Maximising vanilla production through increased understanding of physiology and biochemistry

Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

Lead Researcher: Assoc. Prof. Robert Sharwood

About the project

The ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture is offering a research scholarship to a highly motivated PhD candidate to work within a research group addressing the optimisation of vanilla growth and yield at the Hawkesbury Campus of Western Sydney University.

This project is part of the ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture collaboration between industry and research institutions to develop new approaches for the protected cropping industry. The project will contribute to the education and training of students and personnel for the protected cropping industry.

This project aims to optimise vanilla cultivation in a dome using by investigating the environmental conditions to improve carbon assimilation. It involves combining day and night physiological measurements performance of the plants and generate a full understanding of the carbon and water balance for effective photosynthesis. New information is required on the stomatal regulation of vanilla plants and how they respond to changes in defined environmental conditions including water deficit. These findings will ultimately guide the selection of environmental conditions for optimal photosynthesis for plant growth.

This project is a collaboration between the ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture (TC-SaSH) and Australian Vanilla Plantation (AVP). The project will be conducted at the Western Sydney University node of the TC-SaSH on the Hawkesbury Campus. The project is led by Associate Professor Robert Sharwood, supported by a team of plant physiologists at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE). HIE is a research institute within WSU and has rapidly become a research leader in plant environmental and ecological research, with a strong reputation for delivering research outcomes of the highest quality. This research will uncover the opportunities to improve Vanilla production inside a protected environment.

What does the scholarship provide?

Domestic Candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $37,000.00 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
International candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $37,000.00 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs. Those with a strong track record will be eligible for a tuition waiver and an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Policy
Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by the Institute.

Eligibility criteria

We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds, who are keen to apply their skills to key issues in crop physiology in protected facilities. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in photosynthesis and using state-of-the-art equipment to assess parameters that influence carbon assimilation.

The successful applicant should:

Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework master's with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Master's degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to plant biology including carbon assimilation, photosynthetic biochemistry, gas-exchange and tools used in plant phenotyping.
Demonstrate experience with advanced statistical methods and data-set analysis using statistical software packages.
Have experience in working with R Studio and scientific computing packages to analyse large datasets for interpretation.
Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake the research and progress in a timely manner, deliver research output to industry partner and achieve the set-out goals.
Demonstrate an ability to write manuscripts and reports on a regular basis to communicate scientific findings.
Have good communication skills and be able to work effectively in multidisciplinary team.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficienc

International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency

How to apply

Review the project’s eligibility criteria. You will need to provide in your application a document which explains how you satisfy the projects eligibility criteria.
Contact the lead researcher listed to discuss your eligibility, the project’s requirements and your intention to apply. You should email them to introduce yourself, describe your qualifications and experience, and express your interest in their research project. If they are interested, you may want to arrange a phone call, video call or meeting to discuss your application. You will need to request a letter of support from the lead researcher to support your application for the scholarship.
Submit an online application for the project by logging into the Online Portal and selecting 'Project Scholarship'. Note: You do not need to submit an application for Doctor of Philosophy or Research Scholarship.

Incomplete applications or applications that do not conform to the above requirements will not be considered.

For questions and advice about the research project, please contact the Lead Researcher; Assoc. Prof. Robert Sharwood: R.Sharwood@westernsydney.edu.au

For questions and advice about the scholarship application process, please submit your scholarship enquiry:

Currently enrolled WSU HDR candidate, please submit your enquiry here

Not currently enrolled WSU HDR candidate, please submit your enquiry here

Applications close 31 August 2025

*Applications close at 11.59pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).