The University of Western Australia

Adj/A/Prof Stuart Pearse

Adjunct Associate Professor
Adjunct and Honorary Staff (Plant Biology)

Contact details

Address

Adjunct and Honorary Staff (Plant Biology)
The University of Western Australia

Email

spearse@graduate.uwa.edu.au

Qualifications

BSc(NatResMgt) PhD W.Aust.

Biography

I have always had a keen interest in the natural environment and immensely enjoyed the great outdoors. In 2001 I completed a BSc(hons) in Natural Resource Management at the University of Western Australia focusing on plant and soil science. After a short break working casually for CLIMA and the CRC for Salinity I completed a PhD in 2006 titled "Carboxylates in the rhizosphere of canola, wheat, lupins and pulses : their role in P acquisition from sparingly soluble forms". During my PhD, I was successful in obtaining and Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd Award in 2005. The Endeavour Award funded 6 months of research at China Agricultural University in Beijing. Following completion of my PhD I spent two years researching at the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences in Tsukuba, funded by a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Currently I am a Research Assistant Professor working on a project titled 'Susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi and sensitivity to phosphorus in Australian plants: why are they linked?'.

Key research

I focus mainly on rhizosphere interactions, plant nutrition and root physiology in both crops and Australian native species. Presently Im studying the effects of phosphite on the physiology and metabolism of Australian native plants.

Publications

http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-6610-2008

Roles, responsibilities and expertise

High pressure liquid chromatography, spectrometry, colorimetry bacterial luminescence bioassays, bacteria cultivation, rhizosphere exudate concentration procedures and acid digestion of plant tissues, preparation of samples for metabolite profiling and interpretation of results.

Funding received

2011 UWA Research Development Award.
2010 Plant Nutrition Trust Travel Award.
2010 UWA Supplementary Travel Grant.
2009 Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering (ATSE) Early Career Symposium Fellowship.
2006-2008 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship.
2005 Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Holdings Limited Award.
2002-2006 ARC-SPIRT postgraduate research linkage scholarship with The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia and CSBP FutureFarm.

Industrial relevance

Improving the efficiency of nutrient acquisition by crops will increase the productivity of agricultural systems, and reduce the environmental costs of agriculture. Sometimes the best place to draw inspiration for agricultural systems is by studying native Australian species.

Languages

English, Japanese (moderate), Mandarin (survival).

Memberships

Australian Society of Plant Scientists.

Honours and awards

2009 Best presentation by an early career researcher at the 35th Annual Meeting of the South African Association of Botanists.
2006 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship.
2005 Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Holdings Limited Award

Previous positions

2010 Research Assistant Professor, The University of Western Australia
2008 Academic Research Associate,
The University of Western Australia.
2006-2008 Postdoctoral Fellow, The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences.
2006 Academic Research Associate, The University of Western Australia.
2002-2006 Postgraduate Researcher, The University of Western Australia.
2005 Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Holdings Limited Postgraduate Researcher, China Agricultural University.
2001-2002 Casual Research Assistant, Centre for Legumes in Mediteranean Agriculture
2001-2002 Casual Research Officer, the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, The University of Western Australia.

Teaching

I presently cosupervise 2 PhD students and 1 Honors Student.

Current projects

"Susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi and sensitivity to phosphorus in Australian plants: why are they linked?"

Research profile

Research profile and publications