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Dr Rebecca Jones has been awarded a Churchill
Fellowship to study methods in genomic analysis.
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Dr Rebecca Jones, a former CRC student and now a
postdoctoral fellow from the School of Plant Science at UTAS, has
been awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship that will allow her
to visit world centres of Eucalyptus genetics research to
learn the most recent techniques for the analysis of the
Eucalyptus genome.
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established in 1965
after the death of Sir Winston Churchill and, with an average
allowance of $25,000 per Fellowship, recipients have the
opportunity to travel overseas to conduct research in aspects of
their chosen field that are not readily accessible in
Australia. The Fellows are expected to return the benefits of
their research to Australia.
Rebecca completed her PhD on "Molecular evolution and genetic
control of flowering in the Eucalyptus globulus species
complex" in 2009 and has since been working with Prof Brad Potts on
an ARC funded project on Eucalyptus evolution and
phylogeny. Rebecca's Churchill Fellowship comes at a very
exciting time, because 2010 sees the beginning of a research
revolution for Eucalyptus geneticists. The USA's
Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Initiative (JGI) has
publicly released the complete genome sequence of E.
grandis. The "resequencing" of the E. globulus
genome is already well underway, with other species' genomes to
follow. The driving force behind the Eucalyptus
genome sequences is an international association of
Eucalyptus geneticists (Eucagen) that includes research
groups from South America, South Africa, USA, Europe, China and
Australia. With Australia being the natural custodian of
Eucalyptus, it is essential that we maintain links with
the major international groups working with the Eucalyptus
genome to ensure the maximum benefit for Australian science and
industry.
Rebecca aims to learn the technical details of genome
annotation, genomic data mining and gene characterisation. She will
take part in a genome annotation course in Valencia, Spain; visit
key research groups in France (Université Paul Sabatier) and
the USA (University of Pennsylvania and Oregon State University)
that are working with the Eucalyptus genome; and, whilst
at the University of Pennsylvania, will collaborate with Prof
Scott Poethig in examining the role of microRNAs in the control
of phase change (i.e., the transition from the juvenile state to
the adult state) in Eucalyptus.
An interview with Rebecca was aired on the Country Hour on
Tuesday 20th July 2010. The interview may be heard here, but be aware that it is embedded about
half way through the hour-long program. A short outline of
the interview can be read here.
Biobuzz issue twelve, August 2010
