I began working at the CCDM with Dr. Fatima Naim in 2022 through my Bachelor of Advanced Science (Molecular Genetics) degree, with research interests in net blotch disease, long-read sequencing and bioinformatic workflow construction. After completing my degree with First Class Honours in late 2024, I began a PhD in 2025 investigating changing disease dynamics in barley net form net blotch disease.
PhD Project Title and Summary: Investigation into the role of host barley genotype in driving the rapid evolution of Pyrenophora teres virulence during net blotch disease.
This project will investigate the changing net form net blotch disease dynamics seen recently in WA fields. Increased pathogen virulence towards some barley cultivars has been rapid, threatening the future of genetic host resistance as a disease control strategy. This project aims to investigate the molecular interactions facilitating the pathogens rapid evolution, with particular focus on if host genotype could be a driver for this. A key area of interest is the role of alternative splicing in facilitating this evolution. This mechanism allows for the same gene to code for multiple different mRNA transcripts, which can increase proteomic diversity and potentially facilitate adaption.
Supervisors:Dr. Fatima Naim and Prof Mark Gibberd