Mirza Dowla
Harrisdale,Australia
Summary
Results-driven agricultural scientist and project manager with expertise in strategic breeding initiatives that improve crop performance and sustainability. Demonstrated success in managing multi-location trials to enhance breeding efficiency and deliver market-driven solutions. Committed to utilizing advanced technologies to boost agricultural productivity.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Manager
DNA Harvest Partners LLC
10.2025 - Current
- Present advanced breeding technologies and genomic prediction tools to scientific and commercial stakeholders to support crop improvement programs.
- Monitor collaborative projects, ensuring timely data flow and measurable improvements in breeding efficiency and genetic gain.
- Identify partnership opportunities across breeding companies and research organisations, qualifying prospects using technical criteria aligned with AI-enabled breeding platforms.
- Collaborate with R&D and data science teams to translate market needs into technical requirements and refine product features.
- Gather market intelligence to guide strategic planning and support development of AI-driven breeding solutions.
Plant Breeder
Elders Rural Services Ltd
03.2023 - 01.2025
- Led a strategic cereal wheat breeding program from inception to commercial variety release, contributing to the development of cultivars Tungsten, Titanium, Cobalt, Jade and Tenfour - delivered to WA growers through the national NVT system.
- Coordinated multi-location field trials across Australia, managing seed distribution to contractors, scheduling sowing and harvest, and overseeing sampling logistics, data collection timelines, and NVT submissions.
- Supervised a team of technical staff and casual employees; set clear priorities, delegated tasks, provided mentoring and ensured quality delivery of project outcomes on schedule.
- Developed structured weekly work plans and used Gantt charts to schedule activities, assign duties and track progress against key deliverables across a geographically dispersed team.
- Maintained master trial lists and project records; prepared and communicated technical reports on varietal performance to management, clients and industry stakeholders.
- Built and maintained relationships with agronomists, farmers, industry representatives, and research organisations; coordinated efforts with seed production managers and national business leadership to align on project goals.
- Applied R, Python, and SQL to analyse yield, protein, and stress tolerance data, building predictive models that informed variety selection.
- Developed Power BI dashboards for real-time trial monitoring, enabling data-driven decisions by senior leadership and seed production teams.
- Standardised data collection processes across sites, reducing inconsistencies and improving workflow efficiency by 30%.
- Followed up on incomplete tasks, tracked outstanding actions, and ensured project completion tasks were finalised and documented consistently.
- Prepared technical product notes and farm notes, contributing to field days that showcased new cultivars and engaged with the agricultural community.
- Key Projects:
- Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) Project - Led a multi-location trial program to identify and advance wheat lines with superior fertiliser-use efficiency, managing trial design, data collection and stakeholder reporting to growers and industry.
- COOGO Project - Led a targeted breeding initiative to develop high nitrogen-use wheat varieties; oversaw population development, strategic selection, and partner engagement with research organisations and commercial agronomists.
- CAIGE Project - Contributed to bringing valuable exotic wheat and barley germplasm into locally adapted cultivars, coordinated with international breeding teams to evaluate and advance promising lines for commercial potential in Australia.
Research Scientist
Dept. of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA
05.2019 - 02.2023
- Managed Grain Crop Repository database using BMS, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and regulatory compliance.
- Conducted germplasm characterisation and trait screening, integrating results into predictive breeding models that enhanced selection accuracy using R and Python.
- Designed and analysed multi-location wheat and oat breeding trials, producing visualisations and reports for leadership using Power BI.
- Supported pre-breeding programs with data-driven insights to improve crop resilience against disease and environmental stress.
- Presented analytical insights to stakeholders, supporting evidence-based decisions in breeding and biosecurity programs that aligned with institutional goals.
- Interpreted trial data and communicated findings through detailed reports and scientific publications.
- Facilitated extension activities and field days to promote improved agronomic practices, accelerating adoption of new technologies among growers.
- Key Projects:
- Wheat Genetic Improvement for Sodic Soils Project - Led a multi-year collaborative R&D program coordinating field trials across multiple WA sites, managing a team of researchers, and delivering improved wheat cultivars suited to sodic soil conditions directly to growers. Published findings in peer-reviewed journals.
- National Oat Breeding Project - Led DPIRD's contribution to the national oat breeding program, overseeing field evaluation of oat varieties and germplasm across WA environments, and delivering improved varieties to WA producers.
- Grain Crop Repository Project - Led the conservation and strategic management of DPIRD's genetic materials, held full responsibility for project budget, staff and resources allocation and reporting to government funders and stakeholders, ensuring conservation of germplasm to leverage future research funding.
Plant Breeder
Edstar Genetics Pty Ltd
02.2016 - 02.2023
- Led crossing, evaluation, and population advancement programs; maintained comprehensive germplasm and breeding databases to high standards of data integrity, biosecurity, and regulatory compliance.
- Oversaw collection, analysis, and interpretation of field and laboratory data using advanced statistical methods to inform breeding decisions.
- Designed and managed multi-location field trials, monitored pest and disease incidence, and reported findings to enable timely interventions and effective risk management.
- Administered BMS databases, maintaining accurate germplasm and trial records, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
- Coordinated with internal teams and external partners to ensure timely delivery of trial activities.
Short Term Specialist
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA
01.2019 - 04.2019
Research Assistant
Murdoch University
02.2016 - 12.2018
Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
, Bangladesh
01.2006 - 12.2012
Education
Doctor of Philosophy -
Murdoch University
01-2018
Master of Science - Genetics and Plant Breeding
Bangladesh Agricultural University
01-2005
Bachelor of Science - Agriculture
Bangladesh Agricultural University
01-2003
Skills
- Project coordination
- Operations and administration
- Data analysis and reporting
- Budget management
- Stakeholder communication
- Team leadership
- Systems thinking
References
- Chris Willis, National Category Manager Seed, Elders Rural Services Australia Ltd, 0417 039 420, chris.willis@elders.com.au
- Sue Broughton, Research Scientist, Dept. of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA, (08) 9368 3737, sue.broughton@dpird.wa.gov
Personal Information
Title: Research Scientist & Project Manager
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Murdoch University, 2018, Master of Science in Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University, 2005, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, 2003, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Currently Studying, PMI, Introduction to the Supply Chain Skill Set, 2025, Data Analysis Skills Set, 2025, REPL (Remote Pilot Licence) for drone, 2022, Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) Training, 2019, Masterclass Workshop - Adaptation to Drought, 2013, Experimental Design and Application of Linear Mixed Models in Plant Research, University of WA, 2012
Timeline
Regional Manager
DNA Harvest Partners LLC
10.2025 - Current
Plant Breeder
Elders Rural Services Ltd
03.2023 - 01.2025
Research Scientist
Dept. of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA
05.2019 - 02.2023
Short Term Specialist
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, WA
01.2019 - 04.2019
Plant Breeder
Edstar Genetics Pty Ltd
02.2016 - 02.2023
Research Assistant
Murdoch University
02.2016 - 12.2018
Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
01.2006 - 12.2012
Doctor of Philosophy -
Murdoch University
Master of Science - Genetics and Plant Breeding
Bangladesh Agricultural University
Bachelor of Science - Agriculture
Bangladesh Agricultural University