Available postgraduate projects

How to apply:

Email an expression of interest to Maxine Piggott (maxine.piggott@cdu.edu.au), including:

• A curriculum vitae, including the name and contact details of two academic referees
• A brief statement describing your background, research experience and interest in this research project

Application closing date: 

Open until filled

Supervisory and Advisory Team: 

Maxine Piggott (CDU), Amanda Padovan (CSIRO)

Enquiries: 

For more information on the research project, please contact:

• Amanda Padovan (Research Scientist, Agriculture and Food, CSIRO Canberra)phone (02) 6246 4156, email amanda.Padovan@csiro.au, or
• Maxine Piggott (Professor of Tropical Biosecurity, Charles Darwin University, Darwin)phone (08) 8946 6763, email maxine.piggott@cdu.edu.au

Download the complete PhD program advertisement document here:

Diversity and Inclusion: At CDU, we actively celebrate our diversity. We innovate, embrace new ideas, and act with courage and kindness. We’re about what we can give to the world rather than what we take, and we believe in the transformative power of education. We work hard to make sure every member of our university community feels that they truly belong. Understanding that it is through our focus on our people and leveraging our differences that will make CDU the most connected university in Australia, we are striving to ensure that our culture and our community are inclusive of all our staff, students and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a culture where everyone feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals. You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.

Scholarship and financial support:

• 3 years full-time appointment
• Darwin
• Domestic Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend
• $44,190 per annum tax free

About the opportunity: 

Charles Darwin University has a scholarship available for an exciting PhD project aligned with two distinctive research programs on the biosecurity of northern Australia and the biodiversity of offshore islands. The PhD will use cutting-edge genetic tools to analyse insect blood meals as a novel way to uncover hidden patterns of biodiversity and track potential disease risks in northern Australia. By identifying the animals that insects feed on, you will gain unique insights into the presence and movements of wildlife across diverse landscapes, while also monitoring vectors that may carry pathogens affecting people, livestock, and ecosystems. The project offers the opportunity to develop advanced skills in molecular ecology, bioinformatics, and field ecology, while contributing directly to biodiversity conservation and biosecurity. This PhD project is based at Charles Darwin University and will work closely with partners on an ARC-funded project on the biodiversity of the Northern Territory's offshore island estate, including remote communities, ranger groups and Land Councils. You will help pioneer approaches that integrate biodiversity discovery with disease surveillance, building knowledge critical for safeguarding northern Australia’s unique environment and communities.

About you: 

• First-Class Honours or equivalent in Molecular Biology, Ecology, Genetics, or a related field
• Strong skills in molecular laboratory methods (e.g., DNA/RNA extraction, PCR/qPCR, sequencing library preparation)
• Willingness to participate in extended periods of remote fieldwork
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• An Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen (domestic student)

Desirable criteria:

• At least one publication in a recognised peer-reviewed journal
• Background in entomology, wildlife ecology, or vector biology
• Experience with bioinformatics or willingness to learn (metabarcoding, sequence analysis, data management)
• Experience with remote fieldwork

How to apply:

• A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability (max two pages).
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and relevant work and/or research experience.

Application closing date: 

Open until filled

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest and a CV to Professor Maxine Piggott at maxine.piggott@cdu.edu.au. For more information, please contact Maxine on 08 8946 6763. Note: The supervisor will invite applicants who pass the expression of interest stage to submit scholarship applications before the closing date. Please do not submit any applications unless you are invited by the supervisor.

Download the complete PhD program advertisement document here:

Diversity and Inclusion: At CDU, we actively celebrate our diversity. We innovate, embrace new ideas, and act with courage and kindness. We’re about what we can give to the world rather than what we take, and we believe in the transformative power of education. We work hard to make sure every member of our university community feels that they truly belong. Understanding that it is through our focus on our people and leveraging our differences that will make CDU the most connected university in Australia, we are striving to ensure that our culture and our community are inclusive of all our staff, students and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a culture where everyone feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals. You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.

The Research Institute for Northern Agriculture (RINA) is seeking applicants for an exciting PhD opportunity focused on advancing tropical protected cropping systems and hydroponic production in Northern Australia. This project will investigate innovative approaches to growing temperate leafy greens and Indigenous plant species under challenging tropical conditions, with the aim of improving local food production, supporting Indigenous enterprises, and strengthening food system resilience in the Northern Territory. This project offers two PhD scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship and financial support

For domestic candidates

• Research Training Program (RTP) stipend ($35,489 per annum from 2026, indexed annually and tax exempt) for up to 3 years from commencement, open to Australian citizens/residents or New Zealand citizens (domestic students).
• RTP Fee Offset (full tuition fee waiver)
• Stipend top-up of $16,000 per annum for 3 years
• Relocation assistance may be available for up to $2,000

For international candidates

• Full tuition fee waiver
• Stipend of $35,489 per annum from 2026 (indexed annually) funded by the project for 3 years
• A maximum of one international appointment is available. Students will need to demonstrate outstanding academic performance.

About the project

Northern Australia faces significant challenges in producing reliable, affordable, and locally grown fresh food due to extreme climate, biosecurity pressure, and supply chain dependence on southern Australia. Novel protected cropping technologies offer a pathway to overcome these constraints by improving crop resilience, water efficiency, and productivity under tropical conditions.

This project will evaluate and demonstrate Orlar International’s microbial-active hydroponic system, combining advanced greenhouse design, substrate technology (Orlarock), and microbial consortia to support the cultivation of both temperate leafy greens and Indigenous plant species in the Northern Territory.

The project is a collaboration between Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Orlar International, with links to Indigenous bush food enterprises and broader food system development initiatives in northern Australia. The project is funded by Future Food Systems CRC.

We are recruiting two PhD candidates to work as part of a closely integrated research team, collaborating with academic supervisors, industry partners, and technical staff:

Position 1 – Tropical Protected Cropping and Hydroponic Systems Focus on system performance, greenhouse climate management, crop productivity, and scaling of hydroponic systems under tropical conditions.

Position 2 – Microbial Enhancement of Hydroponic Indigenous Crops Focus on microbial consortia development, plant–microbe interactions and improving yield and quality (including active compounds) of Indigenous crop species.

Both students will work at CDU Casuarina in Darwin within an integrated experimental program combining greenhouse trials, microbial analysis, and industry translation. The two PhD candidates are expected to collaborate closely throughout the project and contribute collaboratively to shared research activities.

About you

• You have a research background in a relevant discipline such as agricultural science, horticulture, soil/microbial biology, plant physiology, controlled environment agriculture, environmental science or related fields.
• Skills or an interest in developing skills in one or more of the following fields: Hydroponics and protected cropping systems
• Plant physiology and crop production
• Microbial ecology / plant–microbe interactions
• Laboratory analysis (e.g. plant compounds, microbial profiling)
• Environmental monitoring or greenhouse systems
• Strong motivation to work in an industry-linked, applied research project
• Would ideally be based or willing to relocate to Darwin.

Benefits to you

• Generous financial supports for project costs and stipend top-up (for domestic candidates)
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge tropical hydroponic systems
• Direct collaboration with industry partner (Orlar International)
• Engagement with Indigenous enterprises and food systems development
• Strong pathway to impact in agriculture, sustainability, and food security
• Development of skills in controlled environment agriculture, microbial technologies, crop physiology, and tropical greenhouse systems
• Opportunity to contribute to scaling innovation across Northern Australia and Southeast Asia
• Access to Student Support Services and Wellbeing Support Program
• Supportive, multidisciplinary research environment at CDU

Selection criteria

• First Class Honours or equivalent in agricultural science, horticulture, plant science, microbial biology, or related fields
• Experience with protected cropping, plant-microbe interactions, or indigenous bush food are highly desirable
• Demonstrated ability or willingness to: Undertake greenhouse and experimental work in tropical conditions
• Work effectively in a collaborative research team environment
• Engage with industry partners and multidisciplinary stakeholders
• Contribute to shared experimental design, data collection, and reporting
• Contribute to project reporting
• Must meet CDU PhD entry requirements
• Must meet the RTP (domestic or international as relevant) scholarship requirements

How to apply

Email an expression of interest to Prof. Stephen Xu (stephen.xu@cdu.edu.au) including:

• A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
• A brief statement, not exceeding 500 words, describing your background, research experience and interest in this research project/area
• Names and contact details of two academic referees
• Academic transcript
• Sample writing work like first-authored publications, thesis, project report, etc.

Application closing date 

11:59pm (AEST) 1 August 2026

Commencement date 

March 2027

Supervisory and Advisory Team 

Stephen Xu (CDU), Lyndal Hugo (Orlar International)

Enquiries 

Professor Stephen Xu (stephen.xu@cdu.edu.au, 0423 261 276)

Diversity and Inclusion 

At CDU, we actively celebrate our diversity. We innovate, embrace new ideas, and act with courage and kindness. We’re about what we can give to the world rather than what we take, and we believe in the transformative power of education. We work hard to make sure every member of our university community feels that they truly belong. Understanding that it is through our focus on our people and leveraging our differences that will make CDU the most connected university in Australia, we are striving to ensure that our culture and our community are inclusive of all our staff, students and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a culture where everyone feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals. You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.

View the position advertisement (PDF, 376.12 KB)

About the project:

Native pastures of northern Australia are botanically diverse, supporting hundreds of species of grasses, forbs, trees and shrubs. Species have different nutritive value, digestibility and some have anti-methanogenic properties. Current carrying capacity methodology assumes cattle eat only the herbaceous layer of vegetation including grasses and forbs, but in many environments, such as in Central Australia and the Victoria River District, trees and shrubs are known to contribute a significant component of the diet through browse. However, which species they are eating and under what conditions is not well known. Current methods used to assess non-grass dietary components are of limited use in detecting browse in northern Australia. This PhD is part of a larger Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC project -Low Methane Feedbase Program- which aims to quantify the anti-methanogenic properties of northern Australian vegetation, but this information will be of limited applicability without knowing how these species currently contribute to cattle diets across northern Australia. Greenhouse gas emission estimates cannot be truly representative for the system without this. 

This PhD will use field collected data, including faecal environmental DNA, to understand the contribution of different plant species in the diets of cattle in northern Australia. The student will then use these data along with anti-methanogenic compound concentrations and nutritional value data to test current greenhouse gas estimates for Australia’s north. This PhD is an excellent opportunity to work closely with government and industry partners including researchers from the Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The student will ideally be based in Darwin or Alice Springs. 

Project benefits:

• $44,190 per year stipend ($34, 190 RTP stipend + $10k top up)
• Relocation allowance ($2k)

About you:

Essential skills and experience: 

• Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident
• Honours or Masters degree containing a substantial research component in a relevant field such as agriculture, environmental science or similar
• Australian driving license or the capacity to easily get one
• Experience collecting field samples
• Ability and willingness to travel to regional and remote locations 

Desirable skills and experience: 

• Experience with molecular techniques and/or environmental DNA analysis
• Modelling experience using greenhouse gas, crop, or animal models

How to apply:

Please provide:

• A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
• A brief statement not exceeding 500-words in length that explains why you are interested in this research project/area

Send these documents to Beth Penrose (beth.penrose@cdu.edu.au).

For more information, please email Beth or contact her on 0436 839 662

Application closing date: 

Open until filled

Diversity and Inclusion: At CDU, we actively celebrate our diversity. We innovate, embrace new ideas, and act with courage and kindness. We’re about what we can give to the world rather than what we take, and we believe in the transformative power of education. We work hard to make sure every member of our university community feels that they truly belong. Understanding that it is through our focus on our people and leveraging our differences that will make CDU the most connected university in Australia, we are striving to ensure that our culture and our community are inclusive of all our staff, students and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a culture where everyone feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals. You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.