Simon Baxter

Our group works on a range of molecular and computational projects to improve insect pest control and understand pest biology. Research focuses the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, a worldwide pest of brassica crops (cabbage, broccoli, canola) and horticultural pests Drosophila suzukii and Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni.

We also use the model insect Drosophila melanogaster for hypothesis testing and functional genetic experiments.

Simon Baxter is a lecturer in genetics and leads an Insect Pest Biology group in the School of BioSciences. His research group aims to develop strategies for effective control of economically import insect pests using a combination of population genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and genetic manipulation. Simon has a Bachelor of Science form Monash University, a PhD in Genetics from the University of Melbourne and completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Edinburgh and University of Cambridge, then became a Ramsay Fellow and ARC Future Fellow at the University of Adelaide .