Agriculture at Otago and AbacusBio hosted a Three Minute Thesis Competition on Thursday, 8 September 2016. This was the first competition held aiming to encourage innovative young scientists in Agriculture at Otago's Research themes. Such was the high quality of entries, judges found it difficult to award prizes.
Competition winners
The Premier Award was awarded to Michael Collins for 'Epigenetic Reprogramming in Chickens'.
The Innovative Science Award was awarded to Matthew Chisnall for 'The Regulation of Ascorbate (Vitamin C) Levels in Plants'.
The Innovative Technology Award was awarded to Natalie Howes for 'You Are What You Eat'.
Three Minute Thesis Competition winners Michael Collins for the Premier Award; Matthew Chisnall for Innovative Science and Natalie Howe for Innovative Technology.
Competition entrants
Entrants to the Agriculture at Otago and AbacusBio Three Minute Thesis Competition pictured from left to right are Gertje Petersen, Michael Collins, George Poulter, Jiffinvir Singh Khosa, Matthew Chisnall, Kate Ryder, Prashanth Nagesh, Rachel Kaminsky, Annesha Makhal, Mi Tang, Tingting Liu (Lily), Natalie Howes.
Competitors and projects
Matthew Chisnall
The Regulation of Ascorbate (Vitamin C) levels in plantsSupervisors are Associate Professor Richard Macknight, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago and Professor Roger Hellens, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
Michael Collins
Epigenetic Reprogramming in ChickensSupervisor is Dr Tim Hore, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago.
Natalie Howes
You Are What You EatSupervisors are Dr Aladin Bekhit, Department of Food Science; Associate Professor David Burritt, Department of Botany, University of Otago; and Dr Anna Campbell, Abacusbio.
Rachel Kaminksy
Soil pH, Land Use and Soil Classification Account for Changes in Prokaryotic Communities Across a Range of Geographically Distant SoilsSupervisor is Dr Sergio Morales, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago.
Jiffinvir Singh Khosa
How Do Onions Know When to Bulb?Supervisor is Associate Professor Richard Macknight, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago.
Tingting Liu (Lily)
Improving Quality of Plant Using New Technology Called Pulsed Electric FieldSupervisors are Professor Indrawati Oey and Dr Graham Eyres, Department of Food Science; and Associate Professor David Burritt, Department of Botany, University of Otago.
Annesha Makhal
Food Waste Related to 'Ugly'/Misshapen ProduceSupervisors are Dr Miranda Mirosa, Department of Food Science; Associate Professor Maree Thyne and Dr Kirsten Robertson, Department of Marketing, University of Otago.
Prashanth Nagesh
Regulating the Regulator: A Molecular Interplay Between Host Histone Deacetylase 1 and Influenza VirusSupervisors are Dr Matloob Husain and Professor Vernon Ward, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago.
Gertje Petersen
Genetic Improvement in HoneybeesSupervisors are Professor Peter Dearden, Department of Biochemistry; Professor Hamish Spencer, Department of Zoology, University of Otago; Dr Peter Fennessy and Dr Peter Amer AbacusBio.
George Poulter
Advanced DNA Analysis - In the FieldSupervisors are Associate Professor Richard Macknight, Department of Biochemistry, and Professor Greg Cook, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Otago.
Kate Ryder
Novel Biomaterials from a Dairy Co-ProductSupervisors are Dr Azam Ali, Department of Applied Science and Bioengineering and Clothing and Textile Sciences, and Dr Alan Carne, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago.
Mi Tang
Plants can Fight for ThemselvesSupervisors are Dr Peter Fennessy, AbacusBio, Associate Professor David Burritt, Department of Botany, University of Otago