Millar, Harvey (1971 - )

Summary

Harvey Millar obtained his PhD from the Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Australian National University. His work investigated the regulation of electron transport pathways in plant mitochondria throughout symbiotic nitrogen fixation with the aid of rhizobium bacteria and during normal plant growth as well. Millar was researching plant mitochondrial function whilst working at the University of Oxford. This is where he was introduced to proteomics (the study of all the proteins that are expressed simultaneously by an organism) as an instrument for isolating genes connected to certain physiological phenomena. His work at the University of Western Australia involved developing the proteomics of plants and plant mitochondria. The purpose of this was to gain a greater understanding of plant respiration and how it reacts under conditions of stress like salinity, chilling and oxidative damage. Millar is Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology and Winthrop Professor in the School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences at the University of Western Australia. Awards received for his research include the Australian Science Minister's Prize for Australian Life Scientist of the Year, and the Fenner Medal from the Australian Academy of Science. In 2017 he was named joint Western Australian Scientist of the Year.

Details

"Andrew Millar has discovered key biochemical mechanisms through which plant respiration is adapted to cellular processes and harsh clomates. He has identified how damage by lipid, oxygen and nirtogen radicals lower the efficiency of respiration. He has discovered how vitamin production is linked to respiration and how mitochondria signal their metabolic state to change plant defence gene expression. Millar has shown that themitochondrial proteome response to plant stress involves specific and sequential changes in protein cmples assembly, regulation of enzymes and selective chemical damage. His discoveries u nderpin our understanding of respiratory damage during plant cell ageing and disease." [from https://science.org.au/about-us/academy-fellows-discover-our-fellows/harvey-millar 2026-03-17]

Chronology

1993

Education - BSc, Australian National University

1997

Education - PhD, Australian National University

1997 - 1999

Career position - HFSP Long-term Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford

2000 - 2002

Award - ARC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Western Australia

2002 - 2004

Career position - Principal Research Fellow, School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical sciences, University of Western Australia

2002 - 2007

Award - ARC Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship, University of Western Australia

2003

Award - Western Australian Premier's Prize for Early Career Achievement in Science

2003

Award - Peter Goldacre Medal, Australian Society of Plant Scientists

2005 -

Career position - Chief Investigator (later Director), ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology

2005 -

Career position - Professorial Fellow, School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, University of Western Australia

2005 -

Career position - Member of the Editorial Board, The biochemical journal

2005 -

Career position - Member of the Editorial Board, BMC plant methods

2005

Award - Science Minister's Prize for Australian Life Scientist of the Year, Commonwealth of Australia

2007 -

Career position - Member of the Editorial Board, journal of biological chemistry

2008 - 2011

Award - ARC Australian Professional Fellowship, University of Western Australia

2012

Award - Fenner Medal, Australian Academy of Science

2012 - 2015

Award - ARC Future Fellow, University of Western Australia

2013

Award - Charles Albert Shull Award, American Society of Plant Biologists

2017

Award - Western Australian Scientist of the Year (shared with Christobel Saunders)

2020 -

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science

Related entries

Published resources

Resources

• International Application Published Under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). 59812/80: Speech Processor [Specification AU-A], This is a digital copy of documents including an international application (PCT), specifications and an international search report for a patent on a "speech processor". The publication date of 11 December 1980 refers to the international publication date recorded on the application., World Intellectual Property Organization: International Bureau, 11 December. http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/pdfSource.do?fileQuery=[Wkh%40ir{%29ilohqdph%40DX4%3C%3B338%3C%3B45D31sgi%29Wkh%40od}|. Details
• 'Millar, Harvey (1971-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1540413. Details

Resource Sections

• Heard, Marian, 'Interview with Dr Harvey Millar, biochemist', in Interviews with Australian scientists, Australian Academy of Science, 2001, https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/history/interviews-australian-scientists/dr-harvey-millar-biochemist. Details