Analytics for the Australian Grain Industry PhD Scholarships

Do you have a passion for using advanced analytics to revolutionize agriculture? Are you interested in pursuing a PhD that contributes to food security and sustainability? The Analytics for the Australian Grain Industry (AAGI) PhD Scholarships offer a unique opportunity to contribute to real-world agricultural innovations.

📖 About the AAGI PhD Scholarships

The Analytics for the Australian Grains Industry (AAGI) initiative is a five-year strategic partnership (2023–2027) aimed at enhancing the profitability and global competitiveness of the Australian grains sector through advanced analytics.

Key Details:

• Funding: $36 million investment by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), with a total co-investment of $56 million from the University of Adelaide, Curtin University, and The University of Queensland.
• Objective: Leverage machine learning, data fusion, and statistics to support grain growers in making data-driven decisions.
• Program Duration: 2025–2027.
• Number of Scholarships: Nine full-time PhD studentships.

In 2025, three PhD students will be recruited for the following projects:

📊 Project 1: Unifying On-Farm Data and Crop Models to Enhance Tactical Crop Decisions

Summary:

This project aims to integrate on-farm data and process-based crop models (e.g., APSIM) to improve water and nitrogen use efficiency in Australian cropping systems. The research will employ emerging data science approaches such as:

• Uncertainty quantification
• Data assimilation
• Optimization under uncertainty
• Physics-informed machine learning

The focus will be on nitrogen management decisions, which are critical for closing the gap in water-limited production potential.

Project-Specific Prerequisites:

• Strong quantitative skills.
• Preferred qualifications: Masters or Honours degrees in:
  • Data Science
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Agricultural or Environmental Engineering
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Management and Information Technology

Number of Scholarships:

• Two

Contact Person:

• Dr. Matthew Knowling

🧬 Project 2: Efficient Construction and Visualization of Pangenomes for Crops with Large Genomes

Summary:

This project focuses on developing dynamic programming computational methods for pangenome assembly of diploid and polyploid crop species. The research will:

• Benchmark methods against graph-based approaches.
• Combine algorithm development with computational programming for large population genomes.
• Collaborate with Curtin University and the University of Western Australia to develop a web-based visualization tool for pangenomes and structural variations.

Project-Specific Prerequisites:

• Strong Java programming skills.
• Preferred qualifications: Masters or Honours degrees in:
  • Computer and Data Science
  • Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Number of Scholarships:

• One

Contact Person:

• Dr. Mario Fruzangohar

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or international students eligible for a PhD at the University of Adelaide.
• Hold a qualification equivalent to an Australian First-Class Honours degree, such as:
  • A prior research thesis (minimum six months full-time credit) with an excellent mark.
  • A first-author publication in a peer-reviewed international journal.

💰 Benefits

• Stipend: Tax-free stipend of $35,300 per annum (indexed annually) for up to 3.5 years.

📝 Application Process

Expressions of Interest:

Submit your application via email to Ms. Sandy Khor with the scholarship name in the subject line. Include the following documents:

• Evidence of Australian/New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency (if applicable).
• Degree certificates (testamurs).
• Academic transcripts.
• Translations of non-English documents.
• Evidence of English language proficiency.
• Curriculum vitae (CV).

🌐 Application Portal

For more details and to apply, visit the official AAGI PhD Scholarships page.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that directly impacts the agricultural sector. Don't miss your chance to be part of this transformative initiative!

• The scholarship will be for up to 3.5 years.
• Tax-free stipend of $35,300 (indexed annually) per annum.