Primary research interest

Molecular genetics of gene expression and development

About me

I was a Postdoctoral Fellow and a Research Fellow at ANU, and then a Higher Scientific Officer in The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. I was appointed to a senior lectureship at the University of Queensland in 1993, initially in School of Land & Food Sciences, and then relocated my lab to School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences in 1997.

Research focus and collaborations

My laboratory focuses on using plants as model genetic organisms. The research theme of my laboratory is the role of RNA interference and epigenetics in regulation of gene expression, and response of genomes to the environment. Genetic and molecular approaches are being used to identify and clone key plant genes involved in gene silencing. We are particularly interested in genes involved in intercellular RNA signaling, and how these affect plant development and plant defence against viruses and transposons. We are also investigating in the role of intron splicing in regulation of gene silencing and gene expression, and the role of epigenetics in pollen development.

Projects and patents

Funded projects

  • ARC Discovery Project 2015-2017, Systematic gene silencing in arabdiposis and relevance to plant biology, B Carroll, K Kazan, D Jackson, Total value of grant: $355,100
  • Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2013-2017, Transforming subtropical/tropical tree crop productivity, J Wilkie et al., Total value of grant: $1,570,656
  • DIISR AISRF Grand Challenge Program 2012-2016, Crop plants which remove their own major biotic constraints, P Bhalla, D Russell, M Singh, C Robin, J Golz, O Edwards, B Carroll, Total value of grant: $2,930,000
  • ARC- Linkage Project 2013-2015, Strength in uniformity - novel clonal technologies for a more productive avocado industry, N Mitter, C Beveridge, B Carroll, Total value of grant: $626,370
  • ARC Discovery Project 2002-2014, Intron splicing regulates gene silencing in Arabidopsis, B Carroll S Sureshkumar, Total value of grant: $340,000
  • DIISR AISRF Bio-technology Fund 2011-2014, Discovery and manipulation of microRNAs involved in high temperature tolerance in crop plants, B. Carroll, S. Balasubramanian, N. Mitter, Total value of grant: $300,000
  • ARC Discovery Project 2009-2011, Genetic and molecular analysis of long-distance gene silencing in Arabidopsis, B Carroll, Total value of grant: $240,000
  • ARC Linkage Project 2008-2010, Understanding and avoiding transgene silencing in sugarcane, R Birch, M Graham, B Carroll, D Schlebs, P Collins, Total value of Grant: $900,000

Patents

  • Carroll, B., Harrison, D. and Aung, H. (2003) Detection of DNA methylation 
  • World patent no. WO 03/025215
  • Kragler, F., Kadam, U. and Carroll B. (2021) CircRNAs for gene silencing. European patent EP21175600.

Student supervision

  • PhD: Principal Advisor 3; Associate Advisor 4
  • MPhil: Principal Advisor 1

Teaching interests

  • Molecular Genetics, Molecular Technologies and Biotechnology
  • joint convenor of Genetics major

Achievements and awards

  • Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (1998)

Featured publications