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Pre-conditioning of natural enemies for better biological control of insect pests in grain crops

Insecticide resistance among grain pests in Australia poses a significant threat to crop productivity and sustainability, with escalating management costs and increasing scrutiny from export markets regarding pesticide use. This PhD project aims to develop an innovative, sustainable biological control strategy by enhancing the effectiveness of insect natural enemies through pre-conditioning techniques. The research will investigate the alteration or addition of factors that can pre-condition natural enemies to better locate and target pest species, even under low pest density. Combining this pre-conditioning with complementary practices-such as reducing harmful pesticide use, supplementing alternative food resources, and retaining predators in crop environments-will improve predator performance and establish a novel framework for augmentative biological control. While focused on canola, the outcomes will be broadly applicable to other grain cropping systems, supporting the development of ecologically sound pest management approaches and reducing reliance on chemical interventions. The successful applicant will be based at Murdoch University within the Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems (Entomology Group) and will have access to state-of-the-art facilities at Murdoch University.
Provider:
Murdoch University
Duration of Award:
Duration of degree
Level of study:
  • Research

Eligibility

  1. Applicants must meet the requirements of Murdoch University’s Graduate Research Office to be eligible (first or upper second-class Honours degree, Masters degree by research, or equivalent).
  2. A research thesis component in a relevant entomology, ecology, environmental or agricultural science.
  3. Demonstrated and well-developed interpersonal skills to communicate both with the interdisciplinary and collegial team, and with public and professional representatives.
  4. Demonstrated high levels of written and oral communication in English and can demonstrate adaptability to rapidly changing communication and technology needs.
  5. Ability to obtain an Australian Drivers licence.
Ability to conduct research in the laboratory and in the field.

How to Apply

Applicants should contact the supervisors Shovon Chandra Sarkar or Wei Xu directly with the three documents outlined below: a cover letter, resume, and academic transcripts, as well as two referees.

For more information about the project contact Shovon Chandra Sarkar

For information about the application process contact the graduate research office at Murdoch University. graduateresearchdegrees@murdoch.edu.au

Required Documents

Please provide the following items to the contacts listed below:

  • A cover letter (maximum of 2 pages) outlining your interest in the project and potential research questions you might like to address.
  • Current CV.
  • Academic transcripts.
  • Contact information of two references.

Selected applicants will be invited to attend an interview.

The selected applicant must be able to commence no later than August 2025. 

Payment Method

  1. Stipend is $37,000.00 per year for a period of 3.5 years.
  2. Operating costs (consumables, field travel, experimental costs) of $7,000.00 per year for a period of 3.0 years.