Rate My Professor Alison Bentley

Alison Bentley is an applied crop scientist whose work in genetics and plant breeding spans fundamental plant processes to field- and farm-level decision support tools, primarily focusing on wheat as a major staple food crop. She holds a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Sydney (2002) and a PhD in Agriculture from the same institution (2007). Her international career includes positions as Director of Genetics and Breeding at NIAB in Cambridge, UK; Director of the Global Wheat Program at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico; and, at the Australian National University, Deputy Director of the Agrifood Innovation Institute and Group Leader in Plant Sciences, Research School of Biology, where she now serves as Honorary Associate Professor.

Bentley's research employs interdisciplinary approaches to address complex agricultural challenges, including crop adaptation to climate change, enhanced productivity, and global food security. Notable publications include 'High-density SNP genotyping array for hexaploid wheat and its secondary and tertiary gene pool' (Plant Biotechnology Journal, 2016), 'Application of genomics-assisted breeding for generation of climate resilient crops: progress and prospects' (Frontiers in Plant Science, 2015), 'Breeding schemes for the implementation of genomic selection in wheat (Triticum spp.)' (Plant Science, 2016), and 'Multi-parent populations in crops: a toolbox integrating genomics and genetic mapping with breeding' (Heredity, 2020). She has received the Borlaug CAST Communication Award (2023), Genetics Society JBS Haldane Medal (2024), and recognition as a Superstar of STEM (2025). Bentley founded and leads the Women in Crop Science network to promote gender equity and visibility in the field.