Parwinder Kaur

Dr. Parwinder Kaur is an Associate Professor at the School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia (UWA), and Director of DNA Zoo Australia. She holds leadership roles including Co-Founding Director & Chief Science Officer of ExPlanta Pty Ltd and is a Superstar of STEM (Science & Technology Australia). Her expertise spans genome sequencing, translational genomics, and conservation biotechnology, with a focus on biodiversity and agricultural sustainability.

Research Interests: Dr. Kaur leads cross-disciplinary research in genomics, conservation genomics, and biotechnology. She pioneered the integration of 3D-genomics with DNA Zoo to support conservation efforts for endangered species (e.g., Koala, Gilbert’s Potoroo) and developed genomic resources for over 250 species. Her work also addresses reducing ruminant environmental footprints through low-methanogenic forages.

Grants & Projects: Active projects include genomics platforms for horticulture, forensic palynology methods, and subsea test structure research. She has secured funding from Lotterywest, Horticulture Innovation Australia, and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Awards: Recognized with the Australian Academy of Sciences’ Science & Innovation Award (2013), Microsoft’s AI for Earth Award (2019), and featured as a Role Model for Techtrails (2020). She advocates for gender equity in STEM through GirlsXTech and Superstars of STEM initiatives.

Labs & Teams: Leads DNA Zoo Australia, a global consortium with 110 partners, and oversees genomic initiatives at ExPlanta Pty Ltd, focusing on bio-engineering solutions for health and agriculture.