
Advanced Prawn Breeding Research Hub Meet the team Research Staff
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Jeff Cowley
Virologist, CSIRO
Jeff conducts research to identify whether families of prawns can be selected for resilience against viral disease. He has experience in running viral challenge trials and in applying molecular tests to track the progress of infection.
Mehar Khatkar
Senior Research Fellow, University of Sydney
Dr Khatkar is a lead researcher in computational genomics, and application of DNA markers in genetic improvement of livestock species. He will be primarily responsible for quantitative genetic analysis, modelling breeding design.
Agnes Le Port
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Agnes helps with continuous project development improvements with the Executive team. Her role includes co-supervising honours and higher degree research students and communicating research in international scientific journals.

Christopher Stratford
Research Assistant
Chris helps coordinate the development of families required to produce the specific phenotypic and genetic traits required for a successful breeding program. He is responsible for rearing animals required at Bribie Island Research Centre.
Cheryl Tan
Research Assistant
Cheryl provides molecular laboratory support for the Advanced Prawn Breeding hub. Other roles include accurate measurement of genetic and biochemical changes that occur in prawns across large numbers of families.
Peter Thomson
Associate Professor, Sydney University
Peter has expertise in biometry and the development and application of statistical methods to address quantitative genetics problems. He contributes to the development of methods for genomic selection, and modelling of complex traits.
Ron White
Physicist & Dean of Science and Engineering, JCU
Ron has experience in the application of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy analysis within the primary industries sector. He leads JCU’s involvement in the Rapid Assessment Unit – a joint venture between JCU and QDAF.