Contact details:
HOBART TAS 7001 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Dr Agus Sunarto is a senior research scientist and the team leader of Aquaculture Biotechnology at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO, Australia). Before joining CSIRO in 2013, Agus was the head of the Fish Health Research Laboratory within the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. During his time in Indonesia, his research focused on aquaculture virology, and his team was the first to report an outbreak of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in Indonesian prawn farms in 1994 and koi herpesvirus (KHV) in carp in 2002. He is a molecular virologist with a PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia. During his PhD, Agus discovered a new genetic lineage of KHV, known as the Indonesian KHV C07 isolate, which is highly virulent in Australian carp. This research, funded by the Australian Government, led to 15 years of collaboration with Dr Ken McColl at the CSIRO-AAHL to investigate KHV as a potential biocontrol agent for invasive carp in Australia and further contributed to the development of the [National Carp Control Plan] (https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/pests-diseases-weeds/pest-animals-and-weeds/national-carp-control-plan). Built on his hands-on experience in viral biocontrol of carp, Agus led [Tilapia biocontrol research] (https://invasives.com.au/research/tilapia-biocontrol/) funded by the [Centre for Invasive Species Solutions] (https://invasives.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/B003-Final-release.pdf).
Throughout this work, modelling suggested that a combined viral and genetic biocontrol strategy would be a better approach for effective control of aquatic invasive species. As such, Agus then joined H&B’s Genome Engineering team to focus on integrating viral and genetic biocontrol technologies for invasive fish. Gene technologies have dual benefits, not only for innovative genetic biocontrol of invasive species but also for improved aquaculture traits. This link naturally brought Agus to lead A&F’s Aquaculture Biotechnology team, which focuses on developing biotechnology and precision genome engineering (PGE) for sustainable and resilient aquaculture.
Other Interests
Professional organisation: Chairperson of the Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society (2017-2022) http://www.fhs-afs.net/. Co-founder and editor-in-chief of the INFHEM Magazine published by the Indonesian Network on Fish Health Management, ISSN 2302-9641 (2012-2013).
Education: Guest lecturer at Australian universities (Deakin University and James Cook University) and Indonesian universities (IPB and UNDIP) on aquaculture virology, viral and genetic biocontrol of invasive fish, and genome engineering in aquaculture.
Outdoor: running, hiking and bush walking.
Professional Areas
Current Roles
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Team Leader
The Aquaculture Biotechnology team -
Project Leader
Sperm Transfection Assisted Gene Editing (STAGE) in Zebrafish -
Project Leader
Tilapia Biocontrol https://invasives.com.au/research/tilapia-biocontrol/
Academic Qualifications
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2011
PhD
University of Queensland -
2002
MVSc
University Putra Malaysia -
1994
DVM
Bogor Agricultural University -
1992
BVSc
Bogor Agricultural University
Professional Experiences
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2023-present
Team Leader
CSIRO Agriculture & Food -
2019-2023
Senior Research Scientist
CSIRO Health and Biosecurity -
2015-2019
Research Scientist
CSIRO Health and Biosecurity -
2013-2015
Postdoctoral Fellow
CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory -
2011-2013
Head of Fish Health Research Laboratory (FHRL)
Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries -
2006-2010
PhD candidate
University of Queensland -
2005-2006
Head of Fish Health Research Laboratory
Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries -
2004-2005
Coordinator of Virology Unit, FHRL
Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries -
2002-2003
Research Scientist
Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries -
1999-2001
MVSc candidate
University Putra Malaysia -
1994-1999
Junior Research Scientist
Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Achievements and Awards
-
2015
Kavli Fellow
Australian Academy of Science -
2006
John Allright Fellowship
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) -
2002
The Best Masters Thesis
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Putra Malaysia -
1996
AARD Award
Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (AARD)
Other highlights
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2006-2010
Discovery of a new genetic lineage of koi herpesvirus (the Indonesian KHV C07), which is highly virulent in Australian carp and being investigated as a potential biological control agent for invasive carp in Australia.
-
2014-2017
Organizing the 10th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture
-
2017-2022
Chairperson of the Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society
-
2017-2017
International consultant for WorldFish Centre on a mission investigating mass mortalities in tilapia in Bangladesh.
-
2003-2004
FAO consultant for Technical Cooperation Programme on Health Management in Freshwater Aquaculture in Indonesia (TCP/INS/2905A).
Grants
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2022-2024
Sperm Transfection Assisted Gene Editing (STAGE) in Zebrafish
-
2020-2023
Tilapia Biocontrol https://invasives.com.au/research/tilapia-biocontrol/
Community and Corporate Citizenship
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2017-2022
Chairperson of the Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society
-
2014-2017
Vice-Chairman of the Fish Health Section of the Asian Fisheries Society. www.fhs-afs.net
-
2014-2017
Organizing the 10th Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture, Bali. www.fhs-afs.net
-
2017-2017
International consultant for WorldFish Centre on a mission investigating mass mortalities in tilapia in Bangladesh.
-
2004-2013
Regional Resource Expert on Koi herpesvirus at NACA based in Bangkok, Thailand. www.enaca.org
-
2011-2013
Member of the Scientific Advisory Board on Fish Quarantine for the Directorate General of Fish Quarantine, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
-
2002-2006
Member of the Technical Expert Board on Fish Diseases for the Directorate of Fish Health and Environment, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
ORCID 0000-0001-8845-1006