People

Co-Directors

Assoc Prof Lynette Brownfield

Research into male gametophyte (pollen) and sperm cell development in flowering plants, using genetic and molecular tools. Study of plant male meiosis, unreduced gamete formation, and the specification of the male germ line in Arabidopsis, aiming to illuminate crucial aspects of plant sexual reproduction and polyploidy.

 

Prof Craig Bunt

Craig’s expertise spans veterinary pharmaceutics, agriculture, and nutraceuticals, with a current focus on wild life solutions and agri-biologicals. He leads research in Ag/Vet Controlled Release formulations. Craig also contributes to Food Waste Innovation at the University of Otago, focusing on food waste measurement, reduction strategies, technology application, and behavior modification.

 

Assoc Prof Janice Lord

Plant evolutionary ecology, reproduction and pollination biology; rare plant conservation; mycorrhizal fungi in ecological restoration; carbon sequestration by native plants; culturally important New Zealand plants. Janice is Principal Investigator for the 1 Billion Trees project Ngā Kākano Whakahau in collaboration with Matt Larcombe and David Orlovich:

 

Prof Peter Mace

Research focusing on understanding cellular stress signaling, emphasizing phosphorylation and ubiquitination in cell regulation. The use of X-ray crystallography, biochemistry, and biophysics, collaborating across chemistry, cell biology, and genetics. Projects investigate cancer and inflammatory diseases, including stress-activated MAP kinase signaling, transcriptional regulation by Tribbles pseudokinases, and epigenetic control by the Polycomb Repressive-Deubiquitinase complex.

 

Dr Damien Mather

Researching decision-making processes in national, regional, and global markets, focusing on improving business, organizational, and government decisions. Application of corpus linguistics, data mining, and quantitative methods to enhance marketing knowledge in branding, pricing, and corporate communications.

 

Prof Indrawati Oey

Research interests encompass a wide range of topics within food science and biotechnology. Particularly focused on studying the production and functionality of plant proteins, aiming to improve the nutritional quality and sustainability of plant-based foods. Additionally, investigating complex enzymatic and chemical reactions in biological systems, with a specific emphasis on enzyme technology and its applications in food processing and preservation.

 

Assoc Prof Greg Walker

Research expertise in drug delivery and formulation science which are critical aspects of pharmaceutical research aimed at improving the efficacy, safety, and convenience of drug administration. Applies an interdisciplinary approach that requires collaboration with chemists, biologists, materials science, and engineers to address current challenges in drug delivery. Leads the Animal Health Formulation group at School of Pharmacy encompassing applications in veterinary medicine and agriculture sustainability.

 

 

 

 
 
 

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