Staff Profile
Professor Christopher Grof
Professor
School of Environmental and Life Sciences
EditCareer Summary
Qualifications
- PhD, James Cook University, 13/05/1989
Research
Research keywords
- C4 photosynthesis
- Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy
- biofuels
- carbon partitioning
- plant sugar transporters
- sorghum
- sugarcane
Research expertise
The research area that I have operated within since the beginning of my postgraduate studies is broadly encompassed by C4 photosynthesis and carbon partitioning.
Between 1993 and 2007, a major focus of my research has been the development of a fundamental understanding of carbon metabolism/ photoassimilate partitioning and more specifically sucrose transport processes at the more detailed cellular level in the key food and biofuel crop sugarcane. By the application of a directed EST sequencing approach undertaken on the major sucrose storage organ in sugarcane, the stem, a number of ESTs encoding novel transporters were identified and full length cDNA sequences isolated. Three putative hexose transporters have been immunolocalised to the phloem of maturing internodes of the stem and an increase in expression of these transporters coincided with the logarithmic increase in sucrose concentration. The single sucrose transporter identified to date exhibited a novel localisation pattern being present in the cell layer surrounding the vascular bundles and showed a strong spike in expression at the initiation of the logarithmic phase of sucrose accumulation. The development of a high level of expertise in functional characterisation of sugar transporters has been realised through substantial collaboration travel awards from Federal Department of Industry Science and Technology and the Australian Academy of Science. Visits to work in the laboratories of premier transport researchers Professor Wolf Frommer, (University of Tuebingen, Germany and Carnegie Institute, Stanford University, USA) and Dr John Ward, (University of Minnesota) has resulted in functional characterisation of the sugarcane sucrose transporter in heterologous systems including yeast and Xenopus laevis oocytes. In addition to researching sucrose transport, I also have considerable expertise in improving transformation and transgene expression in recalcitrant plant species, skills essential for implementing genetic manipulations in order to dissect the role of candidate genes.
In 2008 I began developing a new research platform using Sorghum as a model biofuels feedstock. In addition to investigating sucrose transport mechanisms I have extended the scope of photoassimilate partitioning to include cell wall construction/deconstruction and composition. My group is currently undertaking leading edge research in the development of FTIR and FPA-FTIR as tools for detailed investigation of cereal grass cell wall composition and the development of predictive models of digestibility using spectral analysis. The application of ionic liquids as a novel and efficient means of biomass pre-treatment for the production of second generation biofuels is also currently being investigated.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|
| 060799 | Plant Biology Not Elsewhere Classified | 75 |
| 060299 | Ecology Not Elsewhere Classified | 20 |
| 030199 | Analytical Chemistry Not Elsewhere Classified | 5 |
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- plant biotechnology
- plant physiology
EditPublications
No publications.
EditGrants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 16 |
|---|
| Total funding | $3,961,060 |
|---|
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
- Indicates that the researcher may be seeking students for this project.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (1 grants)
Refurbishment of the Newcastle Plant Growth Facility$160,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
2012 (2 grants)
To understand the process controlling cell wall composition in C4 grasses.$51,000
Funding Body: CSIRO - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Christopher Grof, Mr Antony Martin |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Postgraduate Scholarship | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $51,000 | 2012 | 2015 |
| GNo:G1300847 |
Collaboration to strengthen the research capabilities of the Australia-China Research Centre for Crop Improvement.$40,000
Funding Body: Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
2011 (3 grants)
Specialised Greenhouse Space for New Initiatives
$500,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
Chemical Biology$444,961
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Warwick Belcher, Doctor Ian Grainge, Professor Christopher Grof, Professor Peter Lewis, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Doctor Shaun Roman, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Doctor Jennette Sakoff, Doctor Nikki Verrills |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Priority Research Centre | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $444,961 | 2011 | 2015 |
| GNo:G1100052 |
DVCR Special Grant 2011$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Christopher Grof |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Special Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $20,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1100995 |
2010 (2 grants)
Laser microdissection microscopy system for cell and development biology$350,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Doug Smith, Associate Professor David McCurdy, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Christopher Grof, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Doctor Brett Graham, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Paul Foster, Professor Trevor Day, Professor Robert Callister |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $350,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0190369 |
Laser microdissection microscopy system for cell and development biology$215,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Doug Smith, Associate Professor David McCurdy, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Christopher Grof, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Doctor Brett Graham, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Paul Foster, Professor Trevor Day, Professor Robert Callister |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Equipment Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $215,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G1000874 |
2009 (6 grants)
Electron Microscopes for Nanometer-scale Imaging/Microanalysis in the Materials, Biological, Physical, Engineering and Chemical Sciences$650,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Erich Kisi, Professor Scott Donne, Doctor Vicki Keast, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Professor Robert Melchers, Conjoint Professor Christina Offler, Professor John O'Connor, Professor Reza Moheimani, Emeritus Professor John Patrick, Professor Dirk Van Helden, Professor Bruce King, Professor Geoffrey Evans, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Doctor Geoffrey MacFarlane, Associate Professor Yong-Ling Ruan, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Minjie Lin, Professor Christopher Grof, Doctor Silvia Frisia, Doctor Rebecca Lim, Doctor Heber Sugo, Doctor Jennifer Forrester, Doctor Olivier Buzzi, Doctor Andrew Fleming, Professor Erica Wanless, Doctor Clovia Holdsworth, Doctor Russell Drysdale, Professor Stephen Fityus, Associate Professor David McCurdy, Doctor De Zhu |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $650,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189120 |
An Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility for Applications in Proteomics and Organic Chemistry$495,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Mark Baker, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Marcel Maeder, Doctor Xiaojing Zhou, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Professor Christopher Grof, Professor Roger Smith, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Conjoint Professor Alison Jones, Professor Mike Calford, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Doctor Rick Thorne, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor John Rostas, Professor Rodney Scott, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Pablo Moscato, Professor Paul Dastoor, Professor Peter Lewis |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $495,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189122 |
eSorghum as a bio-fuel feedstock for arid environments$320,000
Funding Body: Pacific Seeds Pty Ltd
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Christopher Grof, Assoc. Prof Ian Godwin, Mr Neil Muller |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Linkage Projects Partner funding | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $320,000 | 2009 | 2012 |
| GNo:G0190037 |
Start-up grant (contribution towards salary funding for Caitlin Byrt)$138,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Christopher Grof |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Special Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $138,000 | 2009 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0189583 |
Electron Microscopes for Nanometer-scale Imaging/Microanalysis in the Materials, Biological, Physical, Engineering and Chemical Sciences$70,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Erich Kisi, Professor Scott Donne, Doctor Vicki Keast, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Professor Robert Melchers, Conjoint Professor Christina Offler, Professor John O'Connor, Professor Reza Moheimani, Emeritus Professor John Patrick, Professor Dirk Van Helden, Professor Bruce King, Professor Geoffrey Evans, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Doctor Geoffrey MacFarlane, Associate Professor Yong-Ling Ruan, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Minjie Lin, Professor Christopher Grof, Doctor Silvia Frisia, Doctor Rebecca Lim, Doctor Heber Sugo, Doctor Jennifer Forrester, Doctor Olivier Buzzi, Doctor Andrew Fleming, Professor Erica Wanless, Doctor Clovia Holdsworth, Doctor Russell Drysdale, Professor Stephen Fityus, Associate Professor David McCurdy, Doctor De Zhu |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) Partner funding | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $70,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0190441 |
An Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility for Applications in Proteomics and Organic Chemistry$50,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Mark Baker, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Marcel Maeder, Doctor Xiaojing Zhou, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Professor Christopher Grof, Professor Roger Smith, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Conjoint Professor Alison Jones, Professor Mike Calford, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Doctor Rick Thorne, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor John Rostas, Professor Rodney Scott, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Pablo Moscato, Professor Paul Dastoor, Professor Peter Lewis |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) Partner funding | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $50,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189948 |
2008 (2 grants)
eSorghum as a bio-fuel feedstock for arid environments$442,099
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Christopher Grof, Assoc. Prof Ian Godwin, Mr Neil Muller |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Linkage Projects | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $442,099 | 2008 | 2012 |
| GNo:G0189242 |
New Staff Grant 2008$15,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor Christopher Grof |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| New Staff Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $15,000 | 2008 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189305 |
EditResearch Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 8 |
|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 3.1 |
|---|
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed
Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Co-Supervisor | Investigating a Role for NAC Transcription Factors as Master Regulators of Transfer Cell Development in Arabidopsis Thaliana |
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Co-Supervisor | Discovering Transcription Factors Regulating Wall Ingrowth Formation in Transfer Cells Using Arabidopsis Thaliana |
| 2013 | 2017 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Co-Supervisor | The Molecular Characterisation of Vernalisation in Safflower via the Development of Genomic and Transcriptomic Resources |
| 2012 | 2016 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Principal Supervisor | Spatial and Temporal Identification of Requisite Proteins Within Model Species Setaria viridis for 2nd Generation Sustainable Energy Biofuel Production |
| 2012 | 2016 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Principal Supervisor | The Role of Lignin in C4 Biofuel Plants |
| 2012 | 2016 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Co-Supervisor | Characterising the Role of At4g09450 as a Candidate Master Regulator of Transfer Cell Development in the Model Flowering Plant Arabidopsis Thaliana |
| 2010 | 2017 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Principal Supervisor | Benefits of Plants, Compost and Inoculation with Plant-Associated Microbes for the Development of a Mine Spoil Anthroposol |
| 2010 | 2014 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Principal Supervisor | Sucrose Accumulation in Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor) |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|
| 2013 | PhD (Biological Sciences) | Co-Supervisor | Functional Characterisation of Novel Sucrose Transporters |
