Nic Taylor

Nic Taylor is an Associate Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at The University of Western Australia (UWA), with a secondary affiliation to the Centre for Human Lactation Research and Translation. He holds a PhD from UWA (2004), an MSc from Massey University (2000), and a BSc in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genetics from Massey University (1997). Taylor has held prestigious fellowships, including an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship and an EMBO Long-Term Fellowship at the University of Oxford.

His research focuses on plant mitochondrial biology, thermal acclimation, salinity tolerance, and proteomics. He develops quantitative mass spectrometry techniques to study proteins, lipids, and metabolites in crops like wheat, aiming to improve yield and stress resilience. Taylor leads the WA Node of the Australian Plant Phenomics Facility since 2024 and has secured over 22 research grants, including ARC Training Centres and industry partnerships.

Key research areas include understanding how environmental stressors like heat and salinity impact plant metabolism and physiology. He also explores lactation biology through collaborations in human milk composition and machine learning applications. Taylor’s work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to food security and sustainable agriculture.

• Education:
  • PhD: The Impact of Environmental Stress on Plant Mitochondria, UWA (2004)
  • MSc: The Effect of Manganese on Mammalian Mitochondria, Massey University (2000)
  • BSc: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Genetics, Massey University (1997)
• Grants & Projects:
  • Enhancing Antimicrobial Activity Using Synergistic Resistance Mitigation (2025–2028)
  • WA State Government Co-Investment for Advanced Plant Phenomics (2024–2027)
  • ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding for Agricultural Futures (2024–2029)

Taylor’s recent articles highlight advancements in wheat respiration, heat tolerance mechanisms, and lactation biomarkers. Awards include The Robson Medal (2015) and the ASTE/JSPS Fellowship (2016). He actively engages in public outreach, including the 'Sausages and Science' program and Indigenous youth science initiatives.