Ben Stodart

Ben Stodart is a Senior Lecturer in Plant Biology at Charles Sturt University, affiliated with the School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences and the Gulbali Research Institute. His work spans research, teaching, and international development in plant pathology and crop protection.

Education:

• BSc (Hons), Flinders University of South Australia
• PhD in Plant Pathology/Molecular Biology, University of Adelaide

Dr Stodart's research focuses on integrated plant disease management, biosecurity systems, and pathogenomics. His expertise includes fungal pathogens causing dieback in tree crops such as walnut and persimmon, population dynamics, and point-of-care diagnostics. He has led capacity-building projects in Cambodia and Laos through ACIAR funding.

His recent publications highlight a strong trend in emerging fungal pathogens, dieback diseases, and molecular characterization of plant pathogens, particularly in Australian agriculture. The research combines field studies, genomics, and fungicide evaluation to improve crop health and resilience.

Scientific Engagement:

• ORCID: 0000-0002-3184-7998
• Scopus Profile with h-index of 18 and over 850 citations
• Active contributor to scientific media, including a 2014 piece on regional biosecurity

Dr Stodart is actively involved in research supervision and serves as one of three higher degree research coordinators in his school. He has co-supervised PhD students and contributes to curriculum development in crop protection, genetics, and microbiology. His research is supported by international collaborations and grants from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

He is associated with key research networks in Australia and Southeast Asia, focusing on agricultural resilience, plant health, and sustainable development. His lab work emphasizes practical solutions for farmers and biosecurity agencies.