CSIRO Industry PhD Scholarship: Improving Grain Properties for Oat Milk

Acknowledgement of Country 
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The Opportunity

• Gain experience working with industry to solve real-world problems while you earn your PhD 
• Develop transferable professional skills 
• Get access to specialised expertise, equipment and training 

The CSIRO Industry PhD Scholarship (iPhD) Program is an industry-focused, applied research scholarship and training program that brings together an industry partner, the university and CSIRO. 

You will undertake a co-designed research project that will develop your ability to translate research into commercial outcomes.  

You will get real-world experience and access to specialised expertise, equipment and training.

Our graduates develop transferable professional skills and are well positioned to work at the cutting edge of industry focussed research.  

Scholarship details 

The Program includes:

• admission to the university PhD program  
• a four-year scholarship package of approx. $45,000 per annum
• a four-year Project Expense and Development package of up to $13,000 per annum
• an in-business component with an industry partner of at least 3 months
• professional development training to enhance your applied research skills
• supervision by CSIRO, the industry partner, and the university  

Project Title:  Improving grain properties for oat milk 

Project Description:  Cereal-based milk alternatives like oat milk represent an emerging segment in novel food products, characterised by a reduced carbon footprint and possessing health benefits including fibre, vitamin, and low saturated fat content. Oat milk, however, is lower in protein content and calcium and higher in calories. Moreover, heat treatment can lead to starch gelatinisation that lowers acceptability. This project will use proteomics to inform cultivar selection with modified grain macronutrient composition and elevated alpha-/beta-amylase content that can lead to improved starch hydrolysis and to obtain beverages with consumer acceptable product attributes. It will also explore oat-derived proteins that deliver enhanced health benefits and track these via proteomics in diverse cultivars. 

Project supervisors:   

CSIRO
CSIRO supervisor: Crispin Howitt
Business unit: Agriculture & Food
Research program: Crops & Future Protein Mission
Email address:  [email protected]   

University
ECU supervisor: Angela Juhasz
Edith Cowan University (ECU)
Email address:  [email protected]
Faculty:  Science
School:  Science  

Industry
Company name: InterGrain Pty Ltd
Website:  www.intergrain.com

Location:     

•     Primary location of the student: Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus, Perth WA
•     Other potential locations: CSIRO, Black Mountain, ACT and/or St Lucia, QLD
•     In-business component with Industry partner:  InterGrain, Perth WA office

Overview of who we are looking for 

The ideal student will have a passion for agriculture and applied research. The project will involve protein biochemistry, analytical chemistry including liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics, so skills in these fields would be beneficial. Experience with grains and/or food science is also welcome.  

The student should have strong problem-solving skills, good oral and written communication, be able to work independently and in a team, be able to manage time effectively and a desire to deliver impact. 

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply you must:

•     be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen 
•     meet host university PhD admission requirements 
•     meet university English language requirements 
•     not have previously completed a PhD 
•     be able to commence the program in the year of the offer 
•     enrol as a full-time PhD student 

Applications will be assessed on:

About CSIRO
At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact.

Further information about the CSIRO Industry PhD Program can be found at:  www.csiro.au/iphd   

How to Apply:

Applicants are required to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to the ECU university supervisor:  Angela Juhasz

For details on how to apply, please see the ECU website at ECU | CSIRO Industry PhD Program - Improving grain properties for oat milk : Find a scholarship : Scholarships  

 Applications close:   10 February 2023, 11:00pm AEDT