Research

Our department is home to leading research groups in plant biology, biotechnology and pathology, structural immunology, parasitology and nematode genetics, soil science, pasture nutrition and technology transfer.

For a booklet containing information on all of our research labs within the Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences see below

Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences research centres and labs [PDF 4MB]

Order by research specialisation

Animal parasitology & immunogenetics lab - Stear Lab

Our group is led by Professor Mike Stear, who has over 40 years of experience in parasite research. The major aim of the group is to understand host-parasite interactions in animals, and to use this understanding to improve methods of parasite control.

Molecular interactions at the plant-fungal interface - Plummer Lab

Our research is focused on the interactions of pathogenic fungi and plants.

Nematode genetics - Grant Lab

Our lab is focussed on the development and application of tools to elucidate and manipulate gene function in parasitic nematodes of mammals.

Parasitology - Spithill Lab

The work of Professor Terry Spithill and his team of researchers is focuses on the issues around drug resistance threatening the control of liver fluke parasites (Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica) which cause major diseases in man and animals throughout the world.

 Plant development and biotechnology - Parish & Li Lab

We are researching plant hormones, regulation of pollen development, and MYB genes and plant development.

Plant development and physiology - Gendall Lab

Our research is based on plant energy metabolism: the impact of energy and stresses on plant quality and yields and the effectiveness of phosphate fertilisers in current agricultural practices.

Plant-soil science - Caixian Tang

Research in this group focuses on soil and nutrient management, soil-plant interactions and the impacts of climate change on soil processes.

Plant-soil systems - Peter Sale

Our research is focused on soil-plant-system interactions.

Order by lab name

Caixian Tang - Plant-soil science

Research in this group focuses on soil and nutrient management, soil-plant interactions and the impacts of climate change on soil processes.

Gendall Lab - Plant development and physiology

Our research is based on plant energy metabolism: the impact of energy and stresses on plant quality and yields and the effectiveness of phosphate fertilisers in current agricultural practices.

Grant Lab - Nematode genetics

Our lab is focussed on the development and application of tools to elucidate and manipulate gene function in parasitic nematodes of mammals.

 Parish & Li Lab - Plant development and biotechnology

We are researching plant hormones, regulation of pollen development, and MYB genes and plant development.

Peter Sale - Plant-soil systems

Our research is focused on soil-plant-system interactions.

Plummer Lab - Molecular interactions at the plant-fungal interface

Our research is focused on the interactions of pathogenic fungi and plants.

Spithill Lab - Parasitology

The work of Professor Terry Spithill and his team of researchers is focuses on the issues around drug resistance threatening the control of liver fluke parasites (Fasciola hepatica, Fasciola gigantica) which cause major diseases in man and animals throughout the world.

Stear Lab - Animal parasitology & immunogenetics lab

Our group is led by Professor Mike Stear, who has over 40 years of experience in parasite research. The major aim of the group is to understand host-parasite interactions in animals, and to use this understanding to improve methods of parasite control.