
Associate Professor Mark Harrison
Science and Engineering Faculty,School of Biology & Environmental Science
Personal details
- Name
- Associate Professor Mark Harrison
- Position(s)
- Principal Research Fellow
Science and Engineering Faculty,
School of Biology & Environmental Science - Discipline *
- Industrial Biotechnology, Agricultural Biotechnology, Animal Production
- Phone
- +61 7 3138 1234
- md.harrison@qut.edu.au
- Location
- View location details (QUT staff and student access only)
- Identifiers and profiles
-
- Qualifications
-
Ph.d Biochemistry (University of Queensland)
- Professional memberships
and associations Member of the:
- Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
- International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
- Australasian Pig Science Association
- Australian Fodder Industry Association
- Keywords
-
Agriculture, Upcycling, Enzymology, Functional fibre, Animal nutrition, Protein chemistry, Microbial ecology, Nutraceuticals, Solid state fermentation, Bioeconomy
Biography
Associate Professor Harrison is a biochemist with extensive basic, applied, and commercial research experience, and is a foundation member of the QUT Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy (https://www.qut.edu.au/institute-for-future-environments/research/centre-for-agriculture-and-the-bioeconomy). Mark also provides consulting services to the Australian food and bio-industrial sector. Research in his group is focused on the conversion of agricultural wastes and residues into more valuable food, feed, fibre, fine chemical, and fuel products, (https://research.qut.edu.au/biorefining/) and his current research projects include:
- fibre modification to enhance digestibility in ruminants and non-ruminants
- production of soluble sugar products from plant biomass
- production of single cell protein using crop residues as substrates
- isolation of natural plant products, bioactives, and nutraceuticals
- biomass pretreatment chemistry
Post-doctoral, research assistant, PhD, masters and undergraduate research project opportunities are available in Mark’s laboratory.
Background Mark obtained an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Queensland in 1992. He completed his PhD (2001) at the University of Queensland, researching the molecular mechanisms by which cells transport, store, and detoxify essential metal ions. He then undertook post-doctoral work at Newcastle University (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK) in the laboratories of Professors Nigel Robinson and Christopher Dennison, researching the biological chemistry of metalloproteins and their role in essential metal ion homeostasis. Mark returned to Australia in 2003 and was awarded a 3 year Queensland State Government Smart State Fellowship in 2004 to produce enzymes in a model plant. The development of this technology in sugarcane was a key part of the $3.8 million research collaboration between Syngenta, one of the world’s largest integrated agribusiness companies, and QUT. He has also lead research projects on integration of transgenic sugarcane into the global sugarcane production system, understanding protein stability under extreme conditions, and practical integration of enzymes into industrial systems.
Teaching
Teaching discipline: School of Biology and Environmental Science
Subject:Unit Coordinator – BVB221 (‘Nature’s Pharmacy’)
Teaching areas:
- Biochemistry
- Natural product chemistry and application
Experience
Professional Experience:
- 2020 to present Associate Professor, Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy
- 2020 to present Associate Professor, School of Biology and Environmental Science
- 2015 to 2020 Senior Lecturer, School of Earth, Environmental, and Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology.
- 2008 to 2020 Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology.
- 2004 to 2008 Research Fellow, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology.
- 2002 to 2003 Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Natural Sciences, University of Newcastle (UK).
- 1999 to 2001 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle (UK).
Publications
- Gebbie L, Dam T, Ainscough R, Palfreyman R, Cao L, Harrison M, O'Hara I, Speight R, (2020) A snapshot of microbial diversity and function in an undisturbed sugarcane bagasse pile, BMC Biotechnology
- Khatun M, Harrison M, Speight R, O'Hara I, Zhang Z, (2020) Efficient production of fructo-oligosaccharides from sucrose and molasses by a novel Aureobasidium pullulan strain, Biochemical Engineering Journal
- Dugdale B, Kato M, Deo P, Plan M, Harrison M, Lloyd R, Walsh T, Harding R, Dale J, (2018) Production of human vitronectin in Nicotiana benthamiana using the INPACT hyperexpression platform, Plant Biotechnology Journal p394-403
- Mazaheri H, Chyuan O, Masjuki H, Amini Z, Harrison M, Wang C, Kusumo F, Alwi A, (2018) Rice bran oil based biodiesel production using calcium oxide catalyst derived from Chicoreus brunneus shell, Energy p10-19
- Amini Z, Chyuan O, Harrison M, Kusumo F, Mazaheri H, Ilham Z, (2017) Biodiesel production by lipase-catalyzed transesterification of Ocimum basilicum L. (sweet basil) seed oil, Energy Conversion and Management p82-90
- Davies C, Harrison M, Huygens F, (2017) Pseudomonas aeruginosa Trent and zinc homeostasis, FEMS Microbiology Letters p1-6
- Moghaddam L, Rencoret J, Maliger V, Rackemann D, Harrison M, Gutierrez A, del Rio J, Doherty W, (2017) Structural characteristics of bagasse furfural residue and its lignin component: An NMR, Py-GC/MS, and FTIR study, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering p4846-4855
- Harrison M, (2016) Sugarcane-derived animal feed, Sugarcane-based biofuels and bioproducts p281-310
- Zhang Z, Harrison M, Rackemann D, Doherty W, O'Hara I, (2016) Organosolv pretreatment of plant biomass for enhanced enzymatic saccharification, Green Chemistry p360-381
- Rackemann D, Bartley J, Harrison M, Doherty W, (2016) The effect of pretreatment on methanesulfonic acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of bagasse to levulinic acid, formic acid, and furfural, RSC Advances p74525-74535
For more publications by this staff member, visit QUT ePrints, the University's research repository.
Awards
Awards and recognition
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2019
- Details
- The North Australia Beef Research Council provides leadership and advice to organisations who either invest in, or undertake beef cattle research, development and extension (RD&E) in Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia. NABRC is an independent organisation made up of producer representatives, research organisations and education providers. NABRC does not fund RD&E, nor employ any RD&E personnel. Rather, its role is to influence the RD&E agenda. NABRC helps ensure that innovation and learning in the northern beef industry addresses industry¿s priority issues.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2018
- Details
- Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence ¿ Research, Learning & Teaching, Partnerships & Engagement (Nomination). The nomination for Excellence in Teaching originated in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The nominations for Excellence in Research and Learning & Teaching originated in the Institute for Future Environments.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- Vice-Chancellors Performance Award - Excellence in Research
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2016
- Details
- Vice-Chancellors Performance Award for Excellence in Teaching
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2007
- Details
- Dr Harrison was awarded one of the three inaugural Early Career Researcher Bio2007 Fellowships. This fellowship provided full funding (registration, travel and accommodation) for Dr Harrison to attend Bio2007 in Boston, USA.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2006
- Details
- A Smart State Fellowship was awarded to Dr Mark Harrison by the Queensland State Government to pursue a research project entitled "Switching on enzymes to break down sugarcane waste for fermentation to bioethanol". This grant provides a total of $100,000 per year for three years to Dr Harrison; $50,000 per year is provided by the Queensland State Government Department of State Development and Trade, $25,000 per year is provided by QUT and $25,000 per year is provided by Farmacule Pty Ltd.
Research projects
Grants and projects (Category 1: Australian Competitive Grants only)
- Title
- Biorefineries for Profit - Phase 2 (RnD4Profit 18-04-016 | 2019/902) (4207/4395)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 4-BA20OPM
- Start year
- 2019
- Keywords
- Agriculture; Bioproducts; Biorefinery; Diversification; Value Chain
- Title
- Wastes to Profits: Value Propositions for Better Management of Wastes in Animal Industry Supply Chains (4303)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- V.RDP.3010
- Start year
- 2018
- Keywords
- Title
- Reviewing and Extending Knowledge of Fibre Quality Assessment and Effects of Cane Varieties (4304)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 2017/001
- Start year
- 2017
- Keywords
- Factory; Fibre; Quality; Soft; Sugarcane
- Title
- A profitable future for Australian agriculture: Biorefineries for higher-value animal feeds, chemicals, and fuels (RnD4Profit 14-01-044) (4207)
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 2015/902
- Start year
- 2016
- Keywords
- Agriculture; Bioproducts; Biorefinery; Diversification; Value Chain
Supervision
Current supervisions
- Production of fungal cell protein from sugarcane substrates by solid state fermentation
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Robert Speight, Dr James Strong - Microbial colonisation of low-quality forage in the bovine rumen
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Ian O'Hara, Dr Kevin Dudley, Associate Professor Junior Te'o - Development of New Enzymes and Microbial Cells for Enhancement of Livestock Feeds Based on Sugarcane Fibre
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Robert Speight, Dr Leigh Gebbie - Biosynthesis of fructo-oligosaccharides and other value-added products from sugarcane molasses
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Zhanying Zhang, Professor Ian O'Hara, Professor Robert Speight - The Conversion of Cotton Gin Waste into Pharmaceutical Precursors and Value-added Chemicals
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Steven Bottle, Professor William Doherty - Valorisation of A. tequilana biomass through thermochemical conversion, anaerobic digestion and carbonisation
PhD, Associate Supervisor
Other supervisors: Professor Graeme Millar, Dr Lalehvash Moghaddam, Professor William Doherty