Professor Roberta Farrell
Professor
Qualifications: MSc PhD Ilinois FRSNZ FIAWS
Contact Details
| Name | Extn. | Username | Room | Department | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farrell, Prof Roberta | 4148 | rfarrell | C.2.10 | Biological Sciences |
You can contact staff by:
- Calling +64 7 838 4466 then enter the extension
- Extensions starting with 4 or 5 can also be direct dialed:
- For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension
- For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension
- Emailing username@waikato.ac.nz
- Using the campus map to locate their room
Research Interests
- NZ Sapstain Fungi
- Bio Fibres and Fungi for use in Wood, Pulp and Paper Industries
- Sapstain Fungi
- Antarctic Research
- Ganga
Click here to go to the Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research (CBER).
See Professor Farrell's Curriculum Vitae [CV].
Honours, distinctions, membership of committees (since 2005):
- 2010
-
- Nature Asia-Pacific highlights PNAS publication 'Highly specialized microbial diversity in hyper-arid polar desert'; see http://www.natureasia.com/A-IMBN/article.php?id=362
- 2009
-
- Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Missouri-St Louis
- Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition for services to biochemical research.
- Invitation Key Note Lecture Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts on Biological Prospecting in the Antarctic Treaty Area 3 - 5 February 2009, Baarn, The Netherlands
- 2008
-
- Hamilton New Zealand Kudos Science Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Appointment Adjunct Professor, North Carolina State University, USA.
- Appointment Board New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology (three years).
- Invitation Keynote Lecture Bio-08, Grahamstown,South Africa, 23 January 08
- 2007
-
- Appointment Panel Member Royal Society of New Zealand Travel Grants Committee
- Appointment Associate Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics, University of Western Cape, South Africa.
- Invitation Sir Holmes Miller Lecture 2007, Wellington Branch New Zealand Antarctic Society
- Invitation Keynote Lecture Hokkaido University, 19 October 2007.
- 2006
-
- Millennium Ecosystem Assessment received the Zayed International Prize for the Environment in the category of "Scientific Achievements in the Environment" (www.zayedprize.org).
- Member 50th Anniversary of Scott Base Conference Organising Committee, a joint partnership of Antarctica New Zealand and the Royal Society of New Zealand
- Appointed Director ZyGEM Ltd
- 2005
-
- Elected Fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand
- Invitation Speaker II International Colloquium on Eucalyptus Pulp, Concepción, Chile, 22 - 26 May 2005
- Invitation Keynote Speaker China Paper/China Forest 2005 Beijing, China 22 - 24 Sept 2005
- Invitation Plenary Lecture AWIS (Association for Women in Sciences), 5th National Conference, 8 July 2005.
- Appointed Director ZyGEM Ltd
Students Supervised
PhD:
Jurgens, Joel (2010). Fungal biodiversity of extreme environments and their biochemical strategies of lignocelluloseis utilization.
Duncan, Shona (2007). Cellulose degradation in Antarctic historic huts.
Fraser, D. Scott (2008). Effects on forest ecosystems of pulp and paper waste.
Stahlhut, Dirk (2009). Identification of decay fungi and factors affecting wood decay in "leaky buildings" in NZ & strategies for improved detection and control.
Robson, Lisa (2008). Gene expression and ophiostoma species. [pictured]
MSc:
Hingston, Erina (2006). The Manipulation of Cell Wall Polysaccharide Gene Expression.
Gutierrez-Zamora, Maria-Luisa (2005). Bioremediation of fuel-contaminated soils from Antarctica.
Ripi, Jonni (2004). Identification of Genes and Promoters Relevant to Pineapple Fruit Ripening.
Kuy, Sulee (2004). Bovine Milk Factors and Intestinal Integrity.
Robson, Lisa (2004). Microbial Abundance and Diversity surrounding Mummified Seals in Miers Valley, Antarctica.
Wilcocks, Sandra (2004). Extracellular Protein Expression by Ophiostoma sp.
Expertise
Applied and environmental biochemistry; mycology and genetics; sapstain prevention; aromatic compound degradation; Antarctic fungi; wood preservation in Antarctica; native fungi genetics and molecular biology; biotechnology for pulp and paper and textile industries.
Recent Publications
- Aislabie, J., Ryburn, J., Gutierrez-Zamora, M., Rhodes, P., Hunter, D., Sarmah, A., Barker, G., Farrell, R. (2011) Hexadecane mineralization activity in hydrocarbon-contaminated soils of Ross Sea region Antarctica may require nutrients and inoculation
Refereed Journal Articles - Soil Biology & Biochemistry - Rao, S., Chan, Y., Lacap, D., Hyde, K., Pointing, S., Farrell, R. (2011) Low-diversity fungal assemblage in an Antarctic Dry Valleys soil
Refereed Journal Articles - Polar Biology - Giles, R., Peszlen, I., Peralta, P., Chang, H., Farrell, R., Grand, L., Horvath, B. (2011) Fungal biodegradation of genetically modified and lignin-altered quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)
Refereed Journal Articles - Holzforschung - Su, Y., Ho, C., Hsu, K., Chang, H., Farrell, R., Wang, E. (2011) Screening of Ophiostoma species for removal of Eucalyptus extractives
Refereed Journal Articles - Journal of Wood Chemistry and Technology
