Associate Professor Christopher Ford

• Biography/ Background

  I have been lecturing in the area of Oenology since 2001; before that I held a number of post-doctoral research positions within Australia and the UK. My first degree was obtained in 1984 from Hatfield Polytechnic, and in 1988 I received a DPhil. from the University of Sussex for work in the biochemistry of nitrogen fixation. This led to a postdoctoral position at the National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill, in London, where I worked on the replication of influenza viruses. In 1990 I moved with my partner to Adelaide, where we have remained to this day, increasing our footprint on this wide brown land with two daughters and sundry mongrel dogs.

• Teaching Interests

  Over the past 22 years I have held a number of significant learning and teaching roles. I led the development of a degree in Applied Biology which was offered by the university for a few years; prior to this I developed and coordinated the Level II course Animal and Plant Biochemistry for students at Waite and Roseworthy. I've coordinated many of the courses that make up the Bachelor and Master programs in Viticulture and Oenology, and have taught into others.

  Working alongside key colleagues, I continually try to bring new insights and enthusiasm to my teaching.

   

• Research Interests

  Over the past 20 years we have been working largely in the following area: 

  • Developing an understanding of organic acid metabolism in plants. Within my laboratory we have investigated the mechanisms by which developing grape berries metabolise ascorbic, tartaric and malic acids. To achieve this we are using a range of biochemical, molecular and metabolic approaches in whole berries and cell suspension systems. We have collaborated with Prof. Kathleen Soole (The Flinders University of South Australia) and Prof. Seth DeBolt, (University of Kentucky) and Dr Rob Hancock (James Hutton Institute, Scotland).

   

   

   

  I have had past reseach engagement with the characterisation of glucosyltransferase enzymes (GTases) involved in plant secondary metabolism. I started working in this area in 1995 when a post-doc with Prof. Peter Hoj; we identified and characterised the anthocyanidin Gtase from grapevines. In 2006, Prof. Gideon Davies at The University of York and his group successfully resolved the three-dimensional structure of this enzyme - the outcome of a huge amount of work over the previous three years. I maintain an interest in the GTase enzymes of the grapevine.

  Recent work conducted in collaboration with Prof. Kerry Wilkinson (UA) and Dr Nick Dokoozlian (E&J Gallo Winery, CA) with Pietro Previtali (PhD student 2018-2022) has provided exciting insights into the processes underlying grape berry ripening, and specifically howtechniques used to slow down the rate of sugar accumulation can impact on some other parts of the berry's composition.

  We have also undertaken research aimed at unravelling the outcomes of extended maceration (EM) in the production of red wines. During red wine production, the period of contact between berry skins and juice, must or wine may be extended beyond the normal periods to provide additional properties to the finished wine. We hope to both understand the processes and be in a position to advise the wine industry on strategies for achieving desired wine outcomes.

   

• Publications

  Please see my Researcher Profile for an updated list of publications

• Professional Interests

  In addition to teaching and research activities, I am a Postgraduate Coordinator for research students within the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine (AFW). In May 2006 I was appointed Associate Dean (Postgraduate) for the Faculty of Sciences, with responsibility for postgraduate coursework programs and Higher Degree (Research) student matters within the faculty. Between 2009 and 2015 this role was focussed exclusively on HDR. 

   Since 2013 I have held the positions of Deputy Head of School AFW (Learning and Teaching; 2013-17); Interim Head of School AFW and Interim Dean of Waite, (2018-20); Interim Director Waite Research Institute (2018-19) and CEO of ACPFG Pty (2018-2021).

  In 2020 I became the Deputy Head of School AFW (International), and in 2022, Theme Lead (Agrifood Futures) for the Adelaide Nottingham Alliance. 

  In 2022 I was appointed as Deputy Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Adelaide.

  In 2023 I was appointed as Discpline Lead of Wine Science within the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 19 Sep 2023

To link to this page, please use the following URL:  https://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/christopher.ford