Rate My Professor Jason Terpolilli

Jason Terpolilli is Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Microbiology in the School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences at Murdoch University. He holds a BSc (Hons) and PhD in Microbiology. As Theme Leader and Research Director of Legume Rhizobium Sciences in the Food Futures Institute's Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems, his research centres on the symbiotic interactions between rhizobia soil bacteria and legume host plants. Specifically, he investigates nitrogen fixation processes, the genetics and genomics of rhizobia, and factors influencing symbiotic effectiveness and efficiency. Terpolilli's work contributes to improving agricultural productivity through better legume inoculation practices and the development of rhizobial strains for sustainable farming. He has secured significant research funding, including $2,151,578 from the Grains Research and Development Corporation for enhancing rhizobia resources.

Terpolilli's academic career at Murdoch University includes serving as Lecturer in the Centre for Rhizobium Studies from May 2012, Research Director from October 2017, and Lecturer in the School of Veterinary and Life Sciences from May 2018. He also holds the role of Postgraduate Research Co-Chair and Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry and Microbiology. His prolific publication record features over 50 works, with more than 2,150 citations on Google Scholar. Key publications include 'Closed genomes of commercial inoculant rhizobia provide a blueprint for management of legume inoculation' (2025), 'Rhizobial genetic and genomic resources for sustainable agriculture' (2024), 'Evolution of novel Mesorhizobium genospecies that competitively and effectively nodulate Cicer arietinum' (2024), 'Population genomics of Australian indigenous Mesorhizobium' (2023), 'Symbiosis Islands' (2023), 'Complete genome sequence of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae SRDI969' (2023), 'Metabolic control of nitrogen fixation in rhizobium-legume symbioses' (2021), 'Lipogenesis and Redox Balance in Nitrogen-Fixing Pea Bacteroids' (2016), 'Pyruvate Is Synthesized by Two Pathways in Pea Bacteroids with Different Efficiencies for Nitrogen Fixation' (2010), and 'The model legume Medicago truncatula A17 is poorly matched for N2 fixation with the sequenced microsymbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021' (2008). These contributions have advanced understanding of rhizobial genomics, symbiosis islands, and nitrogen fixation constraints, supporting initiatives like the International Legume Inoculant Genebank.