Issue 4 2006 - acpfg

New FacesNataliya KovalchukI grew up in Rivne in western Ukraine,moving to the capital, Kyiv, for university.I received a Bachelor of Scienceand PhD in plant physiology from theNational Taras Shevchenko University.As an undergraduate in the Kyiv Instituteof Botany I cloned cranberries, whilefor my PhD I studied phytohemag-glutinin in seeds.Still at the institute I became asenior research scientist, examiningthe role of lectins in the hormonalregulation of plant growth. For thepast few years my main researchinterest has been the physiologicalfunctions of seed lectins inplant responses to abiotic stresses.I recently arrived in Australia,where I am working on improvinggrain quality and yield by altering theexpression of regulatory genes. I amlooking forward to contributing myexperience and enthusiasm to theACPFG team.Sam HendersonI studied Biotechnology at FlindersUniversity. After completing myundergraduate degree I took a year offand worked as a laboratory technicianin a winery in McLaren Vale, beforetravelling around Australia.Last year I did my Honours at theAustralian Wine Research Institute,examining the potential of Botrytiscinerea aspartic proteases to preventhaze in bottled white wine.At the ACPFG I have been workingin Professor Geoff Fincher’slab with Dr Rachel Burton on arange of projects involving barleygene expression.Tatiana PyvovarenkoI am originally from Kyiv in theUkraine, where I completed a sciencedegree majoring in virology. I thenjoined the Institute of Biochemistryand Physiology of Microorganisms,of the Russian Academy of Sciences,to complete my PhD.There I studied genetic determinantsof antibiotic resistance in lacticacid bacteria, constructing geneticmaps of R-plasmids and creating shuttlevectors for industrial strains.I moved to Australia in 1996 withmy family. I worked for several yearsin a private diagnostic companyas the molecular biology sectionsupervisor, developing and applyingnew molecular diagnostic tests forbacterial and viral infections as wellas genetic disorders.I joined the ACPFG in March 2006as a research officer to look at expressionof stress-inducible transcriptionfactors from drought-tolerant varietiesin maize. I am delighted to be part ofthe ACPFG team.Zahra ShoaeiI completed a Bachelor of PlantProtection at Zanjan University inIran. After my degree I stayed at theuniversity as a research assistant,identifying cultivars of potato resistantto a soil-born fungal disease. I alsoworked with an agricultural group ona wheat yield improvement project inZanjan province.After I got married I moved toAdelaide with my husband, whois doing PhD at the University ofAdelaide. I like Adelaide, especiallyits friendly people and nice weather.I’m very happy I’ve had the chance todo work experience in Professor MarkTester’s lab at the ACPFG.The ACPFG vector is a quarterly publication.Contributions, comments and queries arewelcome. If you have any information onACPFG news, events, research or internationaltravel that should be included in the next issue,please contact:Amanda Hudswell, Communications OfficerEmail: amanda.hudswell@acpfg.com.auPh: (08) 8303 7230Fax: (08) 8303 7102For more ACPFG news and information, go to:www.acpfg.com.auAmanda HudswellIn my early days I completed aBachelor of Science at the Universityof Adelaide with majors in Botanyand Psychology. This led me towork in a bank for six years! Here, Idiscovered my enthusiasm lay in theareas of publicity, communicationand event/project management. SoI enrolled in a Graduate Diploma inCommunications (Public Relations)at the University of South Australiawhich I completed in 2003.Since early 2002 I have been workingin Communications, Marketingand Public Relations consultanciesand at UniSA. My most previous roleinvolved me writing tender and grantapplications, assisting in winning anumber of high profile tenders andgrants for UniSA.Between 1997 and 2004 I waslead singer in acoustic duo Trystperforming both original and coversongs. To quench my thirst for musicnowadays, I emcee Karaoke nights ata local Adelaide pub.I didn’t always know that communicationwas my passion, but I’mglad I found it.The ACPFG gives no warranty and makesno representation that the information inthis document is suitable for any purpose oris free from error. The ACPFG accepts noresponsibility for any person acting or relyingon the information contained in this document,and disclaim all liability for any loss, cost orexpense incurred by reason of any person usingor relying on the information contained in thisdocument or by reason of any error, omission,defect, or mis-statement contained therein.20