PhD Student - Stress phenotyping in trees - Scion

This project will develop novel approaches to characterise drought stress tolerance within tree species. It is part of a larger project that will identify the best genetic material to plant in different and changing environments.

The PhD candidate will be based at the University of Tasmania (UTAS), Australia, with strong collaborative links with Scion, New Zealand. Cutting-edge technology will be used to measure water stress and growth and search for genetic variation in these traits within species. The project will focus on radiata pine, a globally important species for softwood plantations, with the scope to extend into iconic native tree species. The project is part of a broader research area led by Scion using remote sensing and artificial intelligence to develop new ways of phenotyping forest trees, with high precision at unprecedented scales. This will help to better understand how different genetic material performs in different environments, allowing us to better face the huge uncertainties in establishing and management of future forests in the face of climate change.

With support from their supervisory team, the candidate will plan, establish and monitor experiments in the glasshouse and field to identify key traits related to growth and water stress which vary within species. UTAS has a long history of excellence in Plant Science, and the project will be embedded in a thriving research environment The candidate will gain invaluable research experience, and benefit from working with world-class researchers in Australia and New Zealand and their broader collaborative networks in industry and academia

https://www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/available-projects/projects/biological-sciences/stress-phenotyping-in-trees