Group Directors
PROF Prem BHALLA
E: premlb@unimelb.edu.au
T: 8344 9651
F: 8344 9651
Faculty of Veterinary & Agricultural Science
Agriculture and Food Systems
Dr Prem Bhalla is Professor of Plant Molecular and Biotechnology in the Faculty of Veterinary & Agricultural Science. She has a proven track record in diverse research leadership roles that have led to successful practical outputs from basic research, strong community outreach, and effective communication with mass media, and rewarding industry collaborations.
Professor Bhalla is plant biotechnologist with an international reputation in plant reproduction, plant development biology, genetic engineering and tissue culture of crop plants. Her research has focused on discovering new knowledge that has strategic applications. The awarding of the Royal Society of Victoria Research Medal has recognized these research contributions. She has published over 145 research papers in refereed journals. She is also the inventor in 10 international patents. Her work has been featured in national and international print, radio and television including Channel 10, 9, ABC news, Japan, Switzerland, India, Demark, Sweden TV, BBC & ABC radio, The Australian, National Geographic and the Daily Telegraph.
Professor Bhalla leads a research team comprising postdoctoral scientists, research and technical assistants, doctoral students and visiting scientists. She also led major collaborations with several Australia and international private industries and has attracted significant funding for patent sponsorships from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. She has set up a strong network of committed scientists of the highest caliber resulting in productive collaborations within Australia and internationally. She is a leading investigator in a major interdisciplinary Australia-India Grand Challenge program project involving other Australian and Indian collaborators. She serves on the editorial boards of six international journals including Frontiers in Plant Biotechnology, Plant Reproduction, Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology.
Grants:
- ARC CoE for Integrative Legume research (Centres of Excellence) awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
- CROP PLANTS WHICH REMOVE THEIR OWN MAJOR BIOTIC CONSTRAINTS (Australia India Stategic Fund) awarded by DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, SCIENCE, RESEARCH & TERTIARY EDUC
- MOLECULAR APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINING CROP PRODUCTIVITY UNDER ABIOTIC STRESS CONDITIONS (Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF)) awarded by DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, SCIENCE, RESEARCH & TERTIARY EDUC
- Understanding the control of male germ-line development by the germline-restrictive silencing factor in plants (Discovery Projects) awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
- Expression of value added product in wheat (Linkage Projects) awarded by ACCESS GENETICS
- Biology of flowering plant male gametic cells in relation to fertilization (Discovery Projects) awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
- Melbourne-India Postgraduate Program (MIPP) (International Research & Research Training Fund (IRRTF)) awarded by UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
PROF Mohan SINGH
E: mohan@unimelb.edu.au
T: 8344 5051
F: 8344 5051
Faculty of Veterinary & Agricultural Science
Agriculture and Food Systems
Dr Mohan B Singh is Professor of Agri-Food Biotechnology in the Faculty of Veterinary & Agricultural Science. His teaching roles in the University of Melbourne include co-ordination of “Food for a Healthy Planet”, a highly acclaimed series of interdisciplinary undergraduate subjects. The topics covered in these subjects include climate change and food security, global health challenges, genetic modification of food plants and animals etc., and other contemporary issues related to food science and sustainable agriculture. The breadth of his scholarly contributions to research is evident from his contributions, at a highest level, to plant reproductive biology, crop biotechnology and molecular allergology.
Professor Singh has published more than 175 papers in international refereed journals and 50 book chapters. He is the inventor of more than 50 patent applications. Professor Singh is frequently invited to give presentations to wider community on biotechnology and its implications for agriculture and human health. He has also given number of radio/TV interviews in Australian and international media channels. The awarding of the Frederick White Prize of Australian Academy of Sciences and the CSIRO medal for research achievements has recognized his research contributions.
Grants:
- CROP PLANTS WHICH REMOVE THEIR OWN MAJOR BIOTIC CONSTRAINTS (Australia India Stategic Fund) awarded by DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, SCIENCE, RESEARCH & TERTIARY EDUC
- Epigenetic Programming of Plant Sperm Cells (Discovery Projects) awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
- MOLECULAR APPROACHES FOR SUSTAINING CROP PRODUCTIVITY UNDER ABIOTIC STRESS CONDITIONS (Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF)) awarded by DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, SCIENCE, RESEARCH & TERTIARY EDUC
- Expression of value added product in wheat (Linkage Projects) awarded by ACCESS GENETICS
- Biology of flowering plant male gametic cells in relation to fertilization (Discovery Projects) awarded by AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL
- ARC CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR INTERACTIVE LEGUME RESEARCH (Strategic Research Initiatives Fund) awarded by UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE