Available PhD Opportunities
We always welcome applications from prospective Postgraduate HDR students
If there are no advertised postgraduate projects, please send us an email at sta@jcu.edu.au Tell us why you are interested in our research and include a copy of your CV.
Current Project Opportunities:
PhD research project opportunity -
Unpacking production environments and microbiomes
Contact Supervisor: Professor David Bourne
Location: James Cook University, Townsville 4814, QLD Australia.
Other Supervisors: Professor Dean Jerry and others
PhD (International/Domestic). PhD scholarship is available as part of project. Applicants should be familiar with the Higher Degree by Research Requirements.
Project summary
Location: James Cook University, Townsville 4814, QLD Australia.
Other Supervisors: Professor Dean Jerry and others see https://www.jcu.edu.au/arcsta/teams
PhD (International/Domestic). Applicants will need to apply for a JCU competitive Research Scholarship and should be familiar with the Higher Degree by Research Requirements.
Project summary
This project will deliver new knowledge on the interplay of bacterial microbiomes on the productivity and health of farmed species, how microbiomes link to hatchery and production environments, pathogens prevalence and management practices. It aims to penultimately develop on-farm decision support applications based on artificial intelligence and machine learning that integrate all relevant data streams.
While these projects are fully funded, student financial support is not available, thus the successful candidates are expected to apply for a competitive Postgraduate Research Scholarship funding offered through James Cook University. Potential candidates preferably should have at least one peer-reviewed scientific publication and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. Candidates should also demonstrate an interest in aquaculture systems with knowledge and skills in areas such as microbiology, genetic or genomic approaches, animal nutrition, bioinformatics or artificial intelligence and machine learning applications to biological systems. The positions are open to both Australian and non-Australian citizens. Please send inquiries and expressions of interest (cover letter and CV) sta@jcu.edu.au by 20th August 2023.
PhD research project opportunity -
Cryopreservation for advanced reproductive nutritional techniques
Contact Supervisor: Doctor Leo Nankervis
Location: James Cook University, Townsville 4814, QLD Australia.
Other Supervisors: Professor Dean Jerry and others
PhD (International/Domestic). PhD scholarship is available as part of project. Applicants should be familiar with the Higher Degree by Research Requirements.
Project summary
Location: James Cook University, Townsville 4814, QLD Australia.
Other Supervisors: Professor Dean Jerry and others see https://www.jcu.edu.au/arcsta/teams
PhD (International/Domestic). Applicants will need to apply for a JCU competitive Research Scholarship and should be familiar with the Higher Degree by Research Requirements.
Project summary
This PhD opportunity is offered within the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture through Genetic Solution. The Project will involve work with three species (pearl oysters, barramundi, and grouper) with an aim to enhance production control in the field of aquaculture through the implementation of cryopreservation techniques. Cryopreservation offers the potential to facilitate 1:1 crosses at different time intervals and enables the production of larval batches without relying on spawning broodstock. While methods for sperm cryopreservation already exist, cryodamage often occurs, requiring the development of cryoprotection methods. On the other hand, preserving fish eggs and embryos has been less successful due to challenges such as ice crystal formation and chilling injuries. Additionally, fish eggs face complications with low membrane permeability, which may be addressed through techniques such as electroporocity, the precise timing of permeability, or optimizing broodstock nutrition. By addressing these challenges, this project aims to optimize cryopreservation techniques for both sperm and eggs, ultimately improving production control in aquaculture.
While these projects are fully funded, student financial support is not available, thus the successful candidates are expected to apply for a competitive Postgraduate Research Scholarship funding offered through James Cook University. Potential candidates preferably should have at least one peer-reviewed scientific publication and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement. Candidates should also demonstrate an interest in aquaculture systems with knowledge and skills in areas such as microbiology, genetic or genomic approaches, animal nutrition, bioinformatics or artificial intelligence and machine learning applications to biological systems. The positions are open to both Australian and non-Australian citizens. Please send inquiries and expressions of interest (cover letter and CV) sta@jcu.edu.au by 20th August 2023.
PhD research project opportunity -
Understanding final oocyte maturation and ovulation in barramundi – a pathway to enhanced animal breeding
Contact Supervisor: Jarrod Guppy
Location: James Cook University, Townsville 4814, QLD Australia.
Other Supervisors: Professor Dean Jerry and others
PhD (International/Domestic). PhD scholarship is available as part of project. Applicants should be familiar with the Higher Degree by Research Requirements.
Project summary
Reproductive control is a fundamental requirement for the successful commercial production of an aquaculture species and is necessary to reduce operational risk of broodstock facilities. Furthermore, methods to directly control the pairing of superior performing individuals are required for the efficient and effective operation of any genetic improvement program. This project will explore the environmental, physiological and genetic processes underlying final oocyte maturation and ovulation of precocious female barramundi to improve reliability and predictability of access to eggs of elite lines. By doing so, the techniques for obtaining the commercial quantities of fully mature oocytes needed in artificial fertilisation procedures will be developed. The outcomes of this project will allow the rapid integration of precocious female barramundi into ongoing industry breeding programs, helping to increase the rate of genetic gain achieved.
This PhD project is embedded within both The ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture through Genetic Solutions, and the ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship - Novel reproductive approaches to de-risk and transform barramundi breeding.
Enquiries to: sta@jcu.edu.au
Honours research project opportunity -
Development of a rapid non-invasive biomarker assay for barramundi sex
Contact Supervisor: Jarrod Guppy
Location: James Cook University, Townsville 4814, QLD Australia.
Other Supervisors: Professor Dean Jerry and others see
Honours. Applicants should be familiar with the Honours Student Research Requirements
Project summary
Project summary
Managing broodstock populations requires a clear understanding of the reproductive status, identity and relationship between individuals. Barramundi broodstock are protandrous hermaphrodites causing several challenges for management of breeding populations by changing sex from male to female mid-way through life. No visual characteristics can be used to determine the sex of broodstock and when not in reproductive condition retrieval of sperm or eggs to confirm sex is not possible. As such, rapid, reliable and non-invasive methods are required to sex individual barramundi broodstock and determine their reproductive status. This Honours project will develop a swab-based biomarker assay for application in research and commercial production of barramundi.
This Honours project is embedded within both The ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture through Genetic Solutions, and the ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship - Novel reproductive approaches to de-risk and transform barramundi breeding.
Enquiries to: sta@jcu.edu.au
Honours research project opportunity -
Understanding Barramundi sperm quality
Contact Supervisor: Jarrod Guppy
Location: James Cook University, Townsville 4814, QLD Australia.
Other Supervisors: Professor Dean Jerry and others see
Honours/ Masters. Applicants should be familiar with the Honours Student Research Requirements and/or the Higher Degree by Research Requirements.
Project summary
The production of viable offspring is underpinned by the quality of male and female gametes involved in fertilisation and can be heavily influenced by several factors including the individual’s age, feeding and environment. In aquaculture systems, examining gamete quality is necessary to identify reproductively competent broodstock and select individuals to optimise the success of spawning events. However, from recent research the quality of male barramundi gametes at the point of pre-spawning selection does not predict the overall spawning success. This Honours/Masters project will examine the differences in gamete quality before and after pre-spawning selection to determine if the assessment or breeding approaches used are influencing overall spawning outcomes, and will also identify if there is an optimal time to collect milt samples for long term storage.
This Honours/Masters project is embedded within both The ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Supercharging Tropical Aquaculture through Genetic Solutions, and the ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship - Novel reproductive approaches to de-risk and transform barramundi breeding.
Enquiries to: sta@jcu.edu.au
