Dr Mark Kinkema

Mark Kinkema has over 20 years of experience in the areas of molecular biology and plant biotechnology and has worked in both academia and industry. He is currently leading the research efforts of the Transgene Expression Team within the Syngenta Centre for Sugarcane Biofuels Development at the Queensland University of Technology. This work is aimed at the commercial development of transgenic sugarcane for cellulosic ethanol production. In addition, Dr Kinkema is leading research programs within the Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities at QUT that are focused on improving transgene expression in sugarcane and improving sugarcane through biotechnology.

Prior to coming to QUT, Dr Kinkema worked at the University of Queensland where he developed a research program utilising transcriptional profiling as a tool to dissect the long distance signal transduction pathway controlling nodulation in soybean.

Before moving to Australia, Dr Kinkema worked for Syngenta Biotechnology in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. At Syngenta he managed the research activities of the Transgene Expression Team working on developing transgenic corn for the ethanol production industry. During this time, Dr Kinkema helped to manage the “corn amylase” project from the initial discovery stage through several phases of commercial development. This research developed into one of Syngenta´s most successful output traits projects and is set for commercialisation.

Dr Kinkema was a post–doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Xinnian Dong at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA. His research at Duke focused on the signal transduction pathway leading to pathogen resistance in plants. This work provided the first insight on the function of NPR1, which is a key regulator of the plant defence response known as systemic acquired resistance.