The CRC is pleased to announce the appointment of two Program Coordinators, who are joining the team in time for the launch of the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC).

There was a high level of interest in the roles and the field of applicants was of a very high calibre. The successful applicants are:

Programs 1 and 2: Dr Jo Luck
Jo comes to us from the Department of Primary Industries Victoria (DPI Vic) where she was principal research scientist in Plant Microbiology in the Biosciences Research Division. Jo has been heavily involved with the CRCNPB and was the Project Leader on the CRC's Climate Change project that determined the potential risks associated with climate change for key wheat pathogens. She completed her PhD at the Australian National University and CSIRO Plant Industry on the molecular mechanisms of plant disease resistance studying the flax-rust system. Jo will be based in Melbourne.

Programs 3 and 4: Dr Sharyn Taylor
Sharyn is currently the Program Manager (Biosecurity Planning and Implementation) with Plant Health Australia. She was the project leader on the CRC's Grain Knowledge Networks project which aimed to develop an effective knowledge exchange strategy for the grains industry to improve its phosphine insect resistance management outcomes through identification of the methods in which information is delivered and exchanged through the grains supply chain. Sharyn was previously employed at SARDI as a Senior Research Scientist. She completed a PhD on the biology of, and yield loss caused by, root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) in broad acre agriculture in South Australia and has published several journal articles in this field. Sharyn will be based in the office in Canberra.

Sharyn and Jo will commence in their roles in mid-May.

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