Available postgraduate projects
We are seeking students to undertake the exciting projects described below, so if you’re interested in a project please contact the supervisor listed.
You could also check out the CDU prospective research students page. If you’d like to apply for a scholarship, please see our scholarships page.
If you don’t see the exact project for you but are interested in a particular topic, please contact a RINA researcher with expertise in that topic.
More projects are available with the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods
Available postgraduate projects
Behaviour, Environmental Enrichment and Welfare of Tiger Prawn Broodstock
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is offering an exciting project to apply newly developed behavioural monitoring parameters, and environmental enrichment to improving the welfare and performance of tiger prawn broodstock together with CSIRO, who currently lead in this field.
Scholarship and financial support
An Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarship valued at $33,511 per annum (from 2025, indexed annually), for a maximum of 3 years from commencement, is open to Australian citizens/residents or New Zealand citizens. A top-up of $10,000 per annum can also be applied for from CSIRO. International applicants are also welcome to submit an expression of interest*. If suitable, the student will be invited to apply for the International Research Training Program Scholarship scheme, and a tuition fee waiver scholarship.
About the project
The project focuses on understanding broodstock tiger prawn behaviour and validating welfare metrics to optimise husbandry best practices. By closely examining behaviours in conjunction with variable husbandry factors such as water quality, tank setup, water level, substrates, and environmental enrichment, we aim to identify conditions that will result in optimal broodstock prawn welfare. This research will complement and add value to the ongoing Australian Prawn Farmers Association/FRDC Prawn Welfare initiative.
CDU’s Research Institute for Northern Agriculture (RINA) is a new CDU initiative to help northern Australia realise its potential as a food production heartland in the Asia Pacific region. The Tropical Aquaculture Group provides research to support a science-based approach to growth of the northern Australian aquaculture industry, with a focus on animal behaviour, animal welfare and support for the realisation of both industry and Indigenous ambitions in aquaculture.
Benefits to you
- Generous stipend and support for project costs.
- Innovative Research: Explore cutting-edge methods to assess prawn behaviour under variable conditions.
- Collaborative Environment: Work alongside experienced researchers and industry professionals.
- Field and Lab Work: Balance practical hands-on tasks in the field together with analytical lab work.
- Impactful Outcomes: Your findings will directly influence broodstock prawn welfare practices and industry standards.
- Professional Growth: Develop a comprehensive understanding of prawn aquaculture systems and research methodologies.
- Gain valuable experience and contribute to meaningful advancements in Australia's largest and fastest growing tropical aquaculture industry.
- Access to Student Support Services and Wellbeing Support Program.
- Work with a University committed to changing people's lives for the better through training, education and research.
- Based between 2 beautiful spots: Top End of the NT and Sunshine Coast, QLD
About you
- You’ll be excited to live and work in Darwin and/or Bribie Island/Sunshine Coast
- Analytical Skills: Ability to work with and interpret behavioural data and environmental variables.
- Attention to Detail: Precision in observing and recording animal behaviours.
- Technical Skills: Familiarity with aquaculture and data collection tools.
- Problem-Solving: Capability to troubleshoot and adapt experimental setups.
- Communication: Clear reporting and teamwork skills for effective collaboration coupled with an ability to work independently when needed.
- Passion for Research: Enthusiasm for contributing to sustainable practices in aquaculture through research outputs.
Essential selection criteria
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen (*International applicants may be eligible under certain circumstances - please contact Professor Kadri for more details)
- First-class Honours or a Masters degree containing a substantial research component in a relevant field such as animal behaviour, animal welfare or aquaculture.
- Publications, e.g. research reports, journal publications
How to apply
- Interested applicants should contact Professor Sunil Kadri by email at sunil.kadri@cdu.edu.au and submit a one-page expression of interest outlining your research experience and interest in the research project, and attaching a CV that includes details of 2 academic referees.
Commencement date
Jan to March 2025
Principal supervisor
Professor Sunil Kadri, Leader, Tropical Aquaculture Group, RINA, Faculty of Science and Technology. Contact sunil.kadri@cdu.edu.au or (08) 8946 7752.
Diversity and Inclusion
At CDU, we actively celebrate our diversity. We innovate, embrace new ideas, and act with courage and kindness. We’re about what we can give to the world rather than what we take, and we believe in the transformative power of education. We work hard to make sure every member of our university community feels that they truly belong. Understanding that it is through our focus on our people and leveraging our differences that will make CDU the most connected university in Australia, we are striving to ensure that our culture and our community are inclusive of all our staff, students and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a culture where everyone feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals. Applications from First Nations people, women, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with disability, neurotypical and neurodiverse people, LGBTIQ+ people, people with family and caring responsibilities and people at all stages of their careers are welcomed. You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.
Landscape genetics of insect vectors of tropical diseases in northern Australia
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is offering an exciting project applying cutting edge genomics, invertebrate derived DNA (iDNA) and modelling approaches to understand the distribution and gene flow of insects which are likely vectors of tropical diseases in northern Australia.
Scholarship and financial support
Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarship valued at $32,192 per annum, for a maximum of 3 years from commencement, is open to Australian citizens/residents or New Zealand citizens. A top-up of $10,000 per year will also be provided for a maximum of 3 years. International applicants are also welcomed to submit an expression of interest. If suitable, the student will be invited to apply for the International Research Training Program Scholarship scheme, and a tuition fee waiver scholarship.
About the project
Mosquitos and other insects are known vectors for tropical diseases of native wildlife, livestock and humans. Tropical diseases, their hosts, vectors, distribution and patterns of dispersion remain poorly understood in northern Australia, despite proximity to potential disease sources in south-east Asian countries. The project will involve fieldwork across remote northern Australia to collect insects such as mosquitos for genetic analysis and ecological data. Genomic methods will be used to understand genetic connectivity of insect populations and potential disease spread. The project will also analyse blood meal from populations (iDNA) using metabarcoding to detect the range of host species they feed on. Blood meal analysis may also provide the opportunity to investigate tropical disease presence and load. The project will provide important data on distribution, pathways and host range of insect vectors to support tropical disease epidemiology in northern Australia.
RINA is a new CDU initiative to help northern Australia realise its potential as a food production heartland in the Asia Pacific region. The Tropical Biosecurity Group provides research to support a science-based approach to prepare, respond and manage pests, diseases and weeds with a focus on the development and implementation of genomic tools for improving biosecurity and biodiversity outcomes.
Benefits to you
- Generous stipend and support for project costs.
- Training and experience in genomic and iDNA approaches, population genomics, metabarcoding, data analysis and modelling.
- Integral part of a multidisciplinary research team providing ample opportunity for professional development.
- Access to Student Support Services and Wellbeing Support Program.
- Work with a University committed to changing people's lives for the better through training, education and research.
- Fieldwork in the beautiful Top End of the NT and the Kimberley region, WA
About you
- High level of academic merit and research background that meets the RTP Stipend Scholarship requirements, preferably in Molecular Biology, Genomics or a similar field.
- Be willing to live and work in Darwin
- Ability and willingness to travel to regional and remote locations
Essential selection criteria
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen (International applicants may be eligible under certain circumstances - please contact Maxine for more details)
- First-class Honours or a Masters degree containing a substantial research component in a relevant field such as genomics, molecular biology or bioinformatics.
- Publications, e.g. research reports, journal publications
How to apply
- Interested applicants should contact Dr Maxine Piggott by email at maxine.piggott@cdu.edu.au to submit an expression of interest, attaching a CV including details of 2 academic referees and a brief statement describing your background, research experience and interest in this research project.
Deadline for applications
31 October 2024
Commencement date
January to March 2025
Principal supervisor
Dr Maxine Piggott, Professor of Tropical Biosecurity, RINA, Faculty of Science and Technology. Contact maxine.piggott@cdu.edu.au or (08) 8946 6763.
Diversity and Inclusion
At CDU, we actively celebrate our diversity. We innovate, embrace new ideas, and act with courage and kindness. We’re about what we can give to the world rather than what we take, and we believe in the transformative power of education. We work hard to make sure every member of our university community feels that they truly belong. Understanding that it is through our focus on our people and leveraging our differences that will make CDU the most connected university in Australia, we are striving to ensure that our culture and our community are inclusive of all our staff, students and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a culture where everyone feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals. Applications from First Nations people, women at all levels, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with disability, neurotypical and neurodiverse people, LGBTIQ+ people, people with family and caring responsibilities and people at all stages of their careers are welcomed. You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.