Research interests

• Linear Mixed Models
• Statistical genetics
• Analysis of Multi-environment trials in plant breeding
• Multi-variate analysis
• QTL analysis

Background

Brian Cullis heads the Biometrics group in NSW DPI and is an adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney.

He joined NSW DPI in 1978 and was appointed as a biometrician at Wagga Wagga and Tamworth, until his appointment as Research Leader (Biometrics) in 1994. His early work in spatial analysis was focussed on developing improved methods for the analysis of field experiments and he is internationally recognised as an expert in the analysis of field experiments using spatial techniques.

Brian began a very fruitful collaboration in the early 1990's with Professor Robin Thompson and Dr Arthur Gilmour. This collaboration has led to not only many scientific articles and conference talks but has been the catalyst and motivation behind the development of the software package known as ASReml. ASReml is a fortran program which fits the linear mixed model using REML. It is based on the Average Information algorithm which has revolutionised the types of problems and size of data-sets which are now considered. ASReml is marketed world wide by VSN International.

His other main area of research interest is focused on the analysis of a series of crop variety trials, commonly known as multi-environment trials (METs). Methods developed by him are now the basis of the protocols which are in widespread use for the analysis of plant improvement data in Australia.

Brian is based at the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute.

Qualifications

• B Sc (Hons)
• PhD

Current projects

Students

• Paul Eckermann, PhD - joint with Professor Robin Thompson, Professor Ari Verbyla, commenced 1999, enrolled at the University of Adelaide, studying the detection of quantitative trait loci
• Emma Knight, PhD - joint with Professor Robin Thompson and Professor Ari Verbyla, commenced 1999, enrolled at the University of Adelaide, studying improved iterative schemes for REML estimation 
• Kathy Haskard, PhD - joint with Professor Ari Verbyla, commenced 2001, enrolled at the University of Adelaide, studying spatial analysis of complex data
• Alison Kelly, PhD - joint with Professor John Eccleston, commenced 2003, enrolled at the University of Queensland, studying extended genotype by environment methods for multi-environment data
• David Butler, PhD - joint with Professor John Eccleston, commenced 2003, enrolled at the University of Queensland, studying the construction of designs with correlated errors
• Damian Collins, PhD - joint with Professor Robin Thompson and Associate Professor Ken Russell, commenced 2004, enrolled at the University of Wollongong, studying methods for estimation in GLMMs
• Helena Oakey, PhD - joint with Professor Ari Verbyla and Dr Wayne Pitchford, commenced 2004, enrolled at the University of Ad elaide, studying quantitative genetic methods for single and multi-environment trials in plants.
• Peter Geelan-Smith, PhD - joint with Associate Professor Mick O'Neill, commenced 2005, enrolled at Sydney University, studying spatial analysis of weed seed burdens
• Joanne DeFaveri, PhD - joint with Professor Ari Verbyla, commenced in June 2007, studying methods for analysing spatially dependent repeated measures data.

External Projects

• National Statistics Project KP1, KP2 and KP3 GRDC funded 2005-2008.
• VAWCRC – DarT project
• BSES – external consultancy
• Commercial Software
• ASReml-R
• ASReml
• Non-commercial software
• Katmandoo

Recent Publications

Welham SJ, Cullis BR, Kenward MG and Thompson R (2007) A comparison of mixed model splines for curve fitting. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics 49, 1-24.

Mann G, Diffey S, Allen H, Pumpa J, Nath Z, Morell MK, Cullis BR and Smith AB (2007) Comparison of Small scale and Large scale Mixing Characteristics: Correlations between Small and Large Scale Mixing and Extensional Characteristics of Wheat Flour Dough Journal of Cereal Science (To appear)

Oakey H, Verbyla AP, Cullis BR, Wei X and Pitchford W (2007) Joint modelling of additive and non-additive (genetic line) effects in multi-environment trials. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 114 xx-xx.

Verbyla AP, Cullis BR, and Thompson R (2007) The analysis of QTLs by simultaneous use of the full linkage map. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, accepted, under revision.

Haskard KA, Cullis BR and Verbyla AP (2007) Anisotropic Matern correlation and spatial prediction using REML. Journal of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Statistics (in press).

Kelly A, Cullis BR and Eccleston JA (2007) Evaluation of one-stage FA models for early stage breeding trials. Crop Science (in press).

Smith AB, Wei X, Stringer J and Cullis BR (2007) The analysis of repeated measures data from METs. Euphytica (in press).

Oakey H, Verbyla AP, Pitchford W, Cullis BR and Kuchel H (2006) Joint modelling of additive and non-additive genetic line effects in single field trials. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 113, 809-819.

Professional associations and activities

Membership

• Australian Statistical Society
• International Biometrics Society
• Royal Statistical Society

Activities

Editorial Experience

• Associate Editor (shorter communications) Biometrics 1991-94.
• Associate Editor Biometrics 1993-97. Co-Editor Biometrics, 2002-2004.
• Associate Editor Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics, 2001-.
• Statistical Editor, Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge, 2000-

Administrative Experience for Professional Societies

• International Biometric Society (Australasian Region), Secretary 1991-93
• Statistical Society of Australia, Chair of Biological Sciences Section 1992-94
• GENSTAT 95 Conference Organizer, Wagga
• Biometrics 93 Conference Organizer, Coolangatta
• Biometrics 95,97 Conference Program Committee, Coolangatta
• Program Committee GENSTA 2002, 2004, 2006
• Programme Committee StatGen 2006
• Programme Committee International Biometrics Conference 2006, 2008

Awards

In 2006, Brian received an award from the International Biometrics Society for outstanding dedication and exemplary service, in recognition of his contribution to the society in his role as one of the Co-Editors of the society's premier journal, Biometrics.

Brian held this position from 2002-2004 and continued to support the journal review process for an additional two years.

Fields of Research

• 010401 Applied Statistics

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Contact details