Professor Peter Prentis

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Centre Director and Professor, Faculty of Science

PhD (Queensland University of Technology)

I am a Professor in evolutionary genetics in the School of Biology and Environmental Science/Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy at QUT. My current research employs a combination of high throughput genomics, bioinformatics and field experiments to address evolutionary questions in human dominated and agricultural production systems. The questions I am currently investigating include the application of genomic approaches to improve productivity in fruit tree species, better control pest species in horticulture and help conserve wild species. My research uses diverse species to answer these questions but mainly fruit crops and their wild relatives, as well as pest fruit fly species. This research is developing new ways to use male attractants in the management of pest insects and new approaches to reduce the length of juvenility in tree breeding programs. My previous research investigated the evolutionary genomics of plant species and sea anemones. This research answered fundamental questions about the genomics of adaptation and venom production, the genomics of artificial selection in crops as well as population genetic studies in invasive species.

Projects (Chief investigator)

Additional information

Type
Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
Reference year
2017
Details
Editorial Board Member - Ecology and Evolution
Type
Editorial Role for an Academic Journal
Reference year
2017
Details
Editorial Board member- PeerJ
Type
Keynote Speaker/Expert Panel Member/Invited Speaker for a Conference
Reference year
2017
Details
Invited speaker - Venoms to Drugs
Type
Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
Reference year
2016
Details
Conference organisation - ABACBS 2016
Title
Improving the Impact from Current and Future Genetic and Genomic Investments
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
PRO-016485
Start year
2023
Keywords
Title
Ancestral State Reconstruction and the Evolution of Australian Marsupials
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
DP220103234
Start year
2022
Keywords
Title
Centre for Fruit Fly Biosecurity Innovation
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
IC150100026
Start year
2016
Keywords
Title
Geomolecular dating with biologically relaxed clocks, and mammal evolution
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
DP150104659
Start year
2015
Keywords
Molecular dating; Fossil calibration; Mammal evolution
Title
Generic Delimitations in Rottboelliinae (Andropogoneae, Panicoideae, Poaceae) based on Molecular and Morphological Data
Primary fund type
CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID
RFL214-56
Start year
2014
Keywords
Cytology; Diversity; Morphology; Systematics; Taxonomy
  • Investigating Genes Associated with Fruit Fly Resistance in Citrus
    PhD, Principal Supervisor
    Other supervisors: Associate Professor David Hurwood
  • Using a genomics approach to improve breeding time in Australian tree crops
    PhD, Mentoring Supervisor
    Other supervisors: Dr Stephanie Kerr
  • Population genomics and transcriptomics of the desert lime, Citrus glauca
    PhD, Principal Supervisor
    Other supervisors: Associate Professor David Hurwood, Dr Fran Humphries
  • A Comparative Analysis of Toxin Proteome Evolution in Sea Anemones
    PhD, Principal Supervisor
    Other supervisors: Dr Daniel Broszczak
  • Mining for Fusarium Wilt and Sigatoka susceptibility gene targets in banana for editing and disease resistance
    PhD, Principal Supervisor
    Other supervisors: Adjunct Professor Rob Harding, Dr Pradeep Deo
  • Exploring the genetics of precocious flowering for breeding improved Australian mango cultivars
    PhD, Principal Supervisor