ZyGEM SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD (SAB)

Professor Roberta Farrell, FRSNZ FIAWS
Non Executive Director, SAB Chairman

Professor Farrell Roberta L Farrell’s distinguished track record of fundamental and applied research achievements have resulted in 28 issued U.S. patents and internationally marketed products. She is an expert in Antarctic microbial biodiversity and bioprospecting. Roberta is one of the Founding Scientists of ZyGEM, a Professor at University of Waikato, an Adjunct Professor at North Carolina State University and was elected Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science in 1990 and Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2005. Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Research at Sandoz Chemicals Biotech Research Corp.

Professor Peter Bergquist, FRSNZ
Science Advisor

Professor Peter Bergquist is Director of the Macquarie University Biotechnology Research Institute and Emeritus Professor of Molecular Genetics and Honorary Professor of Molecular Medicine in the Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, University of Auckland Medical School. His research interests include cloning and expressing genes from extremophile bacteria, in vitro enzyme evolution, high-level recombinant enzyme expression in filamentous fungi and yeasts and synthetic gene construction and expression. Peter was also formerly Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at Macquarie University-Sydney. He holds Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees from the University of Auckland. Professor Bergquist is one of the founding scientists of ZyGEM.

Professor Roy Daniel, FRSNZ
Science Advisor

Roy Daniel, Ph.D., is an enzymologist of world standing with more than 35 years of distinguished work in the field and over 180 publications. Together with Professor Hugh Morgan, Roy is a co-founder of Waikaito’s renowned Thermophile Research Unit. Roy is one of the founding scientists of ZyGEM and has collaborated with ZyGEM scientists on the study of extremophile genes, enzymes and microbes for more than 25 years. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand and the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry. Professor Daniel obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Leicester in the U.K.

Professor Hugh Morgan, FRSNZ
Science Advisor

Hugh Morgan, Ph.D., is a microbial ecologist whose central area of research is the physiology and ecology of thermal springs. Following post-doctoral research at the University of Aberdeen, he immigrated to New Zealand to take up the position of lecturer in microbiology in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Waikato. He has remained at the University ever since and was awarded a personal chair in 1984. Together with Professor Roy Daniel, Hugh founded Waikaito’s Thermophile Research Unit, which is an internationally recognized leader in its field and has been successful both academically and commercially. Hugh is one of the founding scientists of ZyGEM.

Susan Turner, Ph.D.
Science Advisor

Dr. Susan Turner is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland and currently leads a large research team whose interests cover a broad range of topics within the field of microbial ecology. She is an acknowledged leader in the study of complete microbial communities using both traditional microbiology and molecular approaches such as proteome and genome analysis. Susan's extensive knowledge of DNA extraction strategies makes her a valuable advisor in our key product development efforts. She is one of the founding scientists of ZyGEM.