Jules Freeman

Dr. Jules Freeman is a Senior Scientist in Forest Genetics at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania. His research focuses on genomics, quantitative genetics, and the genetic basis of trait variation in plants, particularly eucalypts and radiata pine. He has collaborated with institutions like Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute) since 2018, addressing challenges such as myrtle rust impact and drought tolerance. Freeman holds an Orcid identifier (0000-0003-1166-9976) and can be contacted at Jules.Freeman@utas.edu.au.

Education:

• PhD in "The Application of Molecular Markers to Eucalyptus globulus Tree Improvement" from the University of Tasmania (2007).
• BSc (1st Class Hons) in "Phylogeography of Eucalyptus globulus" from the University of Tasmania (2000).

Research Interests:
Jules Freeman specializes in applying genomics and quantitative genetics to enhance tree improvement, particularly in native and production forests. His work addresses plant disease resistance (e.g., myrtle rust), drought tolerance, and conservation genetics. He employs cutting-edge techniques to study genetic variation and its role in climate change resilience, collaborating with international partners to advance sustainable forestry practices.

Grants and Collaborations:

• Leading a $9.68M project funded by MBIE (New Zealand) to develop tree phenotyping methods using genetics, remote sensing, and AI.
• Collaborating with Scion on radiata pine genomics ($512,616).
• Investigating soil microbial communities post-logging ($12,750 Holsworth grant).
• Quantitative genetics of eucalypt traits (ARC grant, $415,000).

Labs and Teams:
Freeman works with the Eucalypt Genetics Group and Scion's research teams, contributing to initiatives like the USC Research Futures Project ($5.45M) to strengthen collaborative research networks.