PhD Postions in AgriBio

It's PhD recruitment time in Australia and here at AgriBio we have a lot of positions available with full scholarships for fees and stipends. Personally I have two projects in mind. The first is on transcriptional regulation during seed germination, following on  from the paper we just published. The second is an extension of our 2016 paper on shoot-root sRNA signalling and DNA methylome regulation. Email me if you are interested!!

Following below is a copy of our departmental advert. My colleagues are keen to recruit too.

The Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences at La Trobe University has several PhD studentships (fees and stipend) available. These can be in any area of our research. Current interests include:
 

• Enhancing food production. This is an urgent global priority and we are focused on enhancing legume production, since this: (i) provides a healthy source of protein for humans, (ii) reduces our reliance on expensive nitrogen fertilizers (by forming a symbiosis with bacteria that fix nitrogen from the atmosphere), and (iii) reduces atmospheric and groundwater pollution.  Penny Smith’s lab are trying to identify genes that underpin the regulation of nitrogen fixation, as well as its relationship to other limiting nutrients like phosphorus.
• Cell walls enabled plants to colonise land and survive in a range of different environments. The wall is the key structural element in plants, controlling strength, rigidity and flexibility and, in turn, the texture of edible plant parts. The cell wall/cell surface is also a key sensor of the external environment. Tony Bacic and Monika Doblin are interested in understanding all aspects of wall biology with the aim of engineering walls “fit for purpose” biotechnologically!
• Ever wondered how a venus fly trap senses the touch of a fly and shuts its trap to capture it? Kim Johnson’s lab investigates the pathways downstream of a key cell surface sensor in plants that feels touch and responds to change plant growth. 
• Mucosal IgA plays a key role in resistance to nematode infection; the aim of this project is to determine the mechanism of action and the molecular targets. The research in Mike Stear’s lab will lead to better methods of diagnosis and disease control.
• James Hunt is an agronomist and crop physiologist specialising in water limited productivity of dry-land cropping and mixed farming systems. His research focuses on using combinations of management and genetics to increase productivity and profitability of grain based farming systems.
• Mat Lewsey’s lab studies plant genomics and epigenomics, applying systems biology approaches to understand internal signalling and environmental interactions. Most recently we have investigated how seeds wake-up, by activating their genome during germination, and how plant shoots send signals to control DNA methylation in roots.
• Kim Plummer’s lab investigates host specificity determinants of apple and pear scab fungi.  Students will us a systems biology approach to reveal factors involved in pathogenicity, host recognition and host resistance responses in apple and pear scab fungi (Venturiaspp). Assays will be conducted to elucidate functions of pathogen gene candidates that have been identified using: comparative genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and cytology, of a range of infection scenarios (resistant and susceptible interactions).
• Seed storage proteins are mobilised upon germination and used to fuel the early stages of seedling growth. Using a combination of genetics, cell biology and biochemistry, this in Tony Gendall’s lab project will investigate the role of proteases in germination.
• Caixan Tang’s interests include soil acidity and acidification, plant-soil interactions, rhizosphere chemistry and plant root exudation, subsoil constraints, and nutrient dynamics in natural and agro-ecosystems. 
• Travis Beddoe has extensive interests in biochemistry and crystallography, as well as livestock-pathogen interactions.
• Jim Whelan’s lab conducts extensive research in agricultural bioscience, including diverse aspects of plant energy metabolism such as the impact of energy and stresses on plant quality and yields and the effectiveness of phosphate fertilisers on specific plants and in current agricultural practices.
• Terry Spithill’s team aim to develop a novel liver fluke vaccine for cattle by use of hybrid recombinant antigens and protein adjuvants to improve immunogenicity. We will also test new antigens expressed in young flukes as vaccines and evaluate their ability to synergise with hybrid vaccines. The major outcome will be validation of a new vaccine for fluke control in cattle, leading to more sustainable beef and milk production in Australia and in developing countries.
• Warwick Grant’s lab primary research is on onchocerciasis (river blindness) a parasitic disease that is the world's second leading infectious cause of blindness.  The primary focus is in sub-Saharan Africa, where millions of people are at risk of contracting the disease. 

 
We are based at The Centre for AgriBioscience (AgriBio), Bundoora. This is a 25 year partnership between government, university and biotech companies in one environment to develop and drive innovative research in sustainable agriculture to meet the increasing demands for food with a growing world population.
 
La Trobe University is one of Australia’s research leaders and the largest provider of higher education to regional Victoria. We have been ranked in the world’s top 400 universities by all three major independent ranking agencies, and moved to #56 in the Times Higher Education Young Universities Rankings. 
 
La Trobe is recognised nationally and internationally
for high-quality teaching and research.
In the most recent Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment, La Trobe ranked equal best university in Australia for Biological Sciences and the best university in Australia for Agricultural and Veterinary Studies.
 
The deadline for domestic applicants is 31st October and for international applicants 30th September. To qualify for a full fees and stipend scholarship, applicants must have La Trobe University H1 honours or equivalent.
 
Studentships will be for an early 2018 start. Interested applicants can contact supervisors directly or enquire with the Graduate Research School (GRS).
 
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/animal-plant-and-soil-sciences
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/research/future/apply
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/researchers/grs