Colin Jenkins

Associate Professor Colin Jenkins is affiliated with Flinders University, College of Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences Department. He holds a PhD (1979) and BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His research focuses on plant carbon assimilation, C4 photosynthesis, and stress responses, particularly drought and salinity tolerance. Prior to joining Flinders in 2011, he worked as a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Plant Industry until 2010.

Research interests include plant metabolism, organic acid regulation, and genetic modification strategies for improving crop resilience. He collaborates internationally on studies involving legumes and cereals, with recent emphasis on molecular markers for drought tolerance. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to food security and sustainable agriculture.

Publications highlight advancements in plant genetics, such as identifying genes linked to pod height in lentils, salinity tolerance in chickpea, and developing qPCR methods for transgenic analysis. Ongoing studies explore oxidative stress mechanisms and carbohydrate utilization in plants.