizing phosphorus for the following wheat
"Phosphorus is the second most limiting nutrient for plant growth after nitrogen. Farmers apply these nutrients as fertilizers in order to increase crop yield. However, the efficiency of fertiliser use is generally low, especially in the case of phosphorus where the percentage of applied fertiliser phosphorus that is taken up by crop plants is around 10 to 30%. The fertiliser phosphorus that is not taken up by plants accumulates in the soil, so many cropping soils now have quite high total phosphorus levels. However much of this accumulated phosphorus is not readily available to plants, as the element reacts with soil compounds and becomes unavailable to most plants. Fertiliser practices are now expensive due to increments in fertilizer prices, coupled with the low use efficiency. This narrows the profit margin for farmers and increases the risk of environmental pollution from phosphorus building up in lakes, rivers and streams.
The research that I will undertake in my PhD program aims to understand how legume break crops can mobilise P for the following wheat crop. Such understanding may well lead to practices that can help grain producers use more of the P "bank" in cropping soils, that is currently unavailable to cereal crops. "
Click here to read Daniel's work, as featured in GRDC ground cover.
Pieter Raedts
Supervisor: Dr Markandeya Jois
"Spying on grazing cows with smart sensors tells us what they are eating, and will help farmers improve the cows' diet.
Our research involves dairy cows, and improving their conversion of grass into milk. We use sensors that can tell grass eating behaviour, and components in milk that indicate how efficiently they use energy and protein in their diet to produce milk. As a result, we are now looking into ways to transform our positive findings into a precision farming system that can be applied by dairy farmers at a practical level. La Trobe University engineers are already developing long lasting smart sensors for use in this system."
Pieter speaks about his work on ABC Radio National's 'The Science Show' with Robyn Williams.
Alicia Greenhill
Primary supervisor: Dr Kim Plummer Secondary supervisors Dr Anthony Gendall and Dr Ian Porter
"My research has focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the formation of survival structures in the devastating fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. These structures, called sclerotia, are integral to its spread and survival. If we could understand exactly which genes are vital to this process, we could potentially create a targeted fungicide that would stop sclerotia being formed and thus lessen the spread of Sclerotinia diseases. During my project I carried out chemical inhibition trials, in addition to creating and studying a number of genetically modified, sclerotia-deficient mutants. "
Alicia speaks about her work on ABC Radio National's 'The Science Show' with Robyn Williams.
Jen Wiltshire
Supervisor: Dr Ashley Franks
"The objective of my research is to improve upon a heavy metal remediation strategy called phytoextraction by utilizing plant-microbe interactions. Phytoextraction is a process that utilizes plants, with the unique ability to accumulate heavy metals in their above ground tissues, as a strategy to remove heavy metal contaminants from the environment. Current heavy metal remediation strategies are expensive and environmentally destructive. This work may lead to an environmentally friendly, cost effective alternative to heavy metal clean up."
Jen speaks about her work on ABC Radio National's 'The Science Show' with Robyn Williams.
Lara Bereza-Malcolm
Supervisor: Dr Ashley Franks Co-supervisor: Dr Gulay Mann (Defence Science Institute)
"I am interested in the development of a device known as a microbial biosensor. Microbial biosensors are bacteria which have been engineered to detect specific, potentially dangerous compounds in the environment. In our case, we are interested in linking the detection of toxic heavy metals with a visual response."
Lara speaks about her work on ABC Radio National's 'The Science Show' with Robyn Williams.
Rosanna Donaldson
Supervisor: Dr Naomi Bishop
"My research is looking at the co-associated disorders of autism because autism never found alone, as a single disorder. There is always something else going on like gut problems, differences in immune function and hormonal levels, large head-size, and the increased risk of some types of cancer. This raises the question, is autism a brain only disorder or not? This is one of the questions I'm trying to address as part of my research."
Rosanna speaks about her work on ABC Radio National's 'The Science Show' with Robyn Williams.
Sanja Aracic
Supervisor: Dr Vilma A Stanisich
"My PhD concerned a bacterial polysaccharide (curdlan) that has commercial applications particularly as a food additive. Multiple genetic and environmental factors that increase or decrease production of curdlan and additional novel polysaccharides were uncovered. These findings may lead to cost cutting, improved yield and new applications of these polysaccharides in industrial production."
Sanja speaks about her work on ABC Radio National's 'The Science Show' with Robyn Williams.
Nicole Butler
Supervisor: Dr Richard Peters
"My PhD project involves studying the anti-predator behaviour of a native Australian bird, the zebra finch. I will conduct captive and field experiments involving presentation of a model predator in order to determine if this species possesses a distinct alarm call. I will also perform playback experiments to investigate their ability to eavesdrop on and respond to the alarm calls of other species of birds."
Nicole speaks about her work on ABC Radio National's 'The Science Show' with Robyn Williams.