Biotechnology experts

Dr Wayne Reeve

Microbiology, microbial genomics

Dr Wayne Reeve is a senior lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology and teaches in Cell Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry units.

Dr Reeve is an expert in the field of microbiology with research expertise in microbial physiology, biochemistry and genetics. His research is primarily focused on symbiotic and virulence determinants and adaptation processes in microorganisms.

He has completely established the genomes of five microsymbiotic bacteria and has 20 more in a sequencing facility production pipeline.

He currently coordinates the activities of the US funded GEBA-RNB (Genome Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea-Root Nodule Bacteria) project consisting of an international consortium of 32 scientists from 15 different countries involved in sequencing the genomes of 100 geographically distinct root nodule bacteria.

Associate Professor Robert Trengove

Separation science and metabolomics

Associate Professor Rob Trengove is the Director for the Murdoch Separation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory and the node leader for the Murdoch Node of Metabolomics Australia.

Professor Trengove has pioneered the development of MS-based ‘omics techniques for more than 20 years, collaborating with Australian and International researchers and industry.

He currently leads a team of more than 15 researchers working on a diverse range of topics including HIV/AIDs, iron disorders, desalination, microalgae lipidomics, fungal and bacterial metabolomics.

Professor Trengove has published more than 50 high-impact journal articles and has ongoing commercial contract research arrangements with major industry players in the petrochemical, clinical and animal health pharmaceutical sector.

Dr Kirsty Bayliss

Plant biosecurity and crop disease, development of new plant varieties

Dr Kirsty Bayliss is a plant pathologist and has worked on plant diseases affecting many crops including pastures, legumes and oilseeds as well as native ecosystems and tree plantations. Dr Bayliss has also worked in plant tissue culture and plant biotechnology, specifically in the production of new varieties of plants.

In her current role she is responsible for coordinating the education and training program within the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity.

Dr Bayliss is also a member of the international QUADs biosecurity education program, aimed at developing international standards for teaching biosecurity. Based at Murdoch University, she lectures in biosecurity, plant pathology and plant biotechnology and is currently the Academic Chair for courses in biosecurity.

Dr Ralf Cord-Ruwisch

Wastewater and solid waste processing

Dr Ralf Cord-Ruwisch is both a hydrologist and microbiologist and has focused for more than 15 years on harnessing the power of microbes to assist with the processing of wastewater and solid waste.

His research interests have included nitrogen removal from wastewater, process modelling, microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment, biological odour removal, thermodynamics and kinetics of reactions in aqueous systems, biofouling, microbial corrosion and methane production as a renewable energy source.

He has made significant discoveries (leading to several patents) in the role of microbes in removing contaminants from wastewater and soil and in soil solidification for the underground construction industry.

Dr Cord-Ruwisch has developed biological process simulation software to the water and mining industries and sophisticated process control technologies for the water industry.

He has also led the research into the biology of the Dicom process for conversion of municipal solid waste to energy currently being commercialised by Anaeco.

Professor Michael Jones

Plant biotechnology and genetic engineering

Professor Michael Borowitzka

Biofuels from algae, microalgae production and algae management

Professor Michael Borowitzka oversees an international project to turn algae into affordable, clean fuel.

He is Director of the Algae Research Group and Biofuels Manager of Murdoch’s Renewable Energy Research Institute.

Professor Borowitzka helped develop the largest microalgae production plant in the world, the Dunaliella salina plant at Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia.