ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity
About
Biosecurity is a critical part of Australia’s efforts to prevent, respond to and recover from pests and diseases that threaten the economy and environment.
The ARC Training Centre in Plant Biosecurity aims to transform the plant biosecurity sector to protect Australia’s natural and productive ecosystems. It will commence in 2024 and is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre Program for five years.
Our objectives
- Train the next generation of innovators and leaders in plant biosecurity to secure Australia’s agricultural, horticultural and environmental sectors from pests and diseases.
- Innovate and develop novel approaches and technologies for pest and disease surveillance, detection and identification through training-driven platforms.
- Address the societal outcomes associated with transformational biosecurity changes through engagement with a new cohort of trained researchers and leaders.
- Build an enhanced environment of interaction and collaboration between plant biosecurity stakeholders in industry, Government and universities.
Our aims
We will deliver highly skilled plant biosecurity leaders and innovators to protect Australia’s multibillion-dollar industries and quality of life.
Study with us
The Training Centre will be recruiting 17 PhD students and 4 Early Career Researchers to be future leaders in biosecurity. Students will receive generous stipends, a travel budget, and a one-year placement with partner organisations from across Australia.
Truly transdisciplinary, we welcome students with a research interest in biosecurity or plant health. This includes topics in plant pathology, sensing and diagnostics, social science, AI/ML, psychology, entomology, public policy, and more.
We are excited to create an excellent student experience that will include training retreats and friendships with a cohort of students that can last a lifetime. Students can study in Canberra, the capital of Australia, or in tropical north Queensland, and can start their PhD in 2024, 2025 or early 2026.
Interested? Send us a short email with your research interests and contact information to plantbiosecurity@anu.edu.au. We will contact you to discuss your interests.
Our partners
The Centre has 28 partner organisations from Australia, New Zealand, Timor-Leste and Brazil.
- CSIRO
- Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
- South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
- Northern Territory Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
- NSW Department of Primary Industries
- WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- Plant Health Australia
- Sugar Research Australia
- Forest and Wood Products Australia
- Hort Innovation
- Wine Australia
- Australian Wine Research Institute
- Herbert Cane Productivity Services Limited
- Burdekin Productivity Services Limited
- Australian Seed Federation
- Australian Banana Growers Council Inc
- Bioplatforms Australia Ltd
- Diversity Arrays Technology Pty Ltd
- AutoWeed Pty Ltd
- Data Effects Pty Ltd
- New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research
- Government of Timor-Leste, Directorate of Quarantine and Biosecurity
- University of Sao Paulo
- Our university partners: The Australian National University, James Cook University and the University of Canberra.
Services
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Themes
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Facilities
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Visit us
We welcome visitors, and invite you to contact us for a meeting.
Contact
Location
The Research School for Biology, Linnaeus Building (Building 134)
The Australian National University
Canberra, ACT 2602 Australia