43715 - Summer Studentship: Understanding Graft Compatibility - Plant & Food Research

Description

Plant & Food Research (PFR) is a New Zealand science company delivering research and development designed to grow competitive advantage for clients in the horticulture, wine, cropping, seafood and associated high value food sectors worldwide.

Our summer studentship programme creates a special "career experience" for high calibre candidates. Our unique programme includes a full induction/training day, a career planning session identifying potential pathways, a specific project - designed for you, as well as a final farewell and awards function.

We would like a summer student to work alongside our team of molecular biologists as part of our Horticulture Goes Urban "New Plants for a New World" programme. Our research aims to increase understanding of graft compatibility at a molecular level, with the goal of increasing the range of grafts that can be done successfully, providing novel plants for indoor growing environments.

Aim of project and nature of duties/techniques:

The student will contribute to research towards understanding the molecular mechanisms that determine graft compatibility. This will involve working with plants, performing tasks such as plant care, grafting, and monitoring plant health and growth. It will also involve sourcing information from scientific literature, analysing and presenting data, and laboratory work such as molecular biology (PCR and/or RTqPCR) and microscopy.

Duties

The project may include growing and grafting plants, measuring plant growth and health, sourcing information from scientific literature, designing PCR primers, isolating RNA, determining expression of genes using RTqPCR, light microscopy, analysing and presenting data.

Criteria for the Position

Molecular biology experience is essential. Plant knowledge is also preferred but not necessary.