Dr Vito Butardo Jr is a Senior Lecturer in Biotechnology and Academic Director (Partnerships) at Swinburne University of Technology, specialising in plant and microbial biotechnology with a focus on sustainable food systems and climate-resilient agriculture. With a multidisciplinary background spanning plant biology, microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry and advanced multi-omics techniques, Dr Butardo's research addresses critical global challenges in food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.

He obtained his PhD in Agricultural Sciences from The University of Queensland, where he explored rice diversity and biotechnology to develop grains with novel starch properties and altered digestibility. Following prestigious postdoctoral research fellowships at CSIRO Plant Industry (Canberra), International Rice Research Institute (Los Baños, Philippines), and Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga), he joined Swinburne in September 2017. Since then, he has secured over $500K in competitive research funding and approximately $1M in-kind synchrotron beamtime allocations, establishing him as a leader in advanced analytical applications for food and agricultural research.

His research programme integrates fundamental science with practical applications, employing cutting-edge technologies including synchrotron-based imaging, machine learning algorithms, and multi-omics approaches. Dr Butardo's work spans the entire agricultural value chain from crop production through food processing, to waste valorisation, embodying circular economy principles whilst addressing pressing challenges in climate adaptation and nutritional security. He leads strategic initiatives in international research collaboration and industry engagement, leveraging his extensive network of local and global collaborators to enhance Swinburne's research impact and student opportunities.

As Academic Director (Partnerships), he provides strategic advice to the School Dean and Associate Dean (Education) on domestic and international coursework partnership matters, managing the School's academic partnerships including transnational education (TNE) programmes, articulation pathways, and collaborative provision arrangements. In this role, he liaises with the Educational Quality Services team and Global Engagement to develop, maintain and manage academic partnerships, oversees quality assurance arrangements with academic partners, and coordinates School staff engagement in partnership delivery whilst ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures.