Department of Biological Sciences

Please contact Biological Sciences office, fill in an info-request form or approach our staff members if you require more information regarding the current teaching and research programmes, or individual staff and student's research projects.

Research and postgraduate study are encouraged in the Department of Biological Sciences.  All research students acquire basic research skills and a knowledge of techniques, as well as training in specialist disciplines. 

My general research field is in Biochemistry and Biotechnology.  My special areas of research are fundamental and applied studies on: 

• Fungi and Enzyme Research and Product Development for the Pulp and Paper Industries and Biocontrol;
• Celllulose, lignin and resin degradation and modification;
• Antarctic Historic Hut Wood and artefact degradation; Antarctic microbial biodiversity and bioprospecting.

My specialist teaching areas are biochemistry, including protein  purification and enzyme applications, and biotechnology including fermentation and applications of biological organisms.

Selected Publications Since 2003

Duncan, S.M., Farrell, R.L., Thwaites, J.M.,  Held, B.W. Arenz, B.E.Jurgens, J.A., Blanchette, R.A. . 2006.  Endoglucanase producing fungi isolated from Cape Evans historic expedition hut on Ross Island, Antarctica, Environmental Microbiology, in press.

Arenz, B.E., Held, B.W., Jurgens, J.A., Farrell, R.L., Blanchette, R.A., 2006.  Fungal diversity in soils and historic wood from the Ross Sea region of Antarctica, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, in press.

Held, B. W., J. A. Jurgens, S. M. Duncan, R. L. Farrell and R. A. Blanchette. 2006. Assessment of fungal diversity and deterioration in a wooden structure at New Harbor, Antarctica. Polar Biology DOI:10.1007/s00300-005-0084-3.

Thwaites, J.M., Farrell, R.L., Duncan, S.M., Reay, S.D., Blanchette, R.A., Hadar, E., Hadar, Y, Harrington, T.C. 2005. Survey of potential sapstain fungi on Pinus radiata in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 43(3): 653-663. 

Reay, S.D., Thwaites, J.M., Farrell, R.L.  (2005). A Survey of Ophiostoma species vectored by Hylastes ater to pine seedlings in New Zealand. For. Path. 35: 1-9.

Held, B.W., Jurgens, J.A., Arenz, B.E., Duncan, S.M., Farrell, R.L., Blanchette, R.A. (2005).  Environmental factors influencing microbial growth inside the Historic Expedition Huts of Ross Island, Antarctica. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 55: 45-53.

Thwaites, J.M., Farrell, R.L., Hata, K., Carter, P., Lausberg, M. (2004). Sapstain fungi on Pinus radiata logs – from New Zealand Forest to Export Destination in Japan. Journal of Wood Science: 50:  459-465.[Translated Japanese abstract appears in  Mokuzai Gakkaishi Volume 50, Number 6.]

Blanchette, R.A., Held, B.W., Jurgens, J.A., Aislabie, J., Duncan, S.M., and Farrell, R.L. (2004).  Environmental pollutants in Antarctica from the Robert F. Scott and Ernest H. Shackleton expeditions during the ‘Heroic Era’ of exploration. Polar Record, 40: 143-151.

Blanchette, R.A., Held, B.W., Jurgens, J.A., Aislabie, J., Duncan, S.M., and Farrell, R.L. (2004).  Environmental pollutants in Antarctica from the Robert F. Scott and Ernest H. Shackleton expeditions during the ‘Heroic Era’ of exploration. Polar Record, 40: 143-151.

Farrell, R.L.,  Rhodes, P.L., Aislabie, J.   (2003). Toluene-degrading Antarctic Pseudomonas Strains from Fuel-contaminated Soil. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., Vol 312/1 pp 235-240.

Schirp, A., Farrell, R.L., Kreber, B.  Effects of New Zealand Sapstaining Fungi on Structural Integrity of Unseasoned Radiata Pine. (2003). Holz als Rohund Werkstoff, 61, 369-376.

Schirp, A., Farrell, R.L., Kreber, B., Singh, A.P. (2003). Advances in understanding the ability of sapstaining fungi to produce cell-wall degrading enzymes., Wood and Fiber Science, 35, 434–444.

Held, B.W., Thwaites, J.M., Farrell, R.L., Blanchette, R.A. (2003). Albino Strains of Ophiostoma Species for Biological Control of Sapstaining Fungi. Holzforschung, 57, 237-242.

 An extensive list of publications (from 1997) is also available for viewing.

Recent honours and distinctions

2005 - Elected Fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand

2005 - Invitation Speaker II International Colloquium on Eucalyptus Pulp, Concepcion, Chile, 22-    26 May 2005

2005 - Invitation Keynote Speaker CHINA PAPER / CHINA FOREST 2005 Beijing, China 22-24    Sept 2005

2005 - Invitation Plenary Lecture AWIS (Association for Women in Sciences), 5th National Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand, 8 July 2005.

2004 -  Invitation from Vice Chancellor Bryan Gould to present in the inaugural lecture at Waikato Lecture Series:  'Celebrating World Class:  Science, Research & Innovation' 6th September 2004, celebrating the University of Waikato's 40th Anniversary.

2004 - Antarctica New Zealand Honorary Antarctic Explorer Club Member

2004 - Invited Participant Ngati Porou Whanui Forests "Launch of Knowledge Creation Strategy" at Hinerupe Marae, Te Araroa, 9 September 2004

2002-2007     NZFRST Defining Quality, Expanding Markets and Related Technologies
 
2000-2002     NZFRST, Biocontrol & Biosecurity: Pathogen Dynamics in Forestry,
Diagnostics and Risk Analysis
 
2001          Carter Holt Harvey – Japan Peeler Trials
 
1998-2000     NZFRST, Cause and Prevention of Sapstain in Radiata Pine
 
1998-2000     Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Import Risk Analysis
 
2000 –2001   Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) Rapid Identification
of target pathogens in imported packaging
 
1996-2002     New Zealand Forestry Consortium – Cause of Sapstain and
Albino Biocontrol Product Development