Guijun Yan

Guijun Yan is a Professor at the University of Western Australia (UWA), affiliated with the School of Agriculture and Environment. He holds an adjunct position as Senior Research Fellow. His academic career includes roles such as Deputy Leader of the Plant Production Systems Program (2006–2015) and Chair of the Ornamental Genetic Resources Working Group (2008–2012). He has been at UWA since 1996, progressing from a Research Fellow to his current Professorship.

Dr. Yan earned his undergraduate degree in Horticulture from Hebei Agricultural University (1982), followed by an MSc in Horticulture (1984). He completed his PhD in Genetics and Breeding of Kiwifruit at The University of Auckland in New Zealand (1996).

His research focuses on plant genetics and breeding, molecular genetics, cytogenetics, and biostatistics. Specific interests include:

• Genetic improvement of crops like wheat, barley, and brassica
• Molecular phylogenetics and genomics
• Development of drought and herbicide-tolerant varieties
• Breeding strategies for ornamental plants

Recent publications emphasize crop resilience to environmental stresses, including drought tolerance in wheat and herbicide resistance mechanisms. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to food security and sustainable agriculture.

Teaching responsibilities include coordinating and teaching courses like AGRI5502 and supervising Honours/Masters/PhD students. He has secured grants from ARC, RIRDC, and other bodies for projects on plant breeding and genomics.

CURRENT PROJECTS include genetics and breeding of waxflowers, leucadendron, acacia, chickpea, and broad-acre crops like wheat. His lab collaborates internationally on molecular tools and crop improvement.