Doctor Michelle Mak

Doctor Michelle Mak

Lecturer Protected Cropping,
Food Sciences

Biography

Qualifications

  • PhD Western Sydney University
  • BSc(Hons) Western Sydney University
  • B. Nat Sci (Sust Ag and Food Sec.) University of Western Sydney

Professional Memberships

  • Appointed Board Member, Protected Cropping Australia (2020 - 2022)
  • Member of the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2021)
  • Member of the Association of Australian Cotton Scientist (2021)
  • Member of the Universities Australia Executive Women Group (2021)

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

  • Food Sciences

Contact

Email: M.Mak@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone: (02) 4570 1376
Mobile:
Location: M15.G.50
Hawkesbury

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

  • 300790 Agriculture, Food and Health, 2021
  • 301096 Horticultural Production Systems, 2021
  • 301214 Protected Cropping Biosecurity and Pollination, 2019
  • 301263 Protected Cropping Climate Control and Technology, 2019
  • 301358 Advanced Greenhouse Technology, 2020
  • 301361 Industry Project, 2020
  • 301362 Industry Project (Extended), 2021
  • 301450 Agricultural Biosecurity, 2022
  • ENVL2008 Australian Ecosystems: Threats and Solutions, 2022
  • HORT3002 Protected Cropping Technology, 2022
  • HORT7001 Advanced Greenhouse Technology, 2022

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Li, L., Zheng, Q., Jiang, W., Xiao, N., Zeng, F., Chen, G., Mak, M., Chen, Z. and Deng, F. (2023), 'Molecular regulation and evolution of cytokinin signaling in plant abiotic stresses', Plant and Cell Physiology, vol 63, no 12 , pp 1787 - 1805.
  • Yasin, M., Li, L., Mak, M., Chen, Z. and Panchal, S. (2023), 'Capsicum waste as a sustainable source of capsaicinoids for metabolic diseases', Foods, vol 12, no 4 .
  • Babla, M., Mak, M., Donovan-Mak, M., Cazzonelli, C., Tissue, D. and Chen, Z. (2023), 'Linking high light-induced cellular ionic and oxidative responses in leaves to fruit quality in tomato', Plant Growth Regulation, vol 101, no 1 , pp 267 - 284.
  • Smagghe, F., Spooner-Hart, R., Chen, Z. and Mak, M. (2023), 'Biological control of arthropod pests in protected cropping by employing entomopathogens : efficiency, production and safety', Biological Control, vol 186 .
  • Yong, M., Solis, C., Amatoury, S., Sellamuthu, G., Rajakani, R., Mak, M., Venkataraman, G., Shabala, L., Zhou, M., Ghannoum, O., Holford, P., Huda, S., Shabala, S. and Chen, Z. (2022), 'Proto Kranz-like leaf traits and cellular ionic regulation are associated with salinity tolerance in a halophytic wild rice', Stress Biology, vol 2 .
  • Riaz, A., Deng, F., Chen, G., Jiang, W., Zheng, Q., Riaz, B., Mak, M., Zeng, F. and Chen, Z. (2022), 'Molecular regulation and evolution of redox homeostasis in photosynthetic machinery', Antioxidants, vol 11, no 11 .
  • Mak, M., Beattie, K., Basta, A., Randall, D., Chen, Z. and Spooner-Hart, R. (2021), 'Triangulation of methods using insect cell lines to investigate insecticidal mode-of-action', Pest Management Science, vol 77, no 1 , pp 492 - 501.
  • Chen, X., Jiang, W., Tong, T., Chen, G., Zeng, F., Jang, S., Gao, W., Li, Z., Mak, M., Deng, F. and Chen, Z. (2021), 'Molecular interaction and evolution of jasmonate signaling with transport and detoxification of heavy metals and metalloids in plants', Frontiers in Plant Science, vol 12 .
  • Mak, M., Zhang, M., Randall, D., Holford, P., Milham, P., Wu, F., Zhang, G. and Chen, Z. (2019), 'Chloride transport at plant-soil interface modulates barley Cd tolerance', Plant and Soil, vol 441, no 1-2 , pp 409 - 421.
  • Liu, X., Fan, Y., Mak, M., Babla, M., Holford, P., Wang, F., Chen, G., Scott, G., Wang, G., Shabala, S., Zhou, M. and Chen, Z. (2017), 'QTLs for stomatal and photosynthetic traits related to salinity tolerance in barley', BMC Genomics, vol 18 .
  • Liu, X., Cai, S., Wang, G., Wang, F., Dong, F., Mak, M., Holford, P., Ji, J., Salih, A., Zhou, M., Shabala, S. and Chen, Z. (2017), 'Halophytic NHXs confer salt tolerance by altering cytosolic and vacuolar K+ and Na+ in Arabidopsis root cell', Plant Growth Regulation, vol 82, no 2 , pp 333 - 351.
  • Chen, Z., Wang, Y., Wang, J., Babla, M., Zhao, C., Garcia-Mata, C., Sani, E., Differ, C., Mak, M., Hills, A., Amtmann, A. and Blatt, M. (2016), 'Nitrate reductase mutation alters potassium nutrition as well as nitric oxide-mediated control of guard cell ion channels in Arabidopsis', New Phytologist, vol 209, no 4 , pp 1456 - 1469.
  • Mak, M., Babla, M., Xu, S., O'Carrigan, A., Liu, X., Gong, Y., Holford, P. and Chen, Z. (2014), 'Leaf mesophyll K+, H+ and Ca2+ fluxes are involved in drought-induced decrease in photosynthesis and stomatal closure in soybean', Environmental and Experimental Botany, vol 98 , pp 1 - 12.
  • O'Carrigan, A., Hinde, E., Lu, N., Xu, X., Duan, H., Huang, G., Mak, M., Bellotti, W. and Chen, Z. (2014), 'Effects of light irradiance on stomatal regulation and growth of tomato', Environmental and Experimental Botany, vol 98 , pp 65 - 73.
  • O'Carrigan, A., Babla, M., Wang, F., Liu, X., Mak, M., Thomas, R., Bellotti, W. and Chen, Z. (2014), 'Analysis of gas exchange, stomatal behaviour and micronutrients uncovers dynamic response and adaptation of tomato plants to monochromatic light treatments', Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, vol 82 , pp 105 - 115.
  • Liu, X., Mak, M., Babla, M., Wang, F., Chen, G., Veljanoski, F., Wang, G., Shabala, S., Zhou, M. and Chen, Z. (2014), 'Linking stomatal traits and expression of slow anion channel genes HvSLAH1 and HvSLAC1 with grain yield for increasing salinity tolerance in barley', Frontiers in Plant Science, vol 5, no 11 , pp 1 - 12.

My current and future research interests include...

Crop development & Protected cropping technologies:

Greenhouse production of native bush tomato/desert raisin, Kutjera (Solanum centrale), and consumer acceptance by sensory analysis

An investigation of Saffron (Crocus sativus) for the use of an artificial substrate (Grodan Rockwool ™) as a replacement media for soil and the introduction of liquid fertigation systems 

Effect of photo-selective covers on the physiology of lettuce and its attractiveness to aphid

Agricultural sustainability, Waste reduction/reuse and Postharvest science:

Agriculture after bushfire: investigating impacts on food security and sovereignty in NSW

Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices for Coastal Areas: Initiatives for adaptation of Climate Change

Reducing Postharvest Losses in Australian Domesticated and Native Citrus: Investigating Molecular versus Smart-Packaging Technologies

Smart food waste management from farm to landfill using sustainable, low cost, Black Solider Fly (Hermetia illucens)

A postharvest physiochemical investigation of the snacking capsicums (Capsicum annum)

Utilising the Naturally Grown Aquatic Weeds to Produce valuable By-products – Anopportunity to demonstrate the application of Circular-Economy principles formanaging urban waterways

Pollination and Biological control (IPDM related):

Efficacy and feasibility of Australian native ladybird beetles as biocontrol agents

Tetragonula carbonaria: Adaptation and Pollination Efficacy in Protected Cropping

Plant physiology, Abiotic stress and Evolution:

Evaluating the salinity tolerance of wild-food-crop Solanum centrale

Agriculture after bushfire: investigating impacts on food security and sovereignty in NSW

This information has been contributed by Doctor Mak.

Current Projects

Title: Regenerating Just Food Economies: the role of social enterprise in generating food security in marginalised Communities
Funder:
  • Lyceum Partners + Design
Western Researchers: Stephen Healy, Michelle Mak and Katherine Gibson
Years: 2022-08-01 - 2025-08-01
ID: P00028314
Title: Development of Blue-banded bees as managed buzz pollinators
Funder:
  • Horticulture Innovation Australia (ACRG)
  • Horticulture Innovation Australia (ACRG)
  • University of Western Sydney
  • University of Western Sydney
  • The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research
  • Horticulture Innovation Australia (ACRG)
Western Researchers: James Cook, Ben Moore, Markus Riegler, Michelle Mak, Simon Tierney and Robert Spooner-Hart
Years: 2021-06-28 - 2026-12-15
ID: P00027356

Supervision

Current Supervision

Thesis Title: Effect of altered light on the production and molecular physiology of lettuce in high-tech greenhouse
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Effect of Smart Glass on the Morphology and Phsiology of Lettuce. Is There a Change in its Attractiveness to Green Peach Aphid?
Field of Research:
Thesis Title: Genetic and Physiological Characterisation of Cotton Sodicity Tolerance
Field of Research:

Western Sydney University

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