Centre Staff


Dr Wenxu Zhou
Centre Research Fellow (Metabolomics)  
PhD, Texas Tech University. USA
Formerly W.M.Keck Metabolomics Laboratory, Iowa State University, USA
Current research: Energy metabolism, fatty acids and sterol function in plants. Metabolomics methods development. Metabolic profiling of mutants.
Email wzhou@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4457 (Office)

Dr Ping Che                                          
Centre Research Fellow (Metabolic Biology)         
PhD, Iowa State University, USA
Formerly, Plant Science Institute, Iowa State University, USA
Current research: Energy metabolism and metabolic signaling in the plant cell. Metabolic control of plant growth Fatty acid metabolism, signaling and plant development.
Email pche@cyllene.uwa.edu.au 
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4457 (Office)

Mr David Zeelenberg
Centre Technician
BSc (Hons) UWA, Biochemistry
Metabolomics support. GC-MS technician. Malate dehydrogenase functions.
Email davidz@cyllene.uwa.edu.au,
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4457 (Office)

Research Associates
Dr John Bussell
ARC CoE Plant Energy Biology Postdoctoral Research Associate
PhD, University of Western Australia (Plant Genetics)
Formerly Postdoc, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Sweden
Current research: Peroxisome protein discovery and function. Protein targeting to peroxisomes. Redox metabolism. Genetics of fatty acid metabolism and signalling. Metabolic basis of root carboxylate exudation. Email bussell@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 7005 (Office)

Dr Sheila Chiwocha
Research Associate
PhD, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (Forest Biology)
Formerly Postdoc, National Research Council Canada - Plant Biotechnology Institute, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Current Research: Mode of action of karrikin in seed germination. Interaction between karrikin, ethylene, GA and ABA. Measurement of GA, ABA and metabolites.
Email chiwocha@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4430 (Office)

Dr Perry Fransisco
Research Associate
PhD, Ehime University, Japan
Formerly JRDC Laboratory, Akita University Japan,
USDA Laboratory, University of Illinois, USA
Current research: The function Function of chloroplast beta-amylases. In vivo protein tagging. Starch metabolism in fumarase mutant.
Email  perryf@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4430 (Office)

Dr Jing Li
Research Associate
PhD Adelaide, Plant Molecular Biology
Formerly PhD student ACPFG Adelaide
Current Research Function of chloroplast beta-amylases. Expression of beta-amylases in E coli. Structure-function studies.
Email jingli@cyllene.uwa.edu.au,
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4430 (Office)

Dr David Nelson
Research Associate
PhD (Genetics), University of Wisconsin, USA
BA, Rice University, USA
Current research: Mode of action of karrikin in seed germination. Genetic approaches (functional genomics, reporter genes, genetic screens).
Email dcnelson@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4430 (Office)

Dr Itsara Pracharoenwattana
Research Associate
PhD, Edinburgh; MSc, Reading UK
Formerly Postdoc Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Edinburgh University
Current research: Operation of fatty acid beta-oxidation, glyoxylate cycle and photorespiration Fumarate synthesis. Functions of peroxisomal malate dehydrogenase and hydroxypyruvate reductase in photorespiration. Thiolase over-expression.
Email: iprach@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4468 (Office)

Dr Sarah Purdy
Research Associate
PhD, UC London, UK
Current research: Role of starch phosphorylase in response to abiotic stress and photorespiration.
email purdys@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4430 (Office)

Mr Andrew Wiszniewski
ARC CoE Plant Energy Biology PhD student
BSc (Hons) UWA, Molecular Biology
Current research: Discovery and function of peroxisome proteins
Email wiszna01@student.uwa.edu.au
Tel (08) 6488 4417 (Lab) | Tel (08) 6488 4434 (Office)

logos The Government of Western Australia The University of Western Australia Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology