Centre for Horticultural Science - Summer Research Programs

Primary Supervisors: 

Dr Vivien Tsai | w.tsai@uq.edu.au
Dr Chris Brosnan | c.brosnan@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Vivien Tsai (w.tsai@uq.edu.au) before submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); On site (St Lucia)

Topically applied dsRNA is a promising, sustainable crop-protection tool. However, its effectiveness is often limited by insufficient RNA movement to distant leaves and roots, where phloem-feeding insects and root-parasitic nematodes acquire it. This project will test whether structured RNA and delivery-enhancing compounds improve vascular transport, while establishing an experimental workflow and preliminary evidence for more effective RNA-based pest control.

Key activities student will undertake: Synthesis structured RNA; apply RNA and selected delivery-enhancing compounds to plants; use fluorescently labelled RNA and vascular tracers to monitor RNA movement; conduct confocal microscopy; analyse imaging and molecular data.

Expected outcomes: The student will gain hands-on experience in fluorescence labelling, confocal microscopy, RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, data analysis. Expected output to establish a workflow for evaluating structure- and compound-assisted RNA delivery in plants.

Suitability: student with an interest in plant biology, molecular biology, entomology, nematology or a related discipline. Basic laboratory experience in molecular biology and plant experimentation would be advantageous.

Primary Supervisors: Dr Thao Ninh | t.ninh@uq.edu.au

Should you require any further information or have any questions, please contact Dr Thao Ninh ( t.ninh@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); on site (Long Pocket)

A population of T0 tomato plants has been generated using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing targeting susceptibility genes to improve resistance to Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). Before these plants can be advanced for further evaluation, molecular screening is required to confirm the presence of the CRISPR/Cas9 construct and determine whether mutations have been introduced at the intended target sites. This will allow successfully edited lines to be identified and selected for further study.

Key activities student will undertake: The student will collect leaf samples from T0 tomato plants, extract genomic DNA, and perform PCR screening using Cas9-specific primers. Selected target regions will then be amplified by PCR and sent for Sanger sequencing. The sequencing results will be analysed and compared with wild-type sequences to identify and characterise editing events at the target sites.

Expected outcomes: The student will gain practical experience in genomic DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and sequence analysis. They will develop an understanding of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and how molecular screening is used to identify and characterise genome-edited plants.

Suitability: This project is suitable for 3rd–4th year undergraduate or Master’s students with a background in plant science, biotechnology, molecular biology, or genetics. Basic laboratory experience is desirable but not essential, as training and guidance will be provided.

Primary Supervisor: 

Chris O'Brien | c.obrien4@uq.edu.au
Dr Anne Sawyer | a.sawyer@uq.edu.au

Please conact Dr Chris O'Brien (c.obrieb4@uq.edu.au) and Dr Anne Sawyer (a.sawyer@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); on site (Long Pocket)

Avocado is a high-value subtropical crop in Queensland. We have developed a tissue-culture propagation pipeline for avocado which allows us to grow hundreds of plants from a single cutting, accelerating the production of key rootstocks. The aim of this project is to investigate whether hydroponics can further accelerate growth of these rootstocks out of tissue culture. The project will involve learning how to grow plants in tissue culture and hydroponics.

Key activities student will undertake: Subculturing of plant material using asecptic techniques, hydroponic techniques

Expected outcomes: Scholars will be trained in a PC2 laboratory and learn plant tissue culture and hydroponic techniques. Students may be asked to give an oral presentation at the end of their project.

Suitability: The project is open to applications from students with a background in plant sciences and biotechnology.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Inigo Auzmendi | i.auzmendi@uq.edu.au

Please conact Dr Inigo Auzmendi (i.auzmendi@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); on site (St. Lucia Campus), or remotely

The analysis of fruit tree growth data can be useful to better understand the underlying physiology, as well as to parameterize mathematical models of fruit tree growth and phenology. However, the acquisition of plant growth data at short intervals, i.e., daily, can be a laborious task. The implementation of an automatic system could greatly benefit data acquisition in the field during the whole growing season. This project will include the design and implementation of a programable system using microcontrollers to record photographs automatically. This system will be installed and tested to monitor and collect growth data in macadamia or mango plants.

Key activities student will undertake: Design and implementation of a programable system using microcontrollers to record photographs automatically and tools for processing them.

Expected outcomes: Scholars may gain skills in tools for remote collaboration, electronics, programming, as well as plant physiology and data collection. Students may be asked to produce a report or oral presentation at the end of their project.

Suitability: This project is open to applications from 3rd and 4th year students with a background in engineering, computational science, and/or quantitative biology or previous experience with electronics and programming. It is suitable for students interested in understanding how sensors and automatisms can be applied to study biological systems.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Inigo Auzmendi | i.auzmendi@uq.edu.au

Please conact Dr Inigo Auzmendi (i.auzmendi@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); on site (St. Lucia), or remotely

Plants assimilate carbon for maintenance and growth through photosynthesis. Estimating photosynthesis is not straightforward in horticultural plants with a complex canopy structure like macadamia and mango, because individual leaves within the canopy present different photosynthetic characteristics. The project will involve the use of virtual plants to simulate photosynthesis of individual leaves and whole canopy. The results of these simulations will be used to evaluate several biochemical and physiological photosynthesis models under various management conditions.

Key activities student will undertake: Evaluate biochemical and physiological photosynthesis models under various management conditions. This might include creation of photosynthesis models and/or simulations of horticultural plant growth.

Expected outcomes: Scholars may gain skills in online tools for remote collaboration, simulation software, understanding photosynthesis, data analysis, fruit tree management, and computer simulations using virtual plants. Scholars with previous knowledge in programming can learn to develop their own photosynthesis models. Students may be asked to produce a report or oral presentation at the end of their project.

Suitability: This project is open to applications from 3rd and 4th year or master students with a background in plant science or agricultural science. Students might have previous programming knowledge or not.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Lily Whelehan | l.whelehan@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Lily Whelehan (l.whelehan@uq.edu.au) for more information. This project is part of a larger research project on threatened Australian species in the Hayward Lab at Long Pocket. The student will have the opportunity to interact with others on the team. Some lab work and training may also be done with Dr Madeleine Gleeson. 

Duration: 6 weeks (20 hours per week); On-site (Long Pocket)

Smooth Davidson plum (Davidsonia johnsonii) is an endangered and economically and culturally important species native to QLD and NSW. The species is listed as one of 30 priority plant species on the national threatened species action plan, as it is limited to only a handful of populations with low genetic diversity. As this species does not produce viable seed in the wild, micropropagation is an ideal approach to produce plant material for translocation projects and establish an ex situ collection to safeguard the remaining genetic diversity. While tissue culture protocols have been published for related Davidsonia species, no protocols exist for D. johnsonii. This project aims to develop a protocol for D. johnsonii, first by trialling existing protocols established in other Davidsonia. Nutritional composition of the tissue culture media will then be fine tuned using a design of experiments approach and response surface methodology, and a variety of plant growth regulators will also be trialled. This project is ideal for students interested in plant conservation biotechnology who would like to contribute to conserving an endangered plant species.

Key activities student will undertake: Tissue culture media preparation, initiation of glasshouse material into tissue culture, subculturing of material using asecptic technique, phenotyping and data collection, data analysis in R. 

Expected outcomes: By the end of the project the student will have a firm understanding of the tissue culture process and good aseptic technique. These skills are the foundation for most laboratory based plant science. The student will be involved in the discussion of experimental design and statistical analysis. The use of R for data analysis will be guided by the supervisor, giving a good foundation for using R for statistical analysis in future. The student will meet regularly with the supervisor, with the opportunity to develop professional communication skills. 

Suitability: An interest in plant conservation is the most important quality for a prospective student for this project. An attention to detail is desirable for successful aseptic technique. While previous experience with tissue culture or in a laboratory would be desirable, a willingness to learn is more important. 

Primary Supervisors: Dr Eveline Kong | e.kong@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Eveline Kong (e.kong@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (20 hours per week but flexible) on site (Long Pocket)

Accurately counting blueberries and stems is essential for predicting crop yield, but doing this by hand across large numbers of field photos is slow and labour-intensive. We collaborate with Rowan Uni to test two AI-based tools that could speed this up: a count detector app that automatically identifies and counts blueberries in photos, and an annotator app that lets users correct the AI's mistakes (removing wrong detections, adding missed berries) to progressively improve the model. This project asks: how accurate is the current AI model, and how much can we improve it by feeding it corrected, human-annotated data? The student will run photos through both apps, check AI counts, and help build a better training dataset for the model. Student input will directly improve the accuracy of a tool intended for real orchard use.

Key activities student will undertake:  

1. Process blueberry field photos through the count detector app and record outputs.
2. Use the annotator app to correct AI-detected counts (remove false detections, add missed berries) to build an improved training dataset.
3. Manually count stems from photos and use statistical tool to analyse field survey data. 

Expected outcomes: The student will gain hands-on experience with AI-assisted image analysis and data annotation for machine learning, along with introductory statistical skills.

Suitability: Students with an interest in plant/agricultural science, data science, or AI applications. No prior coding experience required — training on the apps will be provided. Attention to detail and comfort working through repetitive image-review tasks will support success.

Primary Supervisors: Dr Karl Robinson | k.robinson2@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Karl Robinson (k.robinson2@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week) on site (St Lucia Campus)

This research project will define phage discovery by isolating, identifying, EM visualising, and hopefully testing against several pathingen associated with bacterial caused crop losses.

Key activities student will undertake: Processing samples, isolating bacterial viruses, growing viruses, Bacterial growth. 

Expected outcomes: Microbiological techniques - Plating, plaque isolation, Field sampling, bacterial growth. Molecular biology techniques - extraction, PCR. Microscopy - EM.

Suitability: Student with an interest in microbiology, virology, molecular biology. Basic laboratory experience in microbiological techniques would be advantageous.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Vivian Rincon-Florez | v.rinconflorez@uq.edu.au

Please conact Dr Vivian Rincon-Florez (v.rinconflorez@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); on site (EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park)

Xaj is a bacterial pathogen affecting leaves and fruit of walnuts causing major yield losses. This project will isolate, identify and biocehmical characterization.

Key activities student will undertake: Isolation of organisms, storage, molecular and biochemical characterization

Expected outcomes: Plant pathology, isolation, PCR, biochemical characterization.

Suitability: Student with an interest in plant pathology, laboratory skills in molecular biology, classic microbiology.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Vivian Rincon-Florez | v.rinconflorez@uq.edu.au

Please conact Dr Vivian Rincon-Florez (v.rinconflorez@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); on site (EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park)

Passionfruit is a growing industry in QLD with many fungal, bacterial, oomycetes and viruses affecting production. This project will help to isolate and characterise pathogens during the summer period, test ways to control (chemical and biologica) for management improvement.

Key activities student will undertake: Isolation, molecular and microscopy identification, chemical control.

Expected outcomes: Plant pathology, isolation, PCR, disease management.

Suitability: Student with an interest in plant pathology, laboratory skills in molecular biology, classic microbiology.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Lilia Carvalhais | l.carvalhais@uq.edu.au

Please conact Dr. Lilia Carvalhais (l.carvalhais@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (30 hours per week); on site (Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park)

Custard apple production in Australia is affected by a range of diseases that can reduce fruit quality, lower yields, and cause significant economic losses for growers. Many of these diseases produce similar symptoms, making accurate diagnosis difficult but essential for effective management. This project aims to improve our understanding of the diseases currently affecting Australian custard apple orchards.

Key activities student will undertake: Document and process collected diseased custard apple samples; Isolate and purify fungal pathogens; Extract fungal DNA; Conduct PCR and gel electrophoresis; Submit samples for DNA sequencing; Data recording, analysis, reporting and writing.

Expected outcomes: The student will gain hands-on experience in plant disease diagnosis and plant pathology research which includes microbial isolation, culturing, and purification techniques, molecular biology methods (i.e., DNA extraction, PCR, and gel electrophoresis).

Suitability: Students with an interest in plant pathology, basic microbiology and molecular biology.