At least 20 PhD projects within the Centre will commence in 2022 and 2023.
There are 4 major research themes aligned to our vision of building a future R&D capability to drive growth, productivity and competitiveness for the benefit of Australian agriculture and global food security.
This will be achieved by the implementation of advanced gene technologies and the integration of socio-economic issues concerning these technologies. Underpinning our four research themes in social science, technology, crop improvement and field evaluation will be our training program.
Available Research Projects
Below are a number of projects available within the Training Centre. If you’d like to learn more about a specific project, please contact the supervisor listed. Or for more general information please email office@futurecropscentre.edu.au
Novel field-based phenotyping methods for trait evaluation
Innovations in robotics and sensors have led to the development of mobile phenotyping platforms to characterize plant performance in the field. However, the number of parameters these systems can measure is still limited, requires validation, and as yet is not easy to deploy in a GMO field site. This PhD project will focus on generating a voxel-based three-dimensional model from the LiDAR point cloud data, to produce accurate canopy structural parameters.
Nanotechnology enabled CRISPR gene editing in crops
This project will focus on the development of crop transformation technologies by rationally designing a nanoparticle (NP) carrier that enables bypassing of plant cell wall and membrane, protection of cargo and targeted tissue/cell/organelle delivery in a species-independent manner.
Improved yield and harvestability in Canola through prevention of pod shatter
This project will use cutting edge gene editing approaches to modify candidate developmental genes which are known to influence pod shatter in related species.
NEW PROJECT
Available for applications now
Exploring the intersect between new technologies, responsible research and inclusive innovation, and agriculture and food
This PhD project will focus on a topic within the realm of new technologies – from synthetic biology to the use of AI, responsible research and inclusive innovation, and agriculture and food.
Drought tolerance in Wheat This project aims to implement and validate drought tolerance genes in wheat in a commercial cereal breeding context.
Fast-tracking next generation gene-editing/transgenesis technologies for future Australian crop development This will be part of a series of projects that aim to be transformational for crop biotechnology, enabling simple plant transgenesis/gene-editing en masse.
Industry organisations are welcome to get in touch with proposals for additional projects.
Questions? Simply email us and we’ll get back to you.
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GENETIC & FIELD TECHNOLOGIES FOR FUTURE CROPS
The ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crops Development is funded by the Australian Research Council under its Industrial Transformation Training Hubs Program to run from 2022 to 2027.
It is a collaboration of universities, government research agencies and the Australian grains sector’s key stakeholders in training, R&D, social engagement, responsible innovation, breeding, marketing and delivery.
It also has international partners in gene-editing, SynBio, crop breeding, and, other partnerships for co-developing deep technologies to transform the agriculture industry and global food security.