Centre for Horticultural Science - Winter Research Programs
General information on the program, including how to apply, is available from the UQ Student Employability Centre’s program website.
Optimisation of Callus Induction for Indirect De Novo Organogenesis in Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)
Primary Supervisor: Dr Thao Ninh | t.ninh@uq.edu.au
Please contact Dr Thao Ninh (t.ninh@uq.edu.au) before applying or for further information.
Duration: 4 weeks (30-36 hours per week); onsite
Location: Long Pocket
Efficient in vitro plant regeneration is fundamental to biotechnology-based crop improvement. In blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), regeneration typically occurs through indirect de novo organogenesis, where leaf tissues first undergo callus formation prior to shoot regeneration; however, this response is highly genotype-dependent and strongly influenced by culture conditions. This 4-week winter research project will investigate callus induction as the initial stage of indirect de novo organogenesis in two commercially important cultivars, ‘Misty’ and ‘Sharpblue’, using leaf explants derived from in vitro plants. The study will compare selected basal media and plant growth regulator combinations to evaluate their effects on callus induction rate, callus morphology, and browning. The outcomes of this project will help identify optimal culture conditions for each cultivar, generating foundational data to support future in vitro regeneration, transformation, and genetic improvement research in blueberry.
Expected outcomes: The student will gain hands-on experience in plant tissue culture, including explant preparation, sterile techniques, media preparation, and callus induction in blueberry. They will develop skills in basic experimental design, data collection, and measuring callus responses. The student will also learn how to keep clear laboratory records, perform simple statistical analysis, and interpret results in a scientific context.
Suitability: The project is suitable for 3rd-4th year undergraduate or Master's students with a background in plant science and an interest in plant tissue culture.
Innovative Propagation Approaches for Accelerated Macadamia Production
Primary Supervisors:
Dr Pragya Dhakal Poudel | p.dhakalpoudel@uq.edu
Dr Patrick Maso | p.mason1@uq.edu.au
Dr Mobashwer Alam | m.alam@uq.edu.au
Please contact Dr Pragya Dhakal Poudel (p.dhakalpoudel@uq.edu) before applying or if you have any questions.
Duration: 4 weeks (36 hours per week); on-site
Location: Maroochy Research Facility, Nambour
Macadamia propagation is traditionally slow and labour-intensive, relying on seedling rootstocks and conventional grafting methods that can take up to 2–2.5 years to produce field-ready plants, with commercial success rates often below 50%. This Winter Scholar project will investigate innovative, rapid propagation techniques aimed at reducing production time while improving plant survival and uniformity. Students will evaluate two approaches:
- cuttings derived from juvenile seedlings to enhance rooting success, and
- root cuttings as a novel vegetative propagation pathway. Working under controlled glasshouse conditions, the project will measure rooting success, graft establishment, survival, and early growth performance.
The outcomes will contribute to faster breeding cycles and more efficient nursery production systems, supporting both macadamia breeding programs and commercial orchard development.
Expected outcomes: The Winter Scholar will gain hands-on experience in macadamia propagation techniques, experimental setup, and data collection under controlled glasshouse conditions. The student will develop practical skills in recording and interpreting early-stage propagation responses and understanding how nursery efficiency influences breeding and orchard systems.
Suitability: This project is suitable for 3rd–4th year undergraduate and master’s students with a background in plant science, agricultural science, biology, botany or related disciplines.
Rootstock Screening for Soilborne Disease Resistance in Passionfruit
Primary Supervisors:
Dr Patrick Maso | p.mason1@uq.edu.au
Dr Pragya Dhakal Poudel | p.dhakalpoudel@uq.edu
Dr Mobashwer Alam | m.alam@uq.edu.au
Please contact Dr Patrick Maso (p.mason1@uq.edu.au) before applying or if you have any questions.
Duration: 4 weeks (36 hours per week); on-site
Location: Maroochy Research Facility, Nambour
This project aims to identify passionfruit rootstocks with resistance to Fusarium wilt through controlled greenhouse screening. Seedlings from diverse germplasm will be inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum and evaluated for disease symptoms to identify tolerant rootstocks suitable for use in passionfruit production systems.
Expected outcomes: The student will gain experience in plant pathology and disease resistance screening in passionfruit. This will involve culturing Fusarium oxysporum, preparing inoculum, and assisting with greenhouse inoculation assays and disease scoring. The project will contribute preliminary data on variation in Fusarium tolerance among passionfruit rootstock candidates and help refine a screening protocol that can support future work in the passionfruit breeding program.
Suitability: This project is suitable for 3rd–4th year undergraduate and master’s students with a background in plant science, agricultural science, biology, botany or related disciplines.
Simulation of droplet motion for smart agricultural spraying
Primary Supervisors:
Dr Liqi Han | liqi.han@uq.edu.au
Mr Jian Cao | jian.cao@uq.edu.au
Please contact Liqi Han (liqi.han@uq.edu.au) and Jian Cao (jian.cao@uq.edu.au) before applying or if you have any questions.
Duration: 4 weeks (30 hours per week); on-site
Location: UQ St Lucia Campus
This project focuses on Smart Spray technologies for agriculture and aims to provide a physics- or mathematics‑background student with cross‑disciplinary research experience. The work involves implementing and refining computational models to simulate the motion and behaviour of liquid droplets. Key tasks include developing/improving the underlying mathematical models, as well as analysing how various physical parameters influence droplet dynamics.
Expected outcomes: Students will gain research experience in digital agriculture as well as advanced knowledge in fluid mechanics, computational modeling and scientific computing. Deliverables include a functional computational model, a technical report, and an internal presentation.
Suitability: Undergraduate or postgraduate students with a background in physics, mathematics, chemical/mechanical engineering, or computer science. Candidates are expected to have basic programming skills and a keen interest in mathematical modeling.
Evaluating host specificity at the spore germination stage of Fusarium oxysporum
Primary Supervisor: Dr Lilia Carvalhais | l.carvalhais@uq.edu.au
Please contact Dr Lilia Carvalhais (l.carvalhais@uq.edu.au) prior to applying or for any further information.
Duration: 4 weeks (30-36 hours per week); on-site
Location: Plant pathology laboratory, level 2CW, EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD
Fusarium oxysporum is a globally important soil-borne fungal pathogen that exhibits strong host specificity, with individual formae speciales (f. sp.) infecting only particular plant species. While host–pathogen interactions during infection have been widely studied, it remains unclear whether this specificity originates at the earliest stage of infection (during spore germination) or emerges later through host defence responses. This 4-week laboratory-based project will investigate whether crude root exudates from host and non-host plant species can stimulate chlamydospore germination across different F. oxysporum f. sp. Using bioassay-guided germination tests, the student will compare germination responses under different exudate treatments and controls. The project aims to determine whether germination cues are host-driven or broadly permissive, providing insight into the mechanisms underpinning host specificity in soil-borne pathogens.
Expected outcomes: The successful student will gain practical experience in plant pathology and microbiology laboratory techniques, learn how to design and conduct controlled bioassays, develop skills in microscopy, data collection, and quantitative analysis, understand concepts of host specificity and soil-borne pathogen ecology, improve scientific communication through written and verbal reporting.
Suitability: This project is suitable for 3rd–4th year undergraduate and master’s students with a background in plant science, mycology, agricultural science, or related disciplines.
Automated acquisition of fruit tree growth data
Primary Supervisor: Dr Inigo Auzmendi | i.auzmendi@uq.edu.au
Please contact Dr Inigo Auzmendi (i.auzmendi@uq.edu.au) prior to applying or for any further information.
Duration: 4 weeks (20 - 30 hours per week); flexible, on-site or remotely
Location: UQ St. Lucia Campus or Gatton Campus
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: 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 or master 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.
Using virtual plants to simulate photosynthesis in horticultural plants
Primary Supervisor: Dr Inigo Auzmendi | i.auzmendi@uq.edu.au
Please contact Dr Inigo Auzmendi (i.auzmendi@uq.edu.au) prior to applying or for any further information.
Duration: 4 weeks (20 - 30 hours per week); flexible, on-site or remotely
Location: UQ St. Lucia Campus or Gatton Campus
Plants assimilate carbon for maintenance and growth through photosynthesis. Estimating photosynthesis is not straightforward in horticultural plants with a complex canopy structure like avocado, 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.
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.
Assessing microbial biocontrol agents for effectiveness against key fungal pathogens of vegetable crops
Primary Supervisors:
Dr Mark Jackson | m.jackson1@uq.edu.au
Dr Nipuni Thanthrige | n.peththathanthrige@uq.edu.au
Contact Dr Mark Jackson (m.jackson1@uq.edu.au) prior to applying or for any further information.
Duration: 4 weeks (30 hours per week); on-site
Location: Plant pathology laboratory, level 2CW, EcoSciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD
Traditionally used chemical fungicides are under intense scrutiny due to unwanted effects on the environment and due to the rising increase in pathogen resistance. This project will investigate the biological control of fungal pathogens using microbes sourced from the rhizosphere and root endosphere of vegetable crops throughout Queensland. Microbe biocontrol agents demonstrating antifungal activity will be characterised and molecular mode of action investigated.
Expected outcomes: The scholar will gain experience in fungal cell culturing and in the design of antagonistic plate assays.
Suitability: This project is open to 3rd or 4th year undergraduate students who have a background in plant pathology or molecular biology. Students wishing to undertake a subsequent honours research year will be favoured.
Optimisation of soybean cellular agriculture for protein-rich biomass
Primary Supervisor: Dr Eveline Kong | e.kong@uq.edu.au
Please contact Dr Eveline Kong (e.kong@uq.edu.au) before applying or if you have any questions.
Duration: 4 weeks (30 hours per week); on-site
Location: Long Pocket
This project will explore the use of natural plant hormone sources, such as coconut water, to enhance soybean cell biomass in suspension culture. The student will evaluate the effects of different concentrations of these natural supplements on cell growth and protein accumulation, identifying conditions that promote rapid biomass formation. The study will provide preliminary insights into sustainable, chemical-free approaches for producing high-protein soybean cells in vitro, laying the groundwork for future optimization.
Expected outcomes: Participants will gain hands-on experience in plant cell culture techniques and working with natural plant hormone supplements. They will develop skills in experimental design, data collection, and analysis, while learning how to optimize conditions for cell growth and protein production.
Suitability: This project is suitable for students with a background in plant science, biology, botany or related disciplines.
RNA biopesticides for control of avocado root rot
Primary Supervisors:
Dr Anne Sawyer | a.sawyer@uq.edu.au
Dr Chris O'Brien | c.obrien4@uq.edu.au
Please contact the supervisors prior to submitting an application: a.sawyer@uq.edu.au; c.obrien4@uq.edu.au
Duration: 4 weeks (30 hours per week); on-site
Locations: UQ St Lucia Campus and Long pocket Campus
Protected cropping environments are conducive to disease epidemics due to favourable conditions for pathogens, intense production practices and in some systems recirculation of water and air. The aim of this project is to investigate major diseases of hydroponically grown plants such as avocado and to explore sustainable control strategies such as RNA biopesticides. The project will involve hydroponics, fungal isolation and culturing, disease bioassays, RNA extraction and qPCR.
Expected outcomes: Scholars will be trained in a PC2 laboratory and learn molecular plant pathology 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 molecular biology, mycology or plant sciences.