Rate My Professor Graham O'Hara

Graham O'Hara is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Agricultural Sciences at Murdoch University, where he has served since 1983. He holds key leadership positions including Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning, Academic Chair of Crop and Pasture Science, Director of Legume Rhizobium Sciences, and Chair of the National Rhizobium Steering Committee. O'Hara's research centers on the genetics, physiology, and ecology of rhizobia bacteria, with a focus on their symbiotic relationships with legumes for biological nitrogen fixation, mechanisms of acid tolerance, genomic characterization of strains, and development of superior inoculants for pasture and crop production in sustainable farming systems. His work addresses challenges in soil fertility, crop nutrition, and agricultural intensification, contributing to improved legume productivity in acidic and alkaline soils across Australia and internationally.

With over 169 peer-reviewed publications and more than 5,200 citations, O'Hara has made significant contributions to the field. Key publications include 'Maintenance of Intracellular pH and Acid Tolerance in Rhizobium meliloti' (1989), 'Rapid in situ evolution of nodulating strains for Biserrula pelecinus' (2006), 'Rhizobial genetic and genomic resources for sustainable agriculture' (2024), 'Closed genomes of commercial inoculant rhizobia provide a blueprint for management of legume inoculation' (2025), and 'Strategic deep tillage of deep sand soils impacts the sorption and biological availability of trifluralin' (2026). He has secured grants such as the 2025-2027 project on summer sown aerial seeded pasture legume development for Western Australia and ARC Linkage Project LP100200267. O'Hara supervises PhD students on rhizobial symbiosis, competition, and acid soil tolerance, and leads efforts to endorse and monitor commercial rhizobial inoculants, bridging research with industry needs through collaborations with the Grains Research and Development Corporation. His expertise ensures the quality and effectiveness of inoculants for Australian legume growers, enhancing sustainable agriculture practices.