Methods to improve IVF success rates, the use of AI to enhance mango harvesting and the conservation of a newly discovered mammal species are among 48 new research projects announced today under Round 3 of the National Industry PhD Program.
Assistant Minister for Education, Anthony Chisholm, said the $7 million third round of the program has continued the exciting work of researchers by embedding research innovation into industry and creating real world solutions.
"The Australian Government is investing in the next generation of PhD candidates to increase the impact and utilisation of university research," Assistant Minister Chisholm said.
"It is also encouraging to see that we have researchers from every Australian state and territory and a number of regional areas which underscores the growth and potential of the program.
"This includes Central Queensland University (CQUniversity), which is supporting the PhD candidate to investigate the potential to use unmanned ground vehicles, AI-driven computing and cloud-based web apps to improve the efficiency of orchard imaging and harvesting technologies."
CQUniversity's Dr Zhenglin Wang said the funding will help integrate advanced technologies such as machine vision, robotics, and automation systems into agricultural practices to enhance productivity, efficiency and sustainability.
"Our PhD project with CQUniversity's Institute for Future Farming Systems focuses on solving real-world needs identified by mango growers through advanced technology. The integration of unmanned ground vehicles into the Orion machine vision rig and auto harvester helps to address such specific challenges as night-time operations and labour shortages.
"The goal of this collaborative process is the creation of Australian designed ag-tech products that are commercially viable and fit for purpose."
Other successful projects in this round include:
• Identifying important biological markers that indicate disease in ovaries, to identify healthier eggs for improved IVF outcomes,
• Developing 3D-printable materials for bone-repair,
• Developing a conservation management plan, in collaboration with Traditional Owners, for the threatened, newly discovered mammal species in the Kimberley region, Western Australia.
The National Industry PhD Program is part of a $296 million government initiative to bring together trained researchers to solve industry problems across agriculture and food protection, health and medical research, environmental sustainability, tech and manufacturing, and AI.
The program's first 2 rounds funded 72 successful projects and invested more than $13 million into their development.
Further detail regarding the Round 3 projects is available here, while applications for Round 4 of the National Industry PhD Program are now open and will close on Friday, 9 August.
