Dr Paul Melloy

Paul Melloy's area of interest lies in the fusion of spatial models and data to develop decision-support tools. The outcomes of his research directly impact farm profitability, reduce chemical usage, and enhance environmental and social outcomes.

Since 2005, Paul has amassed extensive experience in plant protection and biosecurity. He began his career at CSIRO, focusing on the epidemiology of wheat disease crown rot for the Australian grain industry under elevated CO2 conditions. Following his PhD, he served as a field pathologist at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, where he took a special interest in Fusarium wilt and boll rot. Driven by a desire to expand his modelling and coding skills, he pursued a postdoctoral position at Queensland University of Technology, working on the biocontrol of post-harvest grain pests and diamondback moths.

After a brief stint as a diagnostician for the Tropical Race 4 biosecurity response in bananas, Paul continued pursuing a career in disease modelling with a role in a national disease modelling project for the Australian grains industry, further honing his spatial epidemiology modelling expertise.

Throughout his career, Paul has worked on diseases affecting cereals, pulses, cotton, bananas, sugar beets, grapes, and sports turf.