Dr Robert Furbank, Senior Principal Research Scientist.

Dr Robert Furbank: researching plant carbon partitioning

Dr Robert Furbank aims to improve crop yield and product quality by researching carbon partitioning and photosynthesis.

• 8 May 2006 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities 

Dr Robert Furbank currently works on:

• genetic manipulation of carbon partitioning and photosynthesis in crop plants
• plant phenomics and imaging plant performance
• mechanisms of drought tolerance in cereals.

Background 

Dr Furbank uses molecular genetics to understand the biochemical regulation of carbon allocation between different plant organs and between different storage compounds.

His work follows the path of carbon fixation through photosynthesis in leaves and sucrose transport in the phloem to the unloading of sucrose in sink tissues such as cereal grain and cotton fibre.

This work focuses on two key crops:

• wheat
• cotton.

In cotton, Dr Furbank studies the control of fibre elongation and cellulose synthesis for improved fibre quality.

In wheat, he focuses on sugar transport and carbohydrate storage, in particular examining sources of carbon for grain filling under drought.

This work is translated into new genotypes for industry through transgenic varieties, in the case of cotton and by marker assisted breeding in the case of wheat.

Academic qualifications

Dr Furbank was awarded a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours from the University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, in 1979.

He completed his Doctor of Philosophy at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

Achievements

Dr Furbank has been made an Adjunct Professor, Research School of Biological Sciences (RSBS), at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

He was also awarded the:

• University Medal in 1979
• PL Goldacre Prize in Plant Physiology in 1992.

See a list of scientific papers published by Dr Furbank on the next page.