Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 July 2023
Campus
Launceston
Citizenship requirement
Domestic / International
Scholarship
$31,500pa for 3.5 years
About the research project
A declared priority for GRDC, KIT1.9 highlights waterlogging as a major constraint for grain growers, with yield losses of 40-60 per cent when severely affected. The current experience in season 2022 in south-east Australia has brought these impacts sharply into focus. The identified priority gaps for KIT1.9 are for the impacts of waterlogging (KIT1.9.1) and the benefit/cost of mitigation (KIT1.9.2) to be quantified to enable growers to decide if or how they should respond.
When waterlogged, crop growth, tolerance and recovery varies, and soil functioning and farming operations are limited for several days to weeks. Significant prior GRDC investment has provided physiological understanding of wheat response to anerobic stress from intermittent waterlogging events. As a consequence, growers have access to extension material and recommendations for wheat under risks of waterlogging. Far less is known on responses of other crops prominent in regions where waterlogging is a concern. By understanding how crops respond to waterlogging, production risks can be quantified and managed through better understanding of the frequency, duration and potential impacts of different waterlogging events on crop growth and development.
This project will be targeting on:
- Identifying tolerant canola genotypes for breeding programs.
- Physiological mechanisms for waterlogging tolerance in canola.
The majority of the work will be conducted at DEECA of Victoria, who is a major partner of our new GRDC project "Understanding the Impacts of waterlogging on barley, canola and fababean".
Primary Supervisor
Meet Prof Meixue ZhouFunding
The successful applicant will receive a scholarship which provides:
- a living allowance stipend funded by GRDC of $31,500 per annum (2023 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Background in plant physiology and plant genetics
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Published at least two journal papers
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Prof Meixue Zhou to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 July 2023.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section of the Research Degrees website.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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