Brian Jordan

Biography

Dr Brian Jordan is Professor of Plant Biotechnology at Lincoln University, New Zealand and has over 30 years of experience in plant biochemistry and molecular biology. He received his Doctorate on plant amino acid metabolism from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne University, UK and carried out Post-Doctoral research on lipid biosynthesis at Cardiff University, UK. Professor Jordan was a scientist at Horticulture Research International, UK for 14 years and during that time carried out research at the Carnegie Institute, Stanford University, USA, North Carolina State University, USA and CSIRO Canberra, Australia. Throughout his research career he has focused on how light regulates plant growth and development. In particular, he has made a major contribution to understanding the molecular responses of plants to ultraviolet radiation. Since going to New Zealand in 1994, Professor Jordan has worked for Crop & Food Research as a programme leader in genetic engineering and as the Food Science & Technology Divisional Manager. In 1998, he became Director, Nutrition and Health in the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health at Massey University. Professor Jordan acted as a United Nations Environmental Programme reviewer in 1998 and 2006 on the impact of ultraviolet radiation. In January 2001, he was appointed Director of the Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division and Professor of Plant Biotechnology at Lincoln University and remained as a senior manager until 2008; after which he returned to research and teaching. Professor Jordan has a range of expertise that has attracted invitations to contribute to a wide range of activities, including assessment of research strategy and funding allocations, industry consultation and government advice. Professor Jordan has played a substantive role in New Zealand/European interactions, including: In 2002 he was an expert reviewer of food quality and safety through sustainable production for the European Commission and in 2005 was a member of the New Zealand delegation to the European Commission, re: “Agriculture, Food, Biotechnology-Farm to Fork”. From 2006-2008, he was part of the New Zealand Specific Support Action, Food-Frenz. He has also been part of two European COST-ACTIONS: on viticulture and ultraviolet radiation. Throughout his research career he has studied light regulation of plant growth and development, particularly the molecular response of plants to ultraviolet radiation. In 2003, Professor Jordan was appointed onto the Board of the Marlborough Wine Research Centre and has been involved in New Zealand viticulture and oenology since then. In particular, as a principal scientist and on the management team of the Sauvignon Blanc programme. Professor Jordan is now focusing entirely on viticulture research, especially effects of canopy manipulation on grape biochemistry and molecular biology. In February 2011 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Örebro University, Sweden in recognition of his professional excellence in plant biology.

Research Interest

Plant Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Physiology