Pip Cook

Postgraduate Student

Contact Details

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours)

Research

In June 2008 I commenced my PhD project in the area of biofortification. Biofortification aims to increase the nutritional profile of foods, especially cereal crops such as rice and wheat, to provide higher nutritional benefits. The desire to increase the nutritional value of these foods is due to the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in humans, most notably those who consume cereal foods as a large proportion of their diet, which is generally the case in developing countries where after harvest fortification can be unfeasible. The most concerning micronutrient deficiencies result due to a lack of iron and zinc in the diet.

My PhD project focuses on zinc and using molecular biology, examines the mechanisms responsible for the transport of micronutrients into the edible portion of the plant (grain/endosperm), and aims to investigate strategies to enhance transport of these nutrients into the grain of rice, with the intention of increasing the zinc content, and therefore increasing the nutritional value of the grain.

Supervisors

A/Prof Kathleen Soole

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