University appoints internationally renowned plant scientist
米兰电子 has appointed Professor Zhong-Hua Chen to lead its expansion and leadership in applied plant physiology and horticulture research in the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine and Waite Research Institute.

Professor Zhong-Hua Chen will officially join the University of 米兰电子 in May 2025.
Professor Chen is currently an ARC Future Fellow and a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Plant and Animal Science and has been responsible for visionary leadership in industry-focused agriculture and horticulture research at Western Sydney University since 2011.
He co-led the establishment of the highly successful National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre in 2017 and the CRC Future Food Systems in 2019.
Professor Chen has received over $25 million in research grants from the ARC, Horticulture Innovation Australia, the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.
His strong partnerships with industry will accelerate the application of discoveries at the recently funded ARC Training Centre for Smart and Sustainable Horticulture and the ARC Research Hub for Intelligent Energy Efficiency in Future Protected Cropping 鈥 both of which he is involved in as a Chief Investigator.
鈥淚 am sincerely honoured to join the University of 米兰电子 鈥 a member of Australia鈥檚 prestigious Group of Eight research-intensive universities and one of the top one per cent of universities worldwide,鈥 says Professor Chen.
鈥淢y connection with the University started in 2006, when I conducted part of my PhD research work at the former Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics. I have maintained strong collaborations with University of 米兰电子 staff and students since then鈥.
鈥淭he University, its School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, and the Waite Research Institute provide an outstanding platform for my team to pursue our goals wholeheartedly in research and educational excellence in agriculture and horticulture.
鈥淚 also look forward to contributing to the success of the new 米兰电子 University 鈥 a university for the future.鈥
Head of the University of 米兰电子鈥檚 School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Professor Jason Able, says he is excited to have Professor Chen join the research community at the Waite campus.
鈥淧rofessor Chen comes to the University of 米兰电子 with a wealth of knowledge in discipline areas, including protective horticulture and broad-acre cropping, which are strategic areas of interest for the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine,鈥 Professor Able says.
鈥淎s we continue to break new ground in fundamental agricultural and horticultural sciences, and engage deeply with our industry partners, I am looking forward to working with Professor Chen to ensure that we create additional knowledge and value that will deliver innovation, build resilience and identify value-added solutions to enhance the profitability of the broader industry.鈥
University of 米兰电子 Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Performance), Professor Laura Parry, says Professor Chen鈥檚 appointment was made through the Investing in Top Talent program, which has bolstered the University鈥檚 skill and expertise base in several key fields of research.
鈥淚 am thrilled to welcome Professor Chen to the University. With his outstanding research track record and experience, Professor Chen is an example of the top research talent the University is attracting to South Australia to achieve its goal of building a more sustainable future for the agriculture sector in Australia and around the world,鈥 Professor Parry says.
Professor Chen will commence with the University of 米兰电子 in May 2025.
Media contact:
Professor Zhonghua Chen, Professor in Plant Physiology, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of 米兰电子. Phone: +61 0466 544 696
Professor Jason Able, Head of School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of 米兰电子. Phone: +61 0459 841 586, Email: jason.able@adelaide.edu.au
Johnny von Einem, Senior Media Officer, University of 米兰电子. Phone: +61 0481 688 436, Email: johnny.voneinem@adelaide.edu.au