Dr Stephen Quarrie
Visiting Professor

Qualifications

PhD (Cantab) in Organic Chemistry (1970)
BA (Cantab) in Natural Sciences (1967)

Research Interests

To improve the sustainability of cereal crop production by improved understanding of the physiological and genetic basis of responses of wheat to abiotic stresses through the preparation and use of defined genetic stocks, with particular interest in drought, ozone and low input stresses.

Recent publications:
1. Gorton M, Lowe P, Zaric V, Quarrie SA (2010) European rule adoption in Central and Eastern Europe: a comparative analysis of agricultural water regulation in Serbia. Environmental Politics (in press).
2. Gonzalez–Fernandez I, Kaminska K, Mahmadali Dodmani M, Goumenaki E, Quarrie S, Barnes JD (2010) Establishing ozone flux–response relationships for winter wheat: Analysis of uncertainties based on data for UK and Polish genotypes. Atmospheric Environment 44: 621-630.
3. Gorton M, Sauer J, Peshevski M, Bosev D, Shekerinov D, Quarrie S (2009) Water communities in the Republic of Macedonia: an empirical analysis of membership satisfaction and payment behaviour. World Development 37: 1951-1963.
4. Habash DZ, Bernard S, Schondelmaier J, Weyen J, Quarrie SA (2007) The genetics of nitrogen use in hexaploid wheat: N utilisation, development and yield. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 114:403–419.
5. Quarrie SA, Pekic Quarrie S, Radosevic R, Rancic D, Kaminska A, Barnes JD, Leverington M, Ceoloni C, Dodig D (2006) Dissecting a wheat QTL for yield present in a range of environments: from the QTL to candidate genes. Journal of Experimental Botany 57: 2627-2637.
6. Quarrie SA, A Steed, C Calestani, A Semikhodskii, C Lebreton, C Chinoy, N Steele, D Pljevljakusic, E Waterman, J Weyen, J Schondelmaier, DZ Habash, P Farmer, L Saker, DT Clarkson, A Abugalieva, M Yessimbekova, Y Turuspekov, S Abugalieva, R Tuberosa, M-C Sanguineti, PA Hollington, R Aragues, A Royo, D Dodig (2005) A high density genetic map of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from the cross Chinese Spring x SQ1 and its use to compare QTLs for grain yield across a range of environments. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 110: 865-880.
7. Nikolic R, Malbasa V, Rajic Lj, Jovanovic V, Pekic S, Dolicanin D, Latkovic Z, Sogorov S, Stojanovic B, Nikolic I, Quarrie SA (2004) Instructions and criteria for evaluation and accreditation of Higher Education. Ed. Alternative Academic Educational Network, Belgrade. (in Serbian)

Current Work

Current research focuses on a mapping population of 95 doubled haploid lines of wheat and near isogenic lines (NILs) being made for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analysis of yield and other physiological and developmental traits important in determining yield and responses to abiotic stresses. Detailed analysis of plant growth, development and physiology is used to help identify candidate genes for QTLs. Extensive experience in QTL analysis supports other research programmes within the Unit/Schools.

In Newcastle I have strong links with research undertaken in IRES, www.ncl.ac.uk/environment/
Collaborations:
Current research includes collaborations with the John Innes Centre and Lancaster University in the UK, as well as the Institute of Plant Physiology, Krakow, Poland and University of Tuscia, Viterbo in Italy, as well as the Maize Research Institute and Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade University, Serbia.

Research Roles

- Science Coordinator in the West Balkans for the EU Framework 6 INCO-WB WATERWEB project on water resources management, to integrate hydrology, water quality, irrigation technologies and socio-economics into decision-making support systems (collaboration with Schools of Civil Engineering and AFRD, NU)
- Lecturing to undergraduates at University of Parma, Italy on uses of molecular markers in the biological sciences and postgraduates at University of Tuscia and University of Salento, Italy on QTL analysis.
- Providing training courses around Europe on academic research skills (proposal writing, good research, post-graduate student supervision, scientific paper writing and conference presentations).

Postgraduate Supervision

- Lectures to first year PhD students at Faculty of Biology, Belgrade University on an 8 ECTS course on academic research skills.
- Lectures to year 3 undergraduates at University of Parma, Italy on a 4 ECTS course on uses of molecular markers in the biological sciences.
- Lectures to MSc students at University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK on breeding plants for abiotic stress resistance and use of molecular markers for quantitative trait locus analysis.
- Three-day training courses in Serbia and around Europe on academic research skills (good quality research, proposal writing, writing scientific papers, conference presentations, good management, post-graduate student supervision).

Esteem Indicators

- He provides support and advice to scientists to improve their involvement in international research projects, especially FP7, through the Consultative Bureau for International Projects, Ministry of Science and Technological Development, Serbia.
- He is a member of the NGO Education Forum, Belgrade which helps teachers and university professors to improve their teaching and lecturing skills through active teaching/learning.
- He is active in facilitating projects for rural development in Serbia through international funding sources.