Contact Details
| Organization: | Forest and Ecosystem Science |
| Position: | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR |
| Email: | |
| Homepage: | http://www.forestscience.unimelb.edu.au/people/staff/gerd_bossinger/index.html |
| Work: | 03 5321 4176 |
| Fax: | 03 5321 4277 |
Biography
Gerd Bossinger is Associate Professor and Group Leader for Forest Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Melbourne (UM), School of Forest and Ecosystem Science (SFES). He is a member of the Australian Eucalyptus Genome Consortium and the University of Melbourne main representative for the Co-operative Research Centre for Forestry (CRC-F). Gerd received his PhD from the University of Bonn (Germany) in 1991 for work investigating the developmental genetics of morphological mutants in barley to elucidate morphogenetic growth patterns during the establishment of the plant body. His research since then was directed at investigations into the molecular control of meristem differentiation and pattern formation. Specific emphasis was given to work on the differentiation of the vascular cambium, the regulation of wood formation and wood quality determination in forest trees. In particular the development and successful application of Induced Somatic Sector Analysis (ISSA) as a tool for medium to high throughput assessment of xylogenesis gene function has won international recognition. In general, Gerd’s research group aims to uncover causal links between gene structure and function and their relevance for patterning genetic diversity in natural (native forests) and artificial (breeding populations) ecosystems. Research in Gerd's group has been funded over many years by a number of granting bodies including the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and was supported by a wide range of industry and governmental sponsors. Prior to joining the UM in 1996, Gerd worked at the Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany (from 1985 to 1992) and in Australia at Monash University’s Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology (from1992 to 1995). Gerd has acted as referee for numerous international journal articles and book chapters and as assessor for national and international research funding bodies including the National Science Foundation (USA) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA, Canada). Gerd’s research group is currently involved in collaborative research efforts with many scientists and research organizations both in Australia and around the globe.
Research Expertise and International Linkages
Research Expertise
| Research Interest | Key Words | Country of Expertise |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Developmental Biology | meristem differentiation | Australia |
| Tree Molecular Biology | wood formation, environmental stress tolerance | Australia |
| Tree Improvement | breeding, wood quality, association genetics | Australia |
Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards
Qualifications
| Title | Institution | Date Awarded | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Agriculture | Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn | ||
| DipIngAg | Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn |
Government Research Classifications
Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications
- Gene Expression (GENETICS) (270201)
- Population and Ecological Genetics (GENETICS) (270203)
- Genetic Development (incl. Sex Determination) (GENETICS) (270205)
- Quantitative Genetics (GENETICS) (270207)
- Genetics not elsewhere classified (GENETICS) (270299)
- Plant Physiology (BOTANY) (270402)
- Botany not elsewhere classified (BOTANY) (270499)
- Conservation and Biodiversity (ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION) (270708)
- Genetic Technologies: Transformation, Site-directed (BIOTECHNOLOGY) (270804)
- Biotechnology not elsewhere classified (BIOTECHNOLOGY) (270899)
- Soil and Water Sciences not elsewhere classified (SOIL AND WATER SCIENCES) (300199)
- Nutrition and Physiology (FORESTRY SCIENCES) (300601)
- Tree Improvement (Selection, Breeding & Genetic Engineering) (FORESTRY SCIENCES) (300602)
- Management and Environment (FORESTRY SCIENCES) (300604)
- Forestry Sciences not elsewhere classified (FORESTRY SCIENCES) (300699)
- Natural Resource Management (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES) (300803)
- Conservation (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES) (300805)
- Applied Sociology, Prog Eval & Social Impact Assessment (SOCIOLOGY) (370105)
Socio-Economic Objective Classifications
- Native forests (FORESTRY) (620301)
- Softwood plantations (FORESTRY) (620302)
- Hardwood plantations (FORESTRY) (620303)
- Forestry not elsewhere classified (FORESTRY) (620399)
- Forestry (SUSTAINABLE PLANT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS) (620503)
- Other (OTHER ENERGY SUPPLY) (669999)
- Other social development and community services (OTHER SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES) (759999)
- Land and water management (FOREST AND WOODED LANDS) (770702)
- Living resources (flora and fauna) (FOREST AND WOODED LANDS) (770703)
- Remnant vegetation and protected conservation areas (FOREST AND WOODED LANDS) (770706)
- Other (FOREST AND WOODED LANDS) (770799)
- Biological sciences (NON-ORIENTED RESEARCH) (780105)
Grants and Contracts
Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.
Grants
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Scheme | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of genes controlling wood fibre properties in Eucalyptus nitens | Chief Investigator | AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL | Linkage Projects | 01/01/2002 |
| Genetic association studies of fundamental wood fibre components in Pinus radiata resource populations | Chief Investigator | AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL | Linkage Projects | 01/01/2006 |
| Functional genetic analysis of wood formation genes in Eucalyptus | Chief Investigator | AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL, SAPPI FORESTS RESEARCH |
Linkage Projects (AUST RESEARCH COUNCIL) | 21/05/2007 |
| Towards the development of heartwood free eucalyptus | Chief Investigator | FOREST & WOOD PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA LTD | Research Grants (FOREST WOOD PRODUCT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION) |
Contracts
| Title | Role | Funding Source | Award Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSE SCHOLARSHIP- REED | Principal Supervisor | DEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENT - USE CUST 57383 | 01/07/2004 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 1.1 - MONITORING AND MEASURING | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 1.2 - MANAGING AND SUSTAINING | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 1.3 - MODELLING AND INFORMATION INTEGRATION | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 2.1 - BREEDING FOR HIGH-VALUE WOOD PRODUCTS | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 4.1 - WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 4.3 - COMMUNITIES | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 3.1 - HARVESTING AND OPERATIONS | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 4.2 - BIODIVERSITY | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| PROJECT NUMBER 2.2 - SILVICULTURE FOR HIGH-VALUE SOLID AND ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2005 |
| CRC FOR FORESTRY PARTICIPANTS AGREEMENT | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 25/10/2005 |
| DEED OF ACCESSION - ADDING NEW PARTY - VIC FORESTS | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 13/10/2008 |
| CRC FOR FORESTRY - PROJECT NUMBER 3.2 - DEVELOPMENT OF SELECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE FOR THE USE OF ONBOARD SYSTEMS FOR AUSTRALIAN FOREST OPERATIONS | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/03/2009 |
| DEED OF ACCESSION - CRC FOR FORESTRY NEW PARTICIPANT - UNIVERSITY OF THE SUNSHINE COAST | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2009 |
| DEED OF ACCESSION - CRC FOR FORESTRY NEW PARTICIPANT - AUSTRALIAN FOREST CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION LTD | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2009 |
| DEED OF ACCESSION - CRC FOR FORESTRY NEW PARTICIPANT - TIMBERLANDS PACIFIC PTY LTD | Chief Investigator | CRC FOR FORESTRY | 01/07/2009 |
Publications
Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.