Dr Philip Hendry: the genomic perspective

Dr Phil Hendry is Genomics Research Program Leader, and a Project Leader in Molecular Microbiology.

• 16 February 2010 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background 
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

Dr Phil Hendry is the Research Program Leader for Genomics in CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences. 

This program, based at North Ryde, Sydney, Australia, seeks a genome-wide perspective of organism function and their response to disease and environment. 

The project uses a range of tools including microarrays, DNA sequencing and informatics, and applies expertise in:

• molecular biology
• nucleic acid chemistry and biology
• gene expression.

Dr Hendry is also a Project Leader in a number of projects in molecular microbiology and gene discovery. 

These are applying new sequencing technologies and metagenomics to aid our understanding and control of microbial communities that could assist in the recovery of petroleum from depleted reservoirs (Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery, MEOR) and the increased production of natural gas from unmineable coal deposits (Microbial Enhanced Coal Seam Methane, MECSM).

Background

Prior to joining CSIRO in 1990, Dr Hendry held postdoctoral positions at the University of Bern, Switzerland, in Inorganic Chemistry, and the Australian National University, Canberra, in Enzymology of DNA replication.

This work currently finds application in fields as diverse as human health, targeted insecticides, nanoparticle safety analysis and industrial microbiology.

Academic qualifications

Dr Hendry has been awarded a:

• Bachelor of Science with Honours from James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 1981
• Doctor of Philosophy from the Australian National University, 1986.

Achievements

Dr Hendry's professional activities include:

• Member of Australian Society of Biochemists and Molecular Biologists and Ausbiotech
• Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute
• Member of the Editorial Board of Nucleic Acids Research, published by Oxford University Press, 1998–2002
• Member of Minerals Bioleaching Team, winner of 2002 One-CSIRO Cross-Divisional Research Award
• Member of Crop Biofactories Team, winner of 2005 One-CSIRO Cross-Divisional Research Award.

He has also contributed to over 45 refereed journal articles, seven book chapters and five patents.

Find out more about CSIRO Food & Nutritional Sciences.