Research
The Unitech Biotechnology Centre at PNG University of Technology drives innovative research in biotechnology to address key challenges in health, agriculture, and industry. Our work focuses on cutting-edge solutions in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and applied biotechnology, fostering scientific discovery and practical applications that benefit Papua New Guinea and the wider Pacific region.
🔬 Research & Development
The Centre collaborates in applied research and consultations with several national and regional research institutions. Examples of these include tissue culture activities particularly micro-propagation (solanum potato seed system – Fresh Produce Development Agency), embryo rescue (cocoa, ornamental orchids), plant barcoding (cocoa – Cocoa Board) and clonal propagation (eaglewood–PNGUT, coconut clonal production – Kokonas Indastri Koporesen), and inoculum development (Eaglewood–PNGUT & farmers). The Centre is an active partner of the National Biotechnology Network in developing collaboration with Corteva (a subsidiary of Dow-DuPont) for gene discovery and R&D. UBC also facilitates undergraduate and postgraduate student research covering all areas of biological and biochemical sciences in Agriculture, Forestry, Applied Sciences, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics Departments of PNGUoT. Other collaborators include National Agriculture Research Institute, Binatang Research Centre, Trukai Industries Limited and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
🧪 Feasible Research Areas
- Disease diagnostics (plant and animal)
- Pathogen-tested plant production
- Genotyping and Gene discovery
- Biodiversity assessment (plant and animal)
- Germplasm conservation
- Genetic manipulation (plant and animal)
Forestry
- Clonal propagation
- Disease diagnostics
- Biodiversity assessment
- Genotyping and Gene discovery
Environment Science
- Genetics of phytoaccumulation of heavy metals
