Postdoctoral Research Fellow

We seek a highly motivated and enthusiastic early career researcher to join our team to help develop a new

generation of microbiome-based horticultural products for Australian growers.

Murdoch University, with support from Horticulture Innovation Australia, and the CRC for Future Food

Systems have commenced a research collaboration that will investigate the microbiomes of healthy and

stressed tomatoes, potatoes and avocados. Our aim is to identify a range of microbes associated with

increased production and yield, especially in the face of abiotic and biotic stresses.

We aim to develop new products by analysing the microbiomes associated with healthy crops, and how

these microbiomes change when exposed to abiotic or biotic stresses. We aim to select consortia of

microorganisms associated with crops that exhibit higher tolerance to these stresses and develop these into

new products that increase crop yield.

The research fellow will be expected to design and implement a range of field trials, collect soil and plant samples

for microbiome analysis, analyse bioinformatic data, write peer-reviewed journal articles, support Higher Degree

by Research (HDR) students, and work collaboratively as part of a large team involving government and

industry partners.

• About Murdoch University

Murdoch University helps people discover how to make a difference, through education and research

endeavor. It remains one of the most inclusive universities in the country, providing students with quality

education and recognised academic standing within an engaging and caring environment. We are a

university for all, irrespective of background and social standing with a focus on social equity, self-direction

and freedom of thought and belief.

With strong links to government, business and the community, Murdoch University helps people discover

how to make a difference. We are a young, innovative and enterprising university with more than 23,000

students and 1,700 staff across Perth, Singapore and Dubai. We are committed to high quality education,

innovative research, and strong community engagement locally and internationally.

Our Strategic Plan and Future Horizon 2017-2027 outlines an ambitious blueprint for development and

growth, with a focus on one purpose : to be a creative force for current and future generations.

Position Description

Postdoctoral Fellow Level A

We are clear about our two core goals : to educate free thinkers who thrive in society and are sought after

by employers; and, to provide life-changing solutions for the world's big challenges through our outstanding

translational research and innovative practice.

• About the Work Area

Health, Engineering and Education (SHEE), and the Food Futures Institute (FFI). The Agriculture

discipline conducts research across the value chain to support the production of crops, pulses, pastures,

meat, milk and fibres for human consumption and use. The Discipline has a long-standing track record of

attracting significant research funding and delivering substantial industry-impacting outcomes for national

and international agriculture. Underpinning research excellence in Crop and Pasture production,

Agricultural Biotechnology and Animal Production and Health is recognized internationally through the

Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) exercise, where these research areas have consistently

received scores of 5 - Well Above World Standard, and 4 - Above World Standard - since the inception of

the scheme.

The FFI is one of Murdoch University's research institutes, working to provide solutions on the sustainable

use of limited land and water resources to economically and ethically improve food, forestry and fibre

within the FFI. CCFI represents a collaboration of academic research staff working with industry partners

to provide both strength and depth in research on major broadacre and horticultural crops to improve yield,

quality and enhance tolerance and protection from biological and environmental stresses. CCFI comprises

a team of academic and research staff and over 100 current HDR students and is ideally placed to

capitalise on new technologies and investments in crop agriculture.

• Reporting Relationships

PVC FFI

Centre

Director

Associate

Professor

Postdoctoral

Fellow

Position Description

Postdoctoral Fellow Level A

• Key Responsibilities / Duties

1. Design and conduct field trials to assess the microbiomes associated with horticultural crops, particularly

when under biotic or abiotic stress.

2. Use a range of bioinformatics pipelines and conduct network and statistical analyses of large

metagenomic data sets, to identify core microbiota associated with horticultural