Employment Opportunities
Please note that positions are listed in order of nominal closing date. Positions whose closing dates are approaching will be at the top of the list, but note that positions without a specified closing date are listed separately at the bottom of this list. Job numbers appear before each entry, identifying chronological order of inclusion on this page.
Enquiries can be directed to
No. 225
Bioinformatics Helpdesk Officer
ACPFG School of Agriculture, Food and Wine ,University of Adelaide.
Based at the Waite campus of the University of Adelaide in South Australia the Bioinformatics Helpdesk Officer will work at the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG).
You will be part of ACPFG’s bioinformatics team and provide bioinformatics support and training for researchers, focussing on areas in bioinformatics including basic principles of sequence analysis and alignments, database searches, and the use of bioinformatics software in general. In addition, you will be expected to undertake support projects as part of the service which may include some scripting and webpage design/maintenance.
This fixed-term position is available immediately until 31 December 2010.
Please refer to the duty statement and selection criteria or alternatively contact Mrs Diane Brennan, telephone: ++61 8 8303 7423 or email: .
For further information regarding the position contact Dr Ute Baumann
Position will remain open until filled.
APPLICATIONS :
•Include your résumé/Curriculum Vitae.
•Address the selection criteria.
•Quote the relevant reference number.
•Include residency status.
•Include the names, addresses and/or email details of three referees.
Email applications to
SELECTION CRITERIA:
•Degree in Life Sciences or Information techchnology/Computer Science
•Demonstrated experience in using bioinformatics tools such as BLAST, SignalP, Expasy.
•Demonstrated experience in querying biological databases and data mining.
•Experience in Plant Science and especially comparative genomics.
•Experience using Windows XP and Office 2007.
•The ability to work across different disciplines; switch focus as dictated by day-to-day priorities; work independently yet consistently in a high pressure environment
•A team player with excellent inter-personal and communication skills and ability to work with people with different backgrounds is required.
Liaison with researchers at the other nodes of ACPFG (Melbourne and Brisbane) will require some interstate travel and telephone consultancy.
REQUIREMENTS:
• A degree in Life Sciences or Information Technology/Computer Science.
•Demonstrated experience in using bioinformatics tools such as BLAST, SignalP and Expasy.
•Demonstrated experience in querying biological databases and data mining.
•Experience using Windows XP and Office 2007.
SALARY:
(HEO5/6) $46,011 — $60,705 per annum.
Plus an employer superannuation contribution of 17% applies.
DESIRABLE:
•Scripting/ Programming skills in languages such as Perl, Python or VB, VBA.
•Experience with web technology (Javascript, CSS, HTML, RSS, PHP).
•Basic knowledge in statistics.
DUTY STATEMENT:
•Support the ACPFG bioinformatics research group and provide the first point of contact for staff and students at all ACPFG nodes.
•Assist ACPFG researchers and students with their day-to-day Bioinformatics problems.
•Assist with the design and delivery of training courses in bioinformatics for ACPFG staff and students
• Installation of bioinformatics software, quality assessment, customization and trouble-shooting.
•Provide bioinformatics software advice and assistance.
•Undertake small projects, including developing and maintaining web pages, as part of a team.
•Keep informed on the state-of-the-art bioinformatics technologies and software.
•Perform other cognate duties as directed.
Closing date: Friday, 31 December 2010
Positions without a nominated closing date
PhD scholarship — plant disease resistance
The Australian National University, Canberra
Protecting tomato crops from Fusarium wilt through the efficient application of new genetic resources.
The tomato industry is a major horticultural industry in Australia, and Queensland is the major producer of tomatoes for the fresh food market. In Queensland, the tomato industry has expanded in the face of the threat that Fusarium wilt could re-emerge as a major disease problem. This research project will use the latest DNA sequencing technology to generate information about the signalling pathways and genes activated by the tomato I-7 gene for Fusarium wilt resistance and to develop molecular genetic markers for the mapping and marker-assisted breeding of I-7. This research will also examine the timing and effectiveness of resistance conferred by I-7 using a strain of the Fusarium wilt fungus tagged with green fluorescent protein to visualise fungal development inside the plant root. The information gained about I-7 will improve the breeding and durability of resistance to Fusarium wilt in tomato. It will also improve our understanding of the mechanisms used by plants to defend themselves against vascular wilt diseases.
This project is funded by an ARC Linkage Project grant awarded to Dr David Jones, Division of Plant Science, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra and Mr Des McGrath, Queensland Plant Industries and Fisheries
The student appointed to the project will carry out a microscopic analysis of fungal development in resistant and susceptible plants; RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and next-generation sequencing; bioinformatic analysis of digital gene expression data; SNP identification, marker development and bulk segregant analysis; development of markers for marker-assisted selection of I-7; and the genetic and physical fine mapping of I-7. The student will be based at ANU and will receive training in confocal fluorescence microscopy, molecular biology techniques, bioinformatic analysis and genetic mapping techniques.
Applicants should have a relevant First Class Honours degree or equivalent postgraduate qualification with basic skills in molecular biology and bioinformatics and must satisfy the English language requirements for admission to ANU. Applicants should submit an up-to-date CV, including contact details for two or three academic referees, and a covering letter addressing their suitability for the position to . Applications close February 12, 2010 and the successful applicant would be expected to start as soon as possible after an offer is made. The stipend will be at the rate of $26,669 per annum for three years (tax free).
PhD programs in Algal Eco-Physiology
School of Biological Sciences, Monash University
Two PhD positions are available in the area of algal ecophysiology under the supervision of Professor John Beardall.
1) Ecophysiology of inorganic carbon acquisition by the toxic cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii.
This project is supported by a scholarship linked to an ARC Linkage project with South East Queensland Water (SEQW). The successful applicant will carry out research examining the role that changes in water alkalinity and elevated CO2 levels are likely to have on inorganic carbon acquisition, photosynthesis and growth of this organism. Studies will also investigate the role of light intensity in regulating these phenomena. The project will add to our understanding of factors controlling toxic cyanobacterial blooms and improve the ability of SEQW to manage their water supplies.
2) The role of the frustule in inorganic carbon utilisation by diatoms.
Diatoms account for 25% of global primary productivity and form the base of many marine and freshwater food webs. They are encased in a porous silica matrix called a frustule, which within a species is reproduced exactly down to a few nanometers, but among species is highly variable. The functions of these nanostructures are unknown.This project (which is part of an ARC Discovery project combining expertise in microfluidics, biochemistry, silica chemistry, nanoimaging and the response of diatoms to natural and anthropogenic gradients to produce an integrated understanding of the role of frustule nanostructures in the success of diatoms.) will involve studies of the relationship between frustule nanostructure, carbonic anhydrase activity and inorganic carbon (CO2 and bicarbonate) utilisation in diatoms exposed to a range of environmental factors. The student will interact strongly with parallel investigations on other aspects of frustule structure and function carried out in Prof. Jim Mitchell’s laboratory at Flinders University. A scholarship will be provided to suitably qualified applicants from the Faculty of Science Dean's Postgraduate Research Scholarship program.
These projects fit well with the range of existing projects on a carbon acquisition and metabolism in microalgae in Professor Beardall’s laboratory (see http://www.biolsci.monash.edu.au/staff/beardall/index.html) and are well supported by available facilities and a dynamic laboratory environment.
Applicants for both positions should be Australian or New Zealand citizens and have a First Class Honours degree or its equivalent. Applications should take the form of a recent CV, including contact details for 2 academic referees, and a covering letter stating why you think you are suited to the position. Applications close Jan 12 2010 and the successful applicants would be expected to start as soon as possible after Feb 1st 2010.
Further details may be obtained from Prof John Beardall (john.beardall@sci.monash.edu.au)
PhD scholarship — savanna afforestation / deforestation
Australian Research Council — Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry),Charles Darwin University
Impacts of deforestation and afforestation on greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon and water resources in north Australian savanna
An exciting research program aimed at understanding the implications of land use change upon the greenhouse gas balance and water resources of tropical savannas in northern Australia has been funded by the Australia Research Council’s Linkage program. We are looking for a suitable candidate to undertake key elements of this research program as part of an Australian Postgraduate Award.
Over the last decade, north Australia have been viewed as a potentially exploitable resource, given issues of salinisation, soil acidification, over-allocation of water resources and rainfall declines in south Australian agricultural regions. Improved pastures and plantation forestry are two land uses that may expand in the NT. Clearing of savanna vegetation would be required, with implications for greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, water resources and dry season environmental flows. This project will track greenhouse emissions and water use from uncleared and cleared savanna that has been converted to pasture and timber plantations, providing critical understanding of the environmental implication of such land use change in savanna.
This ARC Linkage grant (2010—2012) is administered by Assoc. Prof. Lindsay Hutley of Charles Darwin University (CDU) in the Northern Territory, but also involves Assoc. Prof. Jason Beringer (Monash University), Assoc. Prof. Stefan Arndt (University of Melbourne), Dr Stephen Livesley (University of Melbourne ) and Dr Guy Boggs (CDU). The program has strong industry relevance with the Commonwealth Government Department of Climate Change, the Northern Territory Government NT Department of Business and Employment, NT Department of Natural Resources Environment, the Arts and Sport, NT Department of Regional Development, Primary Industries, Fisheries and Resources all contributing to the project.
Two elements of the wider ARC project are available as research topics for the APAI candidate depending upon student background and interest.
(a) Project 1 will examine CO2 and non-CO2 trace gas fluxes as a function of afforestation and deforestation.
(b) Project 2 will examining differences in stand water use of savanna and exotic plantation timber species.
Modelling of greenhouse gas exchange or tree water use can be incorporated depending on student skills and interests. The PhD project will be supervised by appropriate members of the research team.
The scholarship is available through any of the partner Universities (CDU, Monash and Melbourne), however, the successful candidate will be expected to undertake extended periods of field research within the NT.
Selection criteria
Applicants need a relevant honours or postgraduate qualification at a standard that meets the University’s PhD and scholarship entry requirements (minimum H2A average). Relevant previous study for the PhD scholarship would include environmental science, biology, chemistry, climatology, agricultural science or equivalent.
We are looking for people who have a demonstrated ability to work and think independently, but who are also excited by working within a cross-disciplinary team. The successful candidates need excellent communication skills and a demonstrated capacity to work in the field and in remote areas. For further project and application information, please contact Lindsay Hutley, email
PhD student position in Epigenetics
Australian National University , Canberra
Research Project description:
We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student to join our newly established and dynamic group working on epigenetics and reproductive development using the model plant Arabidopsis.
You will gain skills in small RNA cloning, genetic screening for mutants, positional cloning and cytogenetics. You will work along side a research fellow who is performing complementary research.
Essential Qualifications:
1) A degree in Agricultural Science, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Biotechnology or Science.
2)Obtained or expecting to obtain 1st Class grade in honours.
Desirable credentials
1) Have good communication skills.
2) Are independent and like to take initiative.
The laboratory is located in an open and collaborative research atmosphere with the Research School of Biology.The department has extensive modern facilities. The Research School of Biology, Australian National University (www.rsb.anu.edu.au) is an internationally renowned and dynamic research school that employs genomics, molecular genetics, and cytogenetics to unravel developmental processes in plants.
Start date:
Available from 1st January 2010.
Information:
Further information about the project from Dr. Iain Searle ()
Application:
Email your 1 page letter of motivation, CV and names of two references to;
Postdoctoral Fellow — Plant Physiologist / Grapevine Rootstocks
CSIRO Plant Industry, Adelaide Australia $69K — $76K plus superannuation Ref. No. 2008/607
CSIRO Plant Industry seeks to benefit Australia’s agri-business industries through research that improves international competitiveness and sustains the resource base. This is achieved by applying strategic research in the plant sciences to promote profitable and sustainable agri-food and fibre industries, develop novel plant products and improve natural resource management.
Plant physiology studies will be undertaken by the Postdoctoral Fellow, in both the field and in intensive glasshouse situations. The aim of the research is to determine the potential for combining water use efficiency, drought tolerance and capacity for salt exclusion in grapevine rootstocks to achieve a positive impact on vine performance under abiotic stress.
As a Postdoctoral Fellow at CSIRO, you will take part in a rigorous training and mentoring scheme which will provide a basis for you to pursue longer term career opportunities. As part of this program, you will be required to communicate the outputs of your research to collaborators, industry and the scientific community.
Key capabilities we are seeking for this position include:
1) An ability to design and implement innovative experiments;
2) The aptitude to generate, analyse and collate data into a consistent and quantitative body of knowledge;
3) Great communication and interpersonal skills;
4) Capacity to maintain a high standard of personal performance and produce quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.
To be successful in this role you will need:
1) A PhD in plant sciences (or related area) with demonstrated ability to undertake successful research in plant science;
2) A well developed understanding of plant physiology, including plant water relations, and the measurement of key parameters;
3) Demonstrated experience with plant physiological tools and procedures and in design and implementation of innovative experiments;
4) Proven ability to generate, statistically analyse and collate data into a consistent and quantitative body of knowledge;
5) Demonstrated ability to use your initiative, to apply novel approaches in solving problems, to maintain a high standard of personal performance and produce quality outcomes;
6) Demonstrated ability and commitment to publish results of scientific research in various media and to present work to a range of audiences;
7) A current driver’s license.
Owing to the terms of CSIRO Postdoctoral Fellowships, you will be ineligible for this position if you have more than 3 years relevant postdoctoral experience.
For selection documentation and details on how to apply visit www.csiro.au/careers or call 1300 301 509.
PhD full scholarship on impact of elevated CO2 on plant/soil interactions
University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne, $25,000 p.a., 3 years full time
A PhD Scholarship (funded by DPI-Victoria) is immediately available within the Melbourne School of Land and Environment at the University of Melbourne. Increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations are one of the main factors of climate change and will have a profound influence on plant growth and belowground/soil processes. This project will utilise a Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) facility that has been established in Horsham to study the effect of elevated CO2 on plant/soil interactions in grain crops. The project will quantify the distribution of photosynthetic assimilate and nitrogen to above and belowground compartments, study soil nitrogen dynamics and the distribution of plant assimilates into different soil carbon pools using sophisticated stable isotope technologies. Information generated in the project will significantly enhance our understanding how farming systems can be adapted to future climates. The scholarship provides the student with the opportunity to not only undertake cutting edge research using world class research infrastructure but also help contribute to the future directions of Australian agriculture.
The position is based at either the Melbourne or Creswick university campuses with frequent fieldwork at the Soils FACE facility in Horsham (Victoria).
REQUIREMENTS: Appropriate Honours 1 or high 2A (or equivalent) undergraduate degree For additional information or queries please contact Stefan Arndt (sarndt@unimelb.edu.au) or Roger Armstrong (Roger.Armstrong@dpi.vic.gov.au).
PhD Scholarship ARC Linkage Project
University of Western Australia
Phytophthora cinnamomi is the disease agent responsible for the dieback that has devastated large areas of native Australian bushland, destroying faunal habitat and increasing erosion risks. Preventing the mechanical spread of the disease has proven expensive and ineffective. The only effective chemical treatment available is phosphite, which is not ideal because it interferes with the phosphate nutrition of plants and is converted into phosphate in the soil. Phosphate is a key plant nutrient, yet Australian native plants live on some of the most phosphate impoverished soils in the world; enriching these soils with phosphate may have detrimental effects for our biodiversity. We believe that there is a link between the adaptations that allow plants to live on these soils and their susceptibility to Phytophthora dieback. A PhD scholarship is available for a student with interests in plant physiology, biochemistry and / or molecular biology to determine how phosphite interferes with plant phosphate nutrition and prevents Phytophthora infection. The focus will be on the use of both Australian native plants and Arabidopsis thaliana as model systems. Depending on student interests, the project may involve any combination of nutritional, physiological, transcriptomic, proteomic and / or metabolomic approaches, as well as the construction and analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis plants, to investigate plant nutrition.
The project is a joint University of Western Australia — Murdoch University project cooperatively funded by the Australian Research Council, Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia), Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia, Alcoa World Alumina, and TiWest. The student will be based among world-leading plant biologists in the School of Plant Biology at The University of Western Australia in Perth as part of a multidisciplinary team including plant pathologists and molecular biologists from Murdoch University, and the industry partners. The student will receive a tax-free stipend of $26,000 and a generous operating allowance. In addition, the student will be encouraged to take advantage of additional funding opportunities to travel to national and international conferences and research laboratories to interact with other scientists and students.
The successful applicant will be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident holding a High Distinction (H1) or Distinction (2A) Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree (or equivalent) and must have a basic understanding of the mineral nutrition, rhizosphere interactions, physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry or pathology of plants. For further information regarding the position please contact: Winthrop Prof Hans Lambers, 08 6488 7381, email: or Assoc Prof Patrick Finnegan, 08 6488 8546, email: .
Applicants should submit a written application together with their CV, an official copy of their academic transcript and the names and contact details for two referees (including at least one university referee). Please send applications to Assoc Prof Patrick Finnegan, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, CRAWLEY WA 6009 or email: .
PhD Scholarship ARC Linkage
Murdoch University
Phosphite Induced Resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi.
The oomycete pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi is causing a devastating pandemic of native Australian plant species which threatens the sustainability of many native ecosystems with consequent effects on fauna. Many of the threatened plant species are on the verge of extinction as they are unique to Australia. The disease can be managed using the chemical phosphite, an analogue of phosphate. Application of phosphite makes plants to resistant to infection. A position is available for a postgraduate student with interests in plant molecular biology and plant pathology to investigate how phosphite induces resistance in plants. The focus will be on the use of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system. The project will involve the use of transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomic approaches and the construction of transgenic plants to investigate how resistance develops.
The project is a joint Murdoch University-University of Western Australia project funded by the Australian Research Council in partnership with Dept. of Environment and Conservation, Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia, Alcoa World Alumina, and TiWest. The student will be based with the Phytophthora research team at Murdoch University in Perth but will be working with a multidisciplinary team including plant ecophysiologists, plant molecular biologists, and plant pathologists from the University of Western Australia, and the industry partners. A tax free stipend of $25,118 and a generous operating allowance will apply. In addition there will be opportunities for travel to national and international conferences as well as additional funding opportunities and interaction with other scientists and students.
The successful applicant should hold a First Class or Upper 2A Honours, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree (or equivalent) and must have a basic understanding of molecular biology, plant pathology or microbiology, and, or the willingness, interest and ability to acquire these skills. They should also be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident. For further information regarding the position please contact: Prof Giles Hardy, 08 9497 9385, email or Dr Philip O’Brien, 08 9360 2785, email:
Applicants are requested to submit an application in writing together with their CV, a copy of their academic transcript and the names and contact details for two referees (including at least one university referee). Please send applications to Dr P. O’Brien, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150 (: )
PhD Opportunity in Bioenergy and Plant Molecular Biology
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, the University of Newcastle, NSW
The Plant Science Group at the University of Newcastle is seeking a highly motivated student to join a research team investigating Sweet Sorghum physiology and genetics towards improving Sweet Sorghum for bioethanol production.
Production of bioethanol for use as a transport fuel to replace petroleum is an emerging industry in Australia. Sweet Sorghum is a high-energy C4 crop that is water use efficient, drought resistant and able to grow on marginal soils, hence, it is an ideal feedstock for bioethanol production. The PhD project will investigate genes and traits which influence sugar yield, and carbon capture and partitioning in Sweet Sorghum, towards improving Sweet Sorghum as a bioethanol feedstock.
Scholarship applicants should have Honours or Masters in the area of molecular biology, plant physiology, biotechnology or a related biological science. The candidate must have a good academic record and Australian citizenship or permanent residency.
For more information, or to apply, contact: Professor Chris Grof
ph: (02) 4921 5858
Email:
Or Dr Caitlin Byrt
ph: (02) 4921 5725
Email:
Postdoctoral Fellow — Plant-Soil Interface
CSIRO Plant Industry, WA
Postdoctoral Fellow — Plant-Soil Interface
CSIRO Plant Industry, WA
$69K — $76K plus Superannuation
Ref. No. 2009/392
An opportunity exists within CSIRO Plant Industry's Molecular and Physiological Wheat Breeding Group for an early career scientist to undertake novel and cutting edge research on the impact that crop plants have on key rhizosphere N transformations, in particular the process of nitrification. This research is part of a larger project that aims to identify wheat germplasm with enhanced N uptake, grain yield and grain protein content. The key capabilities we are seeking in the successful candidate include:
The ability to work in the field of soil/plant chemistry and agronomy, specifically at the plant root-soil interface; A good knowledge of microbiological transformations of N in soil and N uptake by plants; The capacity to present research findings both orally and in writing to a range of audiences.
You should be comfortable doing scientific research in the field as well as in glasshouse and laboratory environments. A strong commitment to team work will be highly regarded.
The Molecular and Physiological Wheat Breeding Group is a research unit of CSIRO Plant Industry. The Group is made up of a large team of research scientists and technicians located in Canberra, Brisbane and Perth. Our aim is to identify or develop germplasm carrying specific traits and trait combinations for improved performance in a range of Australian wheat-growing environments. We aim to make germplasm available in a form readily useable by commercial breeding programs as parents or in direct evaluation for commercial release.
The successful appointee must have completed the requirements for a PhD. Owing to terms of the fellowship; candidates must not have more than 3 years relevant Postdoctoral experience.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to apply for all CSIRO positions.
Postdoctoral Fellow — Crop Nutrition
CSIRO Plant Industry, WA
Postdoctoral Fellow — Crop Nutrition
CSIRO Plant Industry, WA
$69K — $76K plus Superannuation
Ref. No. 2009/393
An opportunity exists within CSIRO Plant Industry's Molecular and Physiological Wheat Breeding Group for an early career scientist to undertake novel and cutting edge research. This research forms part of a project aimed at the identification of wheat germplasm with enhanced N uptake, grain yield and grain protein content. Field trials varying genotype and N will be sown in Eastern and Western Australia. The focus of the research will be on the identification of wheat germplasm with enhanced N uptake capacity, grain yield and grain protein content, and will explore the mechanism of increased N capture.
The key capabilities we are seeking in the successful candidate include: The ability to work in the field of crop physiology and agronomy, specifically at the soil-root interface; A good knowledge of microbiological transformations of N in soil and N uptake by plants; Keen interest in taking research outcomes through to application; The capacity to present research findings both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences.
You should be comfortable doing scientific research both in the field as well as in laboratory environments. A strong commitment to team work will be highly regarded. The Molecular and Physiological Wheat Breeding Group is a research unit of CSIRO Plant Industry. The Group is made up of a large team of research scientists and technicians located in Canberra, Brisbane and Perth. Our aim is to identify or develop germplasm carrying specific traits and trait combinations for improved performance in a range of Australian wheat-growing environments. We aim to make germplasm available in a form readily useable by commercial breeding programs as parents or in direct evaluation for commercial release.
The successful appointee must have completed the requirements for a PhD. Owing to terms of the fellowship, candidates must not have more than 3 years relevant Post-Doctoral Experience.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to apply for all CSIRO positions.
Postdoctoral Fellow — Plant Molecular Biologist
CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra Ref: 2009/462
Applications are invited for a three-year Postdoctoral Fellowship to investigate opportunities for improving the phosphorus-use efficiency of plants through the application of gene technology.
We are looking for a PhD graduate with sound experimental experience in plant molecular biology. You will have the opportunity to develop and use new technologies in plant biology aimed at furthering our understanding of the phosphorus (P) nutrition of plants. You will join a multidisciplinary research team based at CSIRO Plant Industry in Canberra. The project is supported by Industry partners and will contribute to core research being conducted in CSIRO Plant Industry’s research program on ‘High Performance Crops for Australia’.
You will use routine methodologies in plant molecular biology to generate and evaluate transgenic plants for improved P utilization. Primarily the work will utilize a set of previously characterized genes that are known to be associated with plant traits and mechanisms that affect the availability or P in soils.
Opportunity also exists for you to undertake original fundamental research into the understanding of how plants respond to P—deficiency, including; novel gene discovery, promoter analysis and factors that regulate gene expression. It is expected that you will work closely with other groups including the wheat-transformation team to develop the transgenic plants. In addition, you will be required to collaborate with fellow team members on the phenotypic and agronomic assessment of the plants. It is expected that you will have strong input into the design and conduct of the research and will assume overall scientific responsibility for the outcomes of the work. Where necessary you will collaborate with other members of the research team and will appropriately interpret key results and contribute to the presentation and publication of research findings.
CSIRO is strongly committed to Diversity and offers Flexible Working Arrangements and enhanced leave entitlements.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to apply for all CSIRO positions.
CSIRO prefers all applications to be lodged via our online careers portal.
Email/late applications will not be accepted. www.csiro.au/careers
PhD Studentship
CSIRO Plant Industry and the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research
CSIRO Plant Industry and the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research are offering a PhD studentship to conduct research in the systematics of Australia’s Weeds of National Significance with a focus on Mesquite.
Mesquite (Prosopis ssp.) is a highly invasive weed that contributes to environmental degradation and has substantial economic and social impacts in many countries, including Australia. As part of the CERF National Taxonomy Research & Information Network (www.taxonomy.org.au) project on systematics of environmental weeds we are funding a PhD research project on the origins and diversity of Mesquite in Australia. The project will use the collection resources of the Australian National Herbarium and it’s partner agencies together with those of weed management agencies. We will employ a variety of molecular systematic techniques, including DNA sequencing, microsatellites and AFLP’s to identify Mesquite species present in Australia, including the composition and structure of hybrid populations. The project will also investigate the consequences of hybridisation among Mesquite species for the evolution of invasiveness in the Australian context.
This PhD project will be hosted by the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research in Canberra, ACT.
More information and application materials can be obtained from the CSIRO careers website at https://recruitment.csiro.au/asp/job_details.asp?RefNo=2009%2F64
PhD Scholarship in Plant Molecular Biology Modifying plant small RNA metabolism for enhanced transgene performance
CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra
Transgenic crops can produce a diverse range of products that are impossible to make in non-transgenic plants. The commercial success of these transgenic crops relies upon a sustained and high level of transgene expression spanning both the initial laboratory studies and extending many generations later to their eventual growth in the field. The performance of the current generation of transgenic crops can fail to meet these high standards and recent research points towards the important role that small RNA metabolism can play in limiting the performance of transgenes. We would like to appoint an enthusiastic Postgraduate Scholar to investigate the role of small RNA metabolism in transgene performance in plants, and more specifically, if modifying small RNA metabolism can improve transgene performance. The student will work predominantly with the model plant Arabidopsis and standard marker transgenes such as GFP, however, more complex multigenic traits will also be investigated. The project involves detailed plant molecular biology including DNA vector construction, isolation and characterisation of small RNA populations, assessment of wild type plants and mutants of RNA metabolism and the characterisation of transgene performance over many generations. The student will join a large and dynamic laboratory located at the CSIRO Plant Industry laboratories in Canberra, and will have strong links with the newly-formed Waterhouse Laboratory at the University of Sydney. The successful completion of the doctorate will see the student exposed to both world-standard academic and applied research. Selection Criteria 1. A high quality Honours or Masters degree or similar in the field of molecular biology, pathology or agriculture. 2. Demonstrated ability to be a self-motivated individual with an ability to achieve goals. 3. A willingness to learn new techniques, to keep accurate records of experiments and a demonstrated ability to write up results and ideas. 4. The project involves two laboratories based in Canberra and Sydney and the applicant will require good communication and interpersonal skills to facilitate a useful interaction. 5. A preparedness to use a high level of computer-aided design and analysis to achieve meaningful results. Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) Fellowships valued at $25 000/year More information: Dr Craig Wood (CSIRO Plant Industry) and Professor Peter Waterhouse (University of Sydney) or email
PhD Scholarship top ups in the Institute for Conservation Biology and Law at the University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong
The Institute has three top-up scholarships available to students who take up postgraduate scholarships in 2009 to work with academics within the institute. Successful students will receive an additional $5000 each year for a maximum of 3.5 years. The criteria for awarding scholarships will be based on; 1) the academic strength and research potential of the candidate and 2) research priorities within the institute. Students will be mentored within a large active institute and provided with opportunities to improve career skills and increase their breadth of understanding across all aspects of conservation biology. Research within ICBL is both fundamental and applied and covers areas within: Marine and Terrestrial Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Ecophysiology, Conservation Ecology and Genetics, Wildlife Management Environmental Law and Policy. Research is focused on both plants and animals in environments ranging from the hot tropics to Antarctica. Details of research interests of academics associated with the Institute can be found via the ICBL webpages. Applicants are advised to discuss their proposed research with potential supervisors prior to submitting an application for an APA or UPA scholarship. Web pages detail the application process for Australian Citizens or Permanent residents and for overseas students. No extra application form is necessary as decisions will be based on documentation received when applying for a scholarship and entrance to the degree.
Four ARC funded appointments for post-doctoral Research Associates and two PhD Scholarships
University of Western Australia and Murdoch University
Four appointments for post-doctoral Research Associates and two scholarships for PhD students are available on a project funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and a number of Industry partners (Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Power, Minerals and Energy Research Institute of Western Australia, Alcoa World Alumina, Worsley Alumina, BHP Billiton Ravensthorpe Nickel, Aztech and Tiwest). The ARC project will be executed at the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University. The Research Associate positions are in the areas of plant ecophysiology (position 2413), plant genetics and breeding (position 2414), plant molecular biology (position 2415) and plant pathology / molecular biology (position 2416). Details are available at https://www.his.admin.uwa.edu.au/jobvacs/external/academic/ads.htm. The two PhD scholarships (one at each of the collaborating universities) are in these same areas and details can be obtained from the same people listed in the advertisements. The successful applicants will work in a multidisciplinary team on various aspects of phosphate nutrition and the susceptibility to the phytopathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi, both in Australian plants and in Arabidopsis thaliana (as a model plants).
PhD Scholarship: Understanding macadamia growth and development through field studies and functional-structural modelling
The University of Queensland
The complexity of the phenology, physiology and canopy development of macadamia make it a challenging area of study. This project will provide the opportunity to apply the latest in functional structural plant modelling techniques to integrate existing hypotheses, use the resulting models to discover where our understanding is incomplete, then to investigate the system in field studies. This research will form the basis for future systems that can be applied to the broader tropical fruit and nut industry. Areas of particular interest in these studies of macadamia include: — Physiology, phenology and consistency of flowering — Carbon allocation, including aspects of carbon storage — Responses to planting density and pruning, including impact on the light environment These studies will involve the student in work with the macadamia industry from northern New South Wales to Bundaberg, and will be supported by expertise in horticulture and plant physiology from the Queensland Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The research will be undertaken within a group involved in similar projects on kiwifruit vine, pea, and soybean at The University of Queensland. The project is funded by the Australian Macadamia Society and Horticulture Australia Limited. See http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/ for further information on research study at The University of Queensland . Stipends available: — PhD scholarship of $20,000 p.a. for a full-time candidate — Top-up PhD Scholarship of $7,000 p.a. for a full-time candidate with an APA or similar scholarship. Duration: -Three years with a possible six month extension. Applications: Expressions of interest should be 1,000 words or less and address the following criteria: — Academic record, including performance in first degree; — Relevant plant science, horticulture or computational science experience (if any); — Research experience and publications (if any); — The names of two academic and/or research referees (with full contact details including email addresses and telephone numbers). Successful applicants must be accepted for PhD candidature at the University of Queensland (see http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/admission) and apply for associated UQ and APA scholarships. Contact: Dr Jim Hanan Phone: 07 3365–8234 Centre for Biological Information Technology University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Email: URL http://www.maths.uq.edu.au/~jim
PhD Scholarships in Plant Cell Physiology
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide
We are seeking adept and highly motivated individuals to join a research team investigating the mechanism and physiological significance of cell-specific calcium accumulation within the leaves of higher plants1,2. The research will involve a range of single-cell based biochemical and molecular assays, as well as the construction and physiological analysis of specific plant genetic mutants. The ultimate aim of the program is to improve the nutritional qualities of crop plants allowing the fortification of animal and human diets without adversely affecting crop plant physiology.
These projects are offered in Professor Roger Leigh’s laboratory following his appointment as the Head of the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine. Professor Leigh relocated his laboratory in October 2006 from the University of Cambridge where he was Professor of Botany. The PhD scholars will be part of an integrated research team and will be supervised jointly by Professor Leigh and Dr Matthew Gilliham, Senior Research Fellow, and involve close collaborations with the co-located research groups of Professor Steve Tyerman and Dr Brent Kaiser.
Scholarship applicants should have: a good BSc (Hons) degree in molecular biology, plant physiology or a related biological science; a demonstrated ability to work independently, and as part of a team; good communication skills and Australian or NZ citizenship or Australian permanent residency. The scholarships are available immediately for a minimum of three years and carry a living allowance of $25 000 per annum (tax free), in addition to project funding and travel.
International applicants are encouraged to apply for EIPRS or ASI scholarships, see http://www.international.adelaide.edu.au/scholarships/ for details
Contact Dr Matthew Gilliham, Plant Research Centre, PMB1, Glen Osmond, South Australia, 5064; email: ; tel: 08 8303 8145 for further information and application forms.
1. Karley AJ, Leigh RA and Sanders D (2000) TIPS 5, 465–470.
2. Storey R and Leigh R A (2004) Plant Physiol, 136, 3838–3848.
The scholarships are open until they are filled. A closing date of 30 August 2007 is applicable to international scholarships.
PhD Scholarship: Plant Energy Processes
Research School of Biological Sciences and School of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The Australian National University
A top-up scholarship is available for an interested student to join a research team investigating the photosynthetic function of plants. This dynamic research team is well funded and has a suite of excellent equipment. Possible projects in biophysical plant physiology include:
· Tracking photosynthetic electron transfers in vivo under environmental stress;
· Dynamic architecture of plant thylakoid membranes between light and dark;
· Entropy as a novel determinant of photosynthetic structure and function.
One $7000 top-up scholarship is available for a PhD student with an APA or ANU UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS . Students who do not yet hold scholarships but expect to achieve first-class honours standard should contact Prof. Fred Chow or A/Prof. Barry Pogson to discuss potential topics.
Please note APA/ANU UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS are only open to Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and permanent residents of Australia.
Email:
Web: www.rsbs.anu.edu.au/ResearchGroups/PBE/profiles/Fred_Chow/index.php
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Web: www.plantenergy.uwa.edu.au
www.anu.edu.au/bambi/people/academic/pogson.php
PhD Scholarships: Plant Ecophysiology and Ecosystem Processes
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney
Top-up scholarships of up to $8000 are available for exceptional students to join a research group investigating the functioning of plants and ecosystems. This new and dynamic research group is well funded and has a suite of the latest equipment. There are a range of potential topics from biochemical through to ecosystem scales. A few possibilities include:
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• Diffusion of CO2 within leaves *
• Uptake of organic nitrogen by Australian native plants *
• Response of desert plants to a temporally variable water supply *
• Response of alpine plants to a temporally variable nutrient supply *
• NO signalling and unravelling the complex response of plants to drought
The group has strong and active international links with Canada and France, and successful candidates may be given the opportunity of spending part of their candidature overseas.
Three $8000 top-up scholarships are available for PhD students with an APA or UPA scholarship. Students who don’t yet hold scholarships but expect to achieve first-class honours standard should contact Charles Warren to discuss potential topics.
Please note APA/UPA scholarships are only open to Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and permanent residents of Australia.
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