Centre for Crop Science - Summer Research Programs

Primary Supervisors: 

Dr Cresha Nadar | c.nadar@uq.edu.au
A/Prof Sudhir Yadav | sudhir.yadav@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr. Cresha Nadar (c.nadar@uq.edu.au) prior to submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (25 - 30 hours per week); on-site for SimaPro access (St Lucia Campus) & flexible working arrangements

Precision fermentation (PF) is emerging as a promising platform for production of food proteins. However, environmental impacts depend strongly on methodological choices such as system boundaries, allocation approaches, and co-product handling. This project aims to build and analyse life cycle scenarios for Pichia-based protein production. Students will develop an LCA model, and test sensitivity to various parameters. The project provides exposure to sustainability assessment tools and highlights the importance of methodological choices in shaping conclusions.

Expected outcomes: 

• Understand the principles of LCA and how they apply to biotechnology.
• Learn to translate process data into LCA inputs.
• Gain skills in scenario and sensitivity analysis, including allocation approaches.
• Develop critical thinking about methodological choices in sustainability assessments.

Suitability: This project is open to applications from masters students or 3rd – 4th year undergraduate students with a background in any of the following: biotechnology,biological sciences, chemistry, agricultural science, chemical sciences, environemental sciences, engineering sciences,food science, or crop science.

Primary Supervisors: 

Dr Cresha Nadar | c.nadar@uq.edu.au
A/Prof Sudhir Yadav | sudhir.yadav@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr. Cresha Nadar (c.nadar@uq.edu.au) prior to submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (25 - 30 hours per week); on-site for SimaPro access (St Lucia Campus) & flexible working arrangements

Lactoferrin is a high-value functional protein with applications in nutrition and therapeutics. Conventionally, it is extracted from bovine milk, but precision fermentation (PF) is being developed as an alternative supply route. This project involves a structured literature review to compare conventional dairy-based production with emerging PF methods. Students will map the key stages of lactoferrin extraction from milk, identify inputs (energy, materials, utilities), and highlight challenges in scale-up and process economics. Findings will be benchmarked against reported PF processes to assess advantages and knowledge gaps.

Expected outcomes: 

• Develop skills in systematic literature review and comparative process analysis.
• Gain understanding of dairy-based protein purification workflows and associated resource demands.
• Learn how PF may offer alternative supply chains and associated sustainability/economic implications.
• Improve scientific writing and critical evaluation of bioprocess literature.

Suitability: This project is open to applications from masters students or 3rd – 4th year undergraduate students with a background in any of the following: biotechnology,biological sciences, chemistry, agricultural science, chemical sciences, environemental sciences, engineering sciences,food science, or crop science.

Primary Supervisors: 

Dr Bruno Rafael | b.moreira@uq.edu.au
A/Prof Sudhir Yadav | sudhir.yadav@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Bruno (b.moreira@uq.edu.au) prior to submitting an application.

Duration: 6 weeks (20 hours per week); On-site (St Lucia Campus)

This project sits at the crossroads of sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation. It addresses the growing need for renewable, low-emission energy by turning waste streams, such as agricultural residues and invasive weeds, into value. The aim is to design digital methods that discover and optimise “premium recipes” for biomass fuel pellets that are efficient, clean, and safe. The guiding hypothesis is that when materials science data meet advanced machine learning, hidden relationships emerge between composition, blending strategies, and performance. By modelling these interactions, pellet quality can be predicted, and optimal recipes identified, without physical trial-and-error. The approach is entirely computational.

Expected outcomes: This project provides a structured opportunity to build skills across multiple disciplines. Students can expect to develop competencies in systematic review, biomass science, sustainability assessment, multivariate data organisation, and interpretable predictive machine learning. They will engage in digital pellet formulation and learn how to apply AI methods to optimise waste-to-energy pathways. The work will focus on handling existing datasets, applying computational tools, and producing well-documented outputs. As part of the project, students may be asked to prepare a final report or presentation. In some cases, there may also be scope to contribute to research publications.

Suitability: This project is open to applications from 3rd – 4th year undergraduate, or masters students with a background in any of the following: materials science and engineering, environmental science, agricultural science, data science/machine learning, and chemical engineering

Primary Supervisors: 

Dr Gulshan Mahajan | g.mahajan@uq.edu.au
Prof Bhagirath Chauhan | b.chauhan@uq.edu.au 

Interested students must contact the supervisor/s (b.chauhan@uq.edu.au, g.mahajan@uq.edu.au), prior to submitting an application. Evidence of supervisor support is required to be uploaded as part of the application process.

Duration: 6 weeks (20 - 30 hours per week); On-site (Gatton)

This desktop review will explore the potential of millet cultivation in northern Queensland, focusing on agronomic feasibility, climatic suitability, and production systems. It will assess the nutritional and health benefits of millets to support consumer awareness and dietary diversification. The study will analyze emerging market opportunities in food, feed, and processing industries. Finally, it will map pathways for industrial partnerships to strengthen value chains and regional economic growth.

Expected outcomes: Students will learn about millet production in northern Queensland, their health benefits, and market opportunities. They will build skills in research and industry linkages. As outputs, they will prepare a review report, a short summary for stakeholders, and recommendations for future work.

Suitability: This project is open to applications from 3rd – 4th year undergraduate, or masters students with a background in any of the following: biological sciences, agricultural science , agronomy, food science, life sciences. marketing and business science..

Primary Supervisors: 

Dr Gagandeep Singh | g.gagandeepsingh@uq.edu.au
Prof Bhagirath Chauhan | b.chauhan@uq.edu.au 

Interested students must contact the supervisor/s (b.chauhan@uq.edu.au, g.gagandeepsingh@uq.edu.au), prior to submitting an application. Evidence of supervisor support is required to be uploaded as part of the application process.

Duration: 6 weeks (20 - 30 hours per week); On-site (Gatton)

This study aims to examine how water quality affects the effectiveness of herbicides. Factors such as pH, hardness, impurities etc. in water can reduce herbicide performance by altering their chemical behaviour. Experiments will be conducted using different water types to test herbicide efficacy on common weeds. The results will help improve herbicide application practices and support better weed control in agriculture.

Expected outcomes: Participants in this project will learn how water quality factors—such as pH, hardness, and impurities—affect herbicide performance in weed control. They will gain hands-on experience in designing and conducting experiments, preparing herbicide solutions with different water types, and assessing weed response. The project will enhance their skills in data collection, analysis, and scientific reporting. Deliverables include conducting experiments, maintaining detailed records, analyzing results, and preparing a final report summarizing findings and recommendations. Overall, the project will build practical knowledge in weed science and herbicide application techniques.

Suitability: This project is suitable for 3rd–4th year undergraduate or master's students in biological sciences, agricultural science, agronomy, horticulture, agribusiness, food science and life sciences, Ideal applicants are motivated, detail-oriented, and eager to explore both scientific and practical aspects of herbicide efficacy and its relevance to agriculture and agribusiness.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Mahen Sabampillai |  m.sabampillai@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Mahen Sabampillai (m.sabampillai@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (20 - 30 hours per week); desktop work + Some field work (Gatton)

A virtual germplasm for pigeonpea is a digitized platform that stores, organizes, and manages comprehensive information about pigeonpea genetic resources used in ongoing pigeonpea improvement project. It includes data on varieties, landraces, breeding lines, and wild relatives along with their associated traits, geographic origin, genetic markers (if available), and performance under various environmental conditions. This system allows researchers and breeders to access, analyze, and compare germplasm entries virtually, enabling faster selection of parental lines, efficient breeding decisions, and enhanced conservation of genetic diversity. It can also integrate simulation tools and genomic prediction models to evaluate virtual crosses or ideotypes without physical trials.

Expected outcomes:  Undertaking a project on virtual germplasm for pigeonpea offers numerous academic and professional benefits for a student. It provides an opportunity to develop interdisciplinary skills by combining knowledge from plant breeding, genetics, data management, and digital agriculture. By working with real-world germplasm data, the student gains hands-on experience in analyzing genetic diversity, evaluating agronomic traits, and managing large datasets—skills that are highly relevant in modern agricultural research.

Suitability: Undergraduate students: 3rd year and above, and Master Students.

Primary Supervisor: Dr Mahen Sabampillai |  m.sabampillai@uq.edu.au

Please contact Dr Mahen Sabampillai (m.sabampillai@uq.edu.au) before applying.

Duration: 6 weeks (20 - 30 hours per week); desktop work + Some field work (Gatton)

This project focuses on characterising pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) genotypes for Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) analysis, a critical step in the process of variety registration and securing Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR). The student will be involved in analysing morphological, phenological, and seed-related traits of candidate lines, comparing them against known reference varieties, and developing standardised descriptors based on international DUS guidelines (such as UPOV). The outcome will support the ongoing pigeonpea breeding program by providing data and protocols necessary for formal variety release, while also offering the student practical experience in plant phenotyping, data management, and the regulatory aspects of crop improvement.

Expected outcomes:  Participating in this project will give students hands-on experience in crop phenotyping, data collection, and trait analysis, while learning about the regulatory frameworks involved in plant variety protection. They will gain practical skills in experimental design, trait recording, and data interpretation, as well as insight into the process of variety registration and the application of DUS testing in plant breeding. This experience will be valuable for students interested in careers in plant science, agriculture, or crop improvement research.

Suitability: Undergraduate students: 2nd year and above, and Master Students.