Shahnaj Parvin

Dr. Shahnaj Parvin is a Research Fellow in Farming Systems Research at the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne. She has extensive experience in agricultural research, previously working at Southern Cross University and Charles Sturt University as a research fellow from 2019-2023, and briefly at FarmLink Research Ltd before joining her current position.

• PhD from University of Melbourne (2015-2019)
• MSc in Soil Science jointly from University of Copenhagen, Denmark and Georg-August University, Germany (2012-2014)
• Masters (Research) from Bangladesh Agricultural University
• Bachelors Degree (Honours) from Bangladesh Agricultural University

As an Agronomist and soil scientist, Dr. Parvin specializes in applying state-of-the-art research to enhance crop productivity and soil health in Australia's broadacre agricultural system. Her expertise spans crop physiology, biochemistry, plant nutrition, metabolomics, soil health, climate change adaptation, legume N2 fixation, and grain protein and quality. She investigates how alternative farming systems affect long-term farm profitability, with particular focus on crop rotations, grazing approaches, and soil N-management to build drought resilience and sustainable farming systems.

Dr. Parvin's research output shows a consistent focus on climate change adaptation in agriculture, particularly examining how elevated CO2 levels affect crop physiology, water use, and nitrogen fixation. Her recent publications (2023-2025) increasingly address practical farming system approaches including cover cropping, intercropping, and soil health management in semi-arid environments. This progression demonstrates her commitment to translating fundamental plant science into practical agricultural applications that address climate challenges.

• Simmins Albert Writing-Up fellowship from The University of Melbourne (2019)

Dr. Parvin actively collaborates with research institutions across Australia, with recent work involving multiple universities and research organizations. Her research addresses critical challenges in sustainable agriculture, particularly focusing on how farming systems can be adapted to maintain productivity under changing climate conditions while improving soil health. Her work bridges fundamental plant physiology with practical farming applications, making significant contributions to both scientific understanding and agricultural practice in Australia's challenging semi-arid environments.