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BRISBANE QLD 4001 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Jen Taylor is an Executive Director within CSIRO where she leads the Future Industries sector. The sector hosts the CSIRO Research Units of Agriculture and Food, Health and Biosecurity, Manufacturing, Australian Animal Health Laboratory and Science Connect. These portfolios and research capabilities deliver science and innovation to the industries and business enterprises that underpin Australia's health, manufacturing and agricultural sectors to protect and grow Australia's socioeconomic prosperity.
To be successful in delivering to this goal, CSIRO relies on collaborations and partnerships with industry, governments and universities. Dr Taylor is passionate about amplifying Australia's innovation strengths through effective collaboration and on behalf of CSIRO is a key contact for relevant agencies facing the agricultural, health, biosecurity and innovation sectors.
Dr Taylor has a scientific track record in genomics and data science. She trained in medical genetics, genomics, statistics and bioinformatics. She moved into agricultural genomics when joining CSIRO in 2008 and has maintained an active research interest in the utilisation of data science methods across agriculture including the delivery of new technologies for crop genetic improvement, provenance of food and biosecurity.
Jen Taylor previously held roles of Science Director and Director (acting) of CSIRO Agriculture and Food (A&F) from 2021 to 2024. In this role she led the development of strategy and portfolio management together with the A&F leadership team. A&F hosts world-class research expertise facing the agriculture and food industries. It delivers scientific advances and industry impact in areas of resilient food and fibre farming systems, future novel crops, high value protein industries, healthy foods, secure food systems, trusted supply chains and improved footprint for our agrifood industries.
Between 2020 and 2022, Jen Taylor led the Systems research program in CSIRO Agriculture and Food. This program and research portfolio delivers innovative farming systems that improve agricultural productivity and resilience under economic and environmental variability. To do this, the program harnesses emerging digital and biophysical technologies to enhance farm and landscape decision making for profitability and natural resource sustainability. Before taking up this role she was the leader for the Genomic Science for Crop Performance research group at CSIRO Agriculture and Food.
Jen completed honours in biochemistry at the University of Queensland and a PhD in medical genetics at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research studying candidate gene identification strategies in human disease. Jen held roles as a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Statistics and then team leader for functional analysis at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, both at the University Oxford, UK. In this work, Jen undertook research in statistical methods for the analysis of large-scale molecular data and networks associated with the genetic regulation of genome function. Jen contributed to the development and delivery of the Masters of Bioinformatics programme at the University of Oxford. Jen returned to Australia late in 2008 to join CSIRO to develop research towards understanding crop and pathogen genomes of agricultural importance.
To date, Jen has contributed to more than 100 peer-reviewed research articles (H-index 61).
Professional Areas
Current Roles
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Executive Sponsor
CSIRO Agriculture Challenge -
Executive Sponsor
CSIRO Health Challenge
Academic Qualifications
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2001
PhD Medical Genetics
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1994
Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) Honours
Publications
We have publications by Dr Jen Taylor