Phenospex TraitFinder training advances APPN’s capabilities across Australia
APPN recently brought together technical staff from four of our Nodes and experts from Phenospex to share the latest advances in high-throughput plant phenotyping.
Having procured five Phenospex TraitFinder systems with our Nodes at the University of Queensland (UQ), the University of Western Australia (UWA), Western Sydney University (WSU), and the Australian National University (ANU), APPN and Phenospex organised the two-day advanced training workshop to build expertise and standardise best practices.
Building technical excellence
The workshop, held November 10–11 at the Plant Futures Facility on the University of Queensland St. Lucia campus, brought technical specialists together for an intensive program designed to deepen their phenotyping expertise. Instruction from Max Peters (Phenospex) and Dr Frederike Stock (ANU) provided insights into the system’s operation, advanced data-processing options, and service-delivery models.
The first day focused on core data acquisition skills. Participants worked on scanning best practices and explored tools for optimising scan quality. Following this practical session, Max Peters provided a deep dive into working with point cloud data, sharing numerous tips for getting the most out of these complex datasets. The day was rounded off with a tour of the Plant Futures Facility.
The second day shifted to operating the TraitFinder as a phenotyping service. Dr Frederike Stock led a session on defining deliverables, establishing workflows, and implementing transparent pricing. Different project management practices and tools were discussed to establish a consistent approach across APPN Nodes, with the overarching goal of delivering reliable services and building positive client relationships.
Strengthening collaboration and looking forward
Along with building technical skills, the workshop strengthened connections among the APPN staff using identical systems at different Nodes – helping to foster collaborative troubleshooting, protocol improvements and research approaches.
The training enables APPN to fully leverage its TraitFinder offering by increasing operator expertise, establishing consistent service delivery standards, and cultivating a collaborative community of practice.
Together, these outcomes enhance APPN’s ability to provide high-quality phenotypic data for the Australian plant science community.
2 December 2025
APPN Team receiving training on the Phenospex Traitfinder at UQ Node