Looking for a PhD project in plant genetics? We are currently advertising for 4 PhD scholarships in gene editing, pan-epigenomics, predictive breeding and genomics of heterosis at QAAFI in the University of Queensland. IRTG Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain. More details below:
Scholarship value: $32,192 per annum (2023 rate), indexed annually
Scholarship duration: 3.5 years with the possibility of 1 extension in line with UQ and RTP Scholarship Policy
Number awarded: May vary
Applications open: 29 May 2023
Applications close: 26 June 2023
1 – PhD Scholarship in Nitrogen use dynamics in high protein gene edited sorghum:
About this scholarship:
Supervisor: Professor Ian Godwin
The production of high protein contents in cereals has benefits for human health and nutrition and for intensive grain-based animal industries such as poultry and pigs. High protein grains will improve nutrient security in some of the world’s most resource poor farming areas, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The opportunity to reduce the reliance on imported soybean meal has great economic benefits to the Australian feed industries.
We have produced high protein sorghums using gene editing. A major question regarding these sorghums is understanding the biological mechanism for this ability to accumulate more grain protein. The key question for growers is whether these sorghums have the ability to remobilise N more efficiently, or whether they require higher uptake from the soil, which would generally require higher application of N fertiliser. It is also noteworthy that we have separate genes which can deliver some of these changes, and we would like to test them in combination.
All current gene edited lines are in the same genetic background. We will need to deliver these genetic changes in other genetic backgrounds to understand the broad applicability of the approach. This will involve the generation of new gene edited sorghums as well as the testing of new genetic combinations in the Plant Growth Facility and glasshouse, ultimately looking at hybrid combinations under field conditions.
Research environment:
The University of Queensland is one of the highest ranked internationally in the field of Agriculture. With campuses at St Lucia (Brisbane) and Gatton as well as at Hermitage Research Station (Warwick), there are over 250 HDR students researching solutions for agricultural problems. The successful applicants will be part of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) with The University of Queensland, Justus Liebig University (Giessen), Julius Kuhn Institute (Quedlinburg) and Geisenhem University in Germany.
The IRTG for Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain will commence in July 2023 and is led by Prof Rod Snowdon (JLU Giessen) and Prof Ian Godwin (UQ). Leading scientists from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability will be involved in supervising students in the IRTG.
All IRTG students will be supervised at UQ with associate advisors in Germany, with the opportunity to participate in research and research training workshops in both Australia and Germany. We are currently recruiting four PhD students to join a cohort that will be around 24 PhD students by the end of 2024.
Eligibility
You’re eligible if you meet the entry requirements for a higher degree by research.
How to apply
To be considered for this scholarship, please email the following documents to Professor Ian Godwin (i.godwin@uq.edu.au):
- Cover letter
- CV
- Academic transcript/s
- Evidence for meeting UQ’s English language proficiency requirements eg TOEFL, IELTS
Please note the following: Submitting the above documents does not constitute a full application for admission into The University of Queensland’s PhD program. If you are selected as the preferred applicant, you will then be invited to submit a full application for admission. You can familiarise yourself with the documents required for this process on the UQ Study website.
Selection criteria
Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.
We take into account your:
- previous academic record
- publication record
- honours and awards
- employment history
A working knowledge of plant biology, plant genetics, bioinformatics, data science, biotechnology, molecular biology and genomics would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of molecular biology, plant genetics, biotechnology and the potential for scholastic success.
A background or knowledge of plant genomics and plant genetics is highly desirable.
Rules: A domestic part-time student with carer’s responsibilities, a medical condition or a disability, which prevents them from studying full-time may be eligible for scholarship consideration, on a case-by-case basis.
2 – PhD Scholarship in exploring the genome landscape of heterosis in sorghum:
About this scholarship
Supervisor: Associate Professor Emma Mace
This PhD project aims to develop high-yielding hybrid sorghum crops for the future. Sorghum is a major crop in advanced agricultural countries and also for small holder farmers in the developing world. In Australia, sorghum is grown as a hybrid crop and hence exploits the phenomenon of heterosis.
However despite its agronomic importance, the mechanisms of heterosis are poorly understood. This project will explore the genome landscape of sorghum, including chromatin structure, differential gene expression and presence/absence variation, and investigate impacts on heterosis.
This project will make use of a large set of existing genomics resources developed for sorghum, including a pan-genome, and provide an exciting opportunity to work in a large, world-leading multi-disciplinary team to develop more productive sorghum hybrid crops both for Australia and globally.
Research environment
The University of Queensland is one of the highest ranked internationally in the field of Agriculture. With campuses at St Lucia (Brisbane) and Gatton as well as at Hermitage Research Station (Warwick), there are over 250 HDR students researching solutions for agricultural problems. The successful applicants will be part of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) with The University of Queensland, Justus Liebig University (Giessen), Julius Kuhn Institute (Quedlinburg) and Geisenhem University in Germany.
The IRTG for Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain will commence in July 2023 and is led by Prof Rod Snowdon (JLU Giessen) and Prof Ian Godwin (UQ). Leading scientists from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability will be involved in supervising students in the IRTG.
All IRTG students will be supervised at UQ with associate advisors in Germany, with the opportunity to participate in research and research training workshops in both Australia and Germany. We are currently recruiting four PhD students to join a cohort that will be around 24 PhD students by the end of 2024.
Eligibility
You’re eligible if you meet the entry requirements for a higher degree by research.
How to apply
To be considered for this scholarship, please email the following documents to Associate Professor Emma Mace (emma.mace@uq.edu.au):
- Cover letter
- CV
- Academic transcript/s
- Evidence for meeting UQ’s English language proficiency requirements eg TOEFL, IELTS
Please note the following: Submitting the above documents does not constitute a full application for admission into The University of Queensland’s PhD program. If you are selected as the preferred applicant, you will then be invited to submit a full application for admission. You can familiarise yourself with the documents required for this process on the UQ Study website.
Selection criteria
Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.
We take into account your:
- previous academic record
- publication record
- honours and awards
- employment history
A working knowledge of plant biology, plant genetics, bioinformatics, data science, biotechnology, molecular biology and genomics would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of molecular biology, plant genetics, biotechnology and the potential for scholastic success. A background or knowledge of plant genomics and plant genetics is highly desirable.
3 – PhD Scholarship in Predictive breeding for precision pulses:
About this scholarship
Supervisor: Dr Owen Powell
Globally, demand for plant-based protein is increasing with more than 100,000 tonnes of pulse-based protein required by 2030. Despite the increasing demand for pulse-based protein, expansion of pulse production is hindered in Australia due to low baseline yield and high variability across seasons.
This project aims to use artificial intelligence via deep learning algorithms to deconvolute complex relationships between genotype, the environment and phenotype to supercharge the development of improved pulse varieties for the future. The ability of deep learning algorithms to identify the underlying complex biological relationships and improve predictive ability will be benchmarked against existing methods using both in silico and experimental datasets.
The successful candidate will develop experience and skills in the use of simulation (digital twin) software, data science, predictive methods and gene discovery as part of a research pipeline to deliver impact through enabling prediction-based pulse improvement. Working within the wider QAAFI and JLU research teams, skills and experience could be in data collection, quality control, curation, reproducible research documentation and analysis.
Research environment
The University of Queensland is one of the highest ranked internationally in the field of Agriculture. With campuses at St Lucia (Brisbane) and Gatton as well as at Hermitage Research Station (Warwick), there are over 250 HDR students researching solutions for agricultural problems. The successful applicants will be part of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) with The University of Queensland, Justus Liebig University (Giessen), Julius Kuhn Institute (Quedlinburg) and Geisenhem University in Germany.
The IRTG for Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain will commence in July 2023 and is led by Prof Rod Snowdon (JLU Giessen) and Prof Ian Godwin (UQ). Leading scientists from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability will be involved in supervising students in the IRTG.
All IRTG students will be supervised at UQ with associate advisors in Germany, with the opportunity to participate in research and research training workshops in both Australia and Germany. We are currently recruiting four PhD students to join a cohort that will be around 24 PhD students by the end of 2024.
Eligibility
You’re eligible if you meet the entry requirements for a higher degree by research.
How to apply
To be considered for this scholarship, please email the following documents to Dr Owen Powell (o.powell2@uq.edu.au):
- Cover letter
- CV
- Academic transcript/s
- Evidence for meeting UQ’s English language proficiency requirements eg TOEFL, IELTS
Please note the following: Submitting the above documents does not constitute a full application for admission into The University of Queensland’s PhD program. If you are selected as the preferred applicant, you will then be invited to submit a full application for admission. You can familiarise yourself with the documents required for this process on the UQ Study website.
Selection criteria
Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.
We take into account your:
- previous academic record
- publication record
- honours and awards
- employment history
A working knowledge of plant biology, plant genetics, bioinformatics, data science, biotechnology, molecular biology and genomics would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of molecular biology, plant genetics, biotechnology and the potential for scholastic success. A background or knowledge of plant genomics and plant genetics is highly desirable.
4 – PhD Scholarship in Pan-epigenomics for crop improvement:
About this scholarship
Supervisor: Dr Peter Crisp
The broad goal of this PhD project is to contribute to a research theme investigating the contribution of epigenetics to phenotypic variation in crops. This project will focus on wheat and barley for key agronomic traits under investigation in the training centre. Australia is a world leader in crop research, our iconic agriculture industry currently generates around $69B annually for the national economy; with the aim to reach $100B by 2030.
Grains, including wheat, sorghum and barley, are the second most profitable component of the industry, and their quality and cost as feeds hugely impact the $31B Australian animal agriculture sector. This project will involve the implementation of novel enabling epigenomic technologies and the development of new bioinformatic approaches, with a focus on DNA methylation.
A major aim will be the generation and analysis of extensive pan-epigenomic resources for these species. This project will bridge fundamental research through to collaboration with plant breeders. Through fundamental discovery and characterisation of novel epialleles, we aim to provide novel avenues to accelerate improvement.
Research environment
The University of Queensland is one of the highest ranked internationally in the field of Agriculture. With campuses at St Lucia (Brisbane) and Gatton as well as at Hermitage Research Station (Warwick), there are over 250 HDR students researching solutions for agricultural problems. The successful applicants will be part of the International Research Training Group (IRTG) with The University of Queensland, Justus Liebig University (Giessen), Julius Kuhn Institute (Quedlinburg) and Geisenhem University in Germany.
The IRTG for Accelerating Crop Genetic Gain will commence in July 2023 and is led by Prof Rod Snowdon (JLU Giessen) and Prof Ian Godwin (UQ). Leading scientists from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability will be involved in supervising students in the IRTG.
All IRTG students will be supervised at UQ with associate advisors in Germany, with the opportunity to participate in research and research training workshops in both Australia and Germany. We are currently recruiting four PhD students to join a cohort that will be around 24 PhD students by the end of 2024.
Eligibility
You’re eligible if you meet the entry requirements for a higher degree by research.
How to apply
To be considered for this scholarship, please email the following documents to Dr Peter Crisp (p.crisp@uq.edu.au):
- Cover letter
- CV
- Academic transcript/s
- Evidence for meeting UQ’s English language proficiency requirements eg TOEFL, IELTS
Please note the following: Submitting the above documents does not constitute a full application for admission into The University of Queensland’s PhD program. If you are selected as the preferred applicant, you will then be invited to submit a full application for admission. You can familiarise yourself with the documents required for this process on the UQ Study website.
Selection criteria
Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.
We take into account your:
- previous academic record
- publication record
- honours and awards
- employment history
A working knowledge of plant biology, plant genetics, bioinformatics, data science, biotechnology, molecular biology and genomics would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of molecular biology, plant genetics, biotechnology and the potential for scholastic success. A background or knowledge of plant genomics and plant genetics is highly desirable.