Ed Chaplin

Originally from the UK, Ed's journey began at the University of Nottingham, where he studied International Agricultural Science (Honours).

A study abroad program brought him to the University of Sydney in 2019, where he fell in love with Australia, continued his studies, started a family, and is now pursuing a PhD at our Narrabri Campus.

Why did you choose to undertake research at USYD?

I chose to pursue research at the University of Sydney because of the memorable experience I had studying during my exchange program of my undergraduate degree.

I had the opportunity to conduct plant research at the University’s Narrabri campus and loved the town, working with colleagues and the facilities. 

What is your research focused on?

My research focuses on photosynthesis in wheat and aims to address a distinctive gap in knowledge surrounding the roles of stomatal physiology and anatomy in maintaining yield in wheat under heat and drought stress.

The wider project my research forms part of aims to understand the variability in responses of key biochemical steps in the photosynthetic and respiratory pathways to heat in Australian wheat germplasm.

There is an urgent need to develop crop varieties better suited to warmer, drier, and more challenging conditions our agricultural systems are likely to face in the future.

What are the benefits of conducting research at facilities on the Narrabri Campus?

The University’s Narrabri campus offers world-leading research facilities like the I.A Watson Grains Research Centre can accommodate 20,000 research trial plots annually. By leveraging the cutting-edge infrastructure at Narrabri, I can conduct research at a scale.

In addition to the field site, the University’s new International Centre of Crop and Digital Agriculture offers a world-leading facility that will support Australian and world agricultural industries through cutting-edge research and education to ensure we can feed the world sustainably as we face multiple challenges.

What are the most valuable skills you have gained so far?

Critical thinking, technical aptitude and analytical capability.

My ability to design effective experiments for reliable and robust datasets from large scale field trials has improved my independence, time management, and organisational skills. 

My research also involves extensive collaboration and my PhD is strongly supported by multidisciplinary academic connections across Australia and overseas, as well as industry partnerships with InterGrain and CIMMYT. 

Why did you decide to pursue research in agriculture?

I have always had a passion for agriculture and plant science from a young age and have always been interested in pursuing a career in that field.

I thrive on answering questions and I'm motivated to deliver research outcomes to address the challenges of a growing population and challenging climate conditions.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a research project?

Follow your passion and to undertake a research project on a topic or area you are truly interested in and passionate about.

Pursuing a research project can be challenging at times, but by developing key skills and remembering to take time out for yourself, you will thrive and enjoy the journey a research project will take you on.