Honours in Agriculture

As an agricultural science honours student you become a member of the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine and part of a research group.

The school has a range of industry, research and teaching partners. These partnerships will assist you in gaining industry experience and in developing contacts within your areas of chosen specialisation.

Honours projects

Supervisors with available agricultural science projects have been added to the 'honours project finder'. If you are interested in their research you should talk with the respective supervisors to discuss potential projects.

If you are interested in a particular area of research that's not included, talk with the honours coordinator to discuss other opportunities to develop an honours project.

A majority of agricultural science projects are based at the University's Waite campus.

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Agricultural science

Agricultural science projects

How do native plants affect the supply of phosphorus to soils?

Honours project: Assess the role of native plants in the supply of phosphorus to soils.
Read more about How do native plants affect the supply of phosphorus to soils?

How will the trees of urban Adelaide respond to climate change?

Honours project: Assist with the strategic future of the Waite Arboretum, a valuable resource for local, national, and international urban planning.
Read more about How will the trees of urban Adelaide respond to climate change?

Can the novel IVOS biosensor diagnose mastitis in dairy cows?

Honours project: Validate a novel biosensor as a potential diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows.
Read more about Can the novel IVOS biosensor diagnose mastitis in dairy cows?

Stop the spot: Almond bacterial spot disease in Australia

Honours project: Uncover the morphological features, genetic diversity and the host- pathogen relationship among bacteria and stone fruits.
Read more about Almond bacterial spot disease in Australia

Activity of novel xylanases from a new Australian crop, Plantago ovata (psyllium)

Honours project: Study the biology of psyllium, a plant whose seeds are used as a key ingredient in the gluten-free food industry.
Read more about Activity of novel xylanases from a new Australian crop, Plantago ovata (psyllium)

What is the effect of yeast diversity on secondary ‘malolactic’ fermentation outcome?

Honours project: Explore the interactions encountered during winemaking by creating artificial diversity systems and investigating the effect of adding or removing yeast species has on malolactic fermentation.
Read more about What is the effect of yeast diversity on secondary ‘malolactic’ fermentation outcome?

Fighting fire-fighting foams: carbon materials for mitigating PFAS contamination

Honours project: Help reduce the environmental contamination caused by fire-fighting foams.
Read more about carbon materials for mitigating PFAS contamination

Plasma coating of fertilisers

Honours project: Study advanced plasma polymer coatings for slow nutrient release fertilisers.
Read more about Plasma coating of fertilisers

Nutrient cycling and soil respiration

Honours project: Investigate how soil microbial activity and nutrient availability are influenced by changes in water content or exposure to high temperature.
Read more about Nutrient cycling and soil respiration

CRISPR genome editing approach for vetch improvement

Honours project: Opportunities to use state-of-the-art next generation breeding technology to improve vetch seed nutrition.
Read more about CRISPR genome editing approach for vetch improvement

Understanding pollination processes between bees and flowers

Honours project: Investigate the molecular basis of extrorse anther outcrossing mechanism in flowering plants.
Read more about Understanding pollination processes between bees and flowers

Enhancing wheat yield and drought tolerance

Honours project: Join an international project that aims to increase yield potential in wheat.
Read more about Enhancing wheat yield and drought tolerance

Made-in-SA: Advanced materials derived from local growers’ agricultural waste

Honours project: Turn fruit and vegetable waste into functional products
Read more about Advanced materials derived from local growers’ agricultural waste

Nutrition & collective movement in the Australian plague locust

Honours project: Investigate the movement of plague locusts using laboratory and field experiments.
Read more about Nutrition & collective movement in the Australian plague locust

Analysing compostable plastics

Honours project: Are compostable plastics really what they say on the packet? Research opportunities are available to test a new fully compostable type of plastic.
Read more about Analysing compostable plastics

Agave spirits: Using wild yeasts to ferment fructose

Honours project: Fermentation of wild yeasts to create Australia's first agave spirit.
Read more about Using wild yeasts to ferment fructose

Disease resistance in plants: Chickpea

Honours project: Combine your passion for agriculture, plant science and bioinformatics to investigate genetic resistance to disease in chickpea.
Read more about Chickpea

Disease resistance in plants: Oat

Honours project: Combine your passion for agriculture, plant science and bioinformatics to investigate the genetics of septoria leaf blotch to aid the development of resistant oat varieties.
Read more about Oat

Impact of thermal environment and melatonin on animal body temperature and reproduction

Honours project: Research opportunities are available to investigate how body temperature variation in pigs and sheep impact reproduction.
Read more about Impact of thermal environment and melatonin on animal body temperature and reproduction

Advanced research in plant hormones

Honours project: Contribute to new research on ways to make plants more resilient.
Read more about Advanced research in plant hormones

Flower development in barley

Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project on controlling organ development in barley by MADS-box transcription factors.
Read more about Flower development in barley

Plant nematode-interactions: parasitism and defence

Honours project: Discover how parasitic nematodes affect cereal plant roots and exactly which genes help the plants fight back.
Read more about parasitism and defence

Maternal supplementation to improve lamb survival

Honours project: Test the level of caffeine supplementation fed to outdoor, semi-intensive grazing ewes during late gestation.
Read more about Maternal supplementation to improve lamb survival

Water restriction practices in broiler breeder hens: effect on egg albumen composition

Honours project: Determine the effects of maternal water restriction on egg development by investigating key proteins in the albumen of fertile chicken eggs which are vital for the survival and growth of the chicken embryo.
Read more about effect on egg albumen composition

Improving plant responses to sub-optimal conditions through plant hormones

Honours project: Make fundamental discoveries about how strigolactones act to alter the growth of plant root cells or applying the latest knowledge of strigolactones to crops.
Read more about Improving plant responses to sub-optimal conditions through plant hormones

Use of drones to assess the performance of wheat in sodic soils

Honours project: Investigate wheat growth and yield in high-sodium soils using drone-mounted imaging techniques
Read more about Use of drones to assess the performance of wheat in sodic soils

Identifying novel tolerance to subsoil constraints in a FIGS wheat set

Honours project: Identify wheat lines from around the world that are tolerant to subsoil challenges such as high salinity and soil pH
Read more about Identifying novel tolerance to subsoil constraints in a FIGS wheat set

Improving wheat yields in dispersive soils

Honours project: Examine how wheat yield can be improved by increasing tolerance to different soil constraints
Read more about Improving wheat yields in dispersive soils

Brood guarding in a gregarious parasitoid wasp

Honours project: Examine how a variety of factors influences the brood guarding behaviour of a parasitoid wasp species
Read more about Brood guarding in a gregarious parasitoid wasp

Effect of micronutrients on the growth of wheat in sodic soils

Honours project: Examine how micronutrient interactions alter the growth and ion concentrations of wheat in sodic soils
Read more about Effect of micronutrients on the growth of wheat in sodic soils

01
Jan

Management practices to enable early wet season forage production in lowland rice production systems of The Lao PDR

Honours project: Explore management options to improve early wet season crop production in Lao PDR, southeast Asia

01
Jan

Exploring the function of MADS-box genes in barley inflorescence development

Honours project: Learn about functional gene research combined with molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and developmental biology

01
Jan

Improving drought and salt tolerance of wheat

Honours project: Examine wheat water use efficiency under saline conditions.

01
Jan

Role of an RNA m5C methyltransferase during plant reproduction

Honours project: Investigate the role of an RNA m5C methyltransferase during early reproductive development as mutants abort early during seed development.

01
Jan

Characterisation of the fungal extracellular matrix and its role in adhesion

Honours project: Determine the composition and role of plant fungal pathogen secretions

01
Jan

Structural studies of cell wall proteins involved during pathogenesis

Honours project: Study the structure of fungal cell wall proteins using ion mobility mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography.

01
Jan

Shoots or roots - which controls plant-fungal interactions?

Honours project: Investigate the origin of signals affecting colonisation of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

01
Jan

Design of biomimetic coatings to understand plant-pathogen relations

Honours project: Investigate how plant fungal pathogens adhere to and infect plant surfaces.

01
Jan

Improving food safety using plasma sterilisation

Honours project: Investigate the use of a high energy form of matter (plasma) to improve food safety.

01
Jan

Ecological & evolutionary genetics of plants, wildlife forensic biology

Honours project: How about a research project in ecological and evolutionary genetics of plants and wildlife forensic biology?

more...
Food and nutrition science (related projects)

Food and nutrition science projects

Sensory drivers of food intake

Honours project: Does a personalised approach based on sensory drivers of food intake improve diet quality?
Read more about Sensory drivers of food intake

Can we create nutritious and sustainable yoghurt from legumes?

Honours project: Faba bean is a nutrient dense and drought tolerant legume crop with a great potential as a sustainable protein source.
Read more about Can we create nutritious and sustainable yoghurt from legumes?

Activity of novel xylanases from a new Australian crop, Plantago ovata (psyllium)

Honours project: Study the biology of psyllium, a plant whose seeds are used as a key ingredient in the gluten-free food industry.
Read more about Activity of novel xylanases from a new Australian crop, Plantago ovata (psyllium)

Plant-based protein, sustainability and diet quality

Honours project: Examine plant-based protein in relation to sustainability, diet quality and human health.
Read more about Plant-based protein, sustainability and diet quality

Analysing compostable plastics

Honours project: Are compostable plastics really what they say on the packet? Research opportunities are available to test a new fully compostable type of plastic.
Read more about Analysing compostable plastics

Agave spirits: Using wild yeasts to ferment fructose

Honours project: Fermentation of wild yeasts to create Australia's first agave spirit.
Read more about Using wild yeasts to ferment fructose

Aboriginal fermentations: Discovering their chemistry and new yeast species

Honours project: Wine scientists are seeking students to work on multi-disciplinary research projects that aim to discover new yeast species and unravel the chemistry behind Aboriginal fermentations.
Read more about Discovering their chemistry and new yeast species

Advanced yeast for challenging bioprocesses

Honours project: Test new and improved yeast strains to advanced winemaking and other biotechnology processes.
Read more about Advanced yeast for challenging bioprocesses

CRISPR genome editing approach for vetch improvement

Honours project: Opportunities to use state-of-the-art next generation breeding technology to improve vetch seed nutrition.
Read more about CRISPR genome editing approach for vetch improvement

Testing for irradiated foods

Honours project: Optimise methodologies to detect irradiated food by optically-stimulated luminescence.
Read more about Testing for irradiated foods

Understanding pollination processes between bees and flowers

Honours project: Investigate the molecular basis of extrorse anther outcrossing mechanism in flowering plants.
Read more about Understanding pollination processes between bees and flowers

Early Origins of Breast and Prostate Cancer

Honours project: Explore maternal nutrition, developmental origins of disease, cancer and epigenetics through molecular genetics
Read more about Early Origins of Breast and Prostate Cancer

The role of micronutrients in pregnancy

Honours project: Investigate the effect of micronutrients such as folate on placental function during pregnancy
Read more about The role of micronutrients in pregnancy

Epigenetic regulation in placenta development

Honours project: Learn more about epigenetics in placenta development using molecular techniques
Read more about Epigenetic regulation in placenta development

A sweet treat? Salmonella in raw egg based desserts

Honours project: Combine your interest in food science, animal science and biomedical science by investigating the the behaviour of Salmonella in mousse, tiramisu, and custard.
Read more about A sweet treat? Salmonella in raw egg based desserts

Assessing the effects of plant seed extracts on Caco2 and IEC-6 cell cultures

Honours project: Investigate the nutritional value of a range of plant seeds using cell culture models
Read more about Assessing the effects of plant seed extracts on Caco2 and IEC-6 cell cultures

Improving food safety using plasma sterilisation

Honours project: Investigate the use of a high energy form of matter (plasma) to improve food safety.
Read more about Improving food safety using plasma sterilisation

Growth signalling pathways acting on the intestinal stem cell

Honours project: This project aims to access activity of positive and negative signalling pathways that act on intestinal stem cells in pigs.
Read more about Growth signalling pathways acting on the intestinal stem cell

Viable, but non-culturable bacteria: Understanding the risks for food safety

Honours project: This project aims to determine the ability of viable but non culturable bacteria to cause disease.
Read more about Understanding the risks for food safety

Improving survival of new born piglets & sow performance

Honours project: This research aims to increase the reproductive output of sows by increasing piglet survival using supplementary nutritional strategies in late gestation.
Read more about Improving survival of new born piglets & sow performance

What's the best diet for a zebrafish?

Honours project: Develop diet recipes for a variety of life stages of zebrafish.
Read more about What's the best diet for a zebrafish?
Horticulture (related projects)

Horticulture (related projects)

Global change ecology and conservation

Honours project: Various projects are available global change ecology; climate change, macroecology, planetary health and conservation biogeography.
Read more about Global change ecology and conservation

How will the trees of urban Adelaide respond to climate change?

Honours project: Assist with the strategic future of the Waite Arboretum, a valuable resource for local, national, and international urban planning.
Read more about How will the trees of urban Adelaide respond to climate change?

Stop the spot: Almond bacterial spot disease in Australia

Honours project: Uncover the morphological features, genetic diversity and the host- pathogen relationship among bacteria and stone fruits.
Read more about Almond bacterial spot disease in Australia

Understanding pollination processes between bees and flowers

Honours project: Investigate the molecular basis of extrorse anther outcrossing mechanism in flowering plants.
Read more about Understanding pollination processes between bees and flowers

Flower development in barley

Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project on controlling organ development in barley by MADS-box transcription factors.
Read more about Flower development in barley

CRISPR genome editing approach for vetch improvement

Honours project: Opportunities to use state-of-the-art next generation breeding technology to improve vetch seed nutrition.
Read more about CRISPR genome editing approach for vetch improvement

Spatial information, environmental remote sensing & GIS

Honours project: Use spatial information tools and data in a wide range of applications and settings, including terrestrial, wetland and marine ecology, wildlife and habitats, land assessment and management and earth science.
Read more about Spatial information, environmental remote sensing & GIS

Ecology of Koonamore Reserve

Honours project: Research projects with fieldwork including differences in spatial heterogeneity between grazed and ungrazed areas.
Read more about Ecology of Koonamore Reserve

Interactions between microbes & plants

Honours project: Learn about the success of invasive species and how we can help increase our ability restore native vegetation.
Read more about Interactions between microbes & plants

Restoring grassy woodlands: interaction between native & invasive grasses

Honours project: Contribute to research into various strategies to restore grassy woodland.
Read more about interaction between native & invasive grasses

Interactions between plant parasites & their hosts

Honours project: Join the investigation into the use of parasites as biological control agents.
Read more about Interactions between plant parasites & their hosts

Mighty macrophytes: Ecology & management of common reed & bulrush

Honours project: Investigate the ecology and management of common reed and bulrush.
Read more about Ecology & management of common reed & bulrush

Emu-wrens & other threatened fauna of the Fleurieu Peninsula wetlands

Honours project: Help save the emu-wrens and other threatened fauna of the Fleurieu Peninsula wetlands.
Read more about Emu-wrens & other threatened fauna of the Fleurieu Peninsula wetlands

Bioinformatics as applied to the study of genome structure and function

Honours project: Expand your knowledge and curiosity in bioinformatics and computational genetics.
Read more about Bioinformatics as applied to the study of genome structure and function

Do plants need to sleep?

Honours project: There's evidence in some plants that lack of a dark period can inhibit growth - so do plants need sleep?
Read more about Do plants need to sleep?

Aquatic plant photosynthesis as a driver of large pH changes in wetlands

Honours project: Explore large pH changes in wetlands and how aquatic plant photosynthesis contribute to this process.
Read more about Aquatic plant photosynthesis as a driver of large pH changes in wetlands
Plant science (related projects)

Plant science projects

Global change ecology and conservation

Honours project: Various projects are available global change ecology; climate change, macroecology, planetary health and conservation biogeography.
Read more about Global change ecology and conservation

How will the trees of urban Adelaide respond to climate change?

Honours project: Assist with the strategic future of the Waite Arboretum, a valuable resource for local, national, and international urban planning.
Read more about How will the trees of urban Adelaide respond to climate change?

Grape berry responses to extreme heat

Honours project: Discover how the biochemistry and physiology of grape berries respond to extremely high temperatures.
Read more about Grape berry responses to extreme heat

Stop the spot: Almond bacterial spot disease in Australia

Honours project: Uncover the morphological features, genetic diversity and the host- pathogen relationship among bacteria and stone fruits.
Read more about Almond bacterial spot disease in Australia

Activity of novel xylanases from a new Australian crop, Plantago ovata (psyllium)

Honours project: Study the biology of psyllium, a plant whose seeds are used as a key ingredient in the gluten-free food industry.
Read more about Activity of novel xylanases from a new Australian crop, Plantago ovata (psyllium)

Where does the acid in wine come from?

Honours project: Can you help find the missing link in grape berry biochemistry?
Read more about Where does the acid in wine come from?

Battleground of the grapevine: Shiraz Disease under the microscope

Honours project: Help us understand disease progression and cultivar-specific grapevine defence responses to Shiraz Disease.
Read more about Shiraz Disease under the microscope

Agave spirits: Using wild yeasts to ferment fructose

Honours project: Fermentation of wild yeasts to create Australia's first agave spirit.
Read more about Using wild yeasts to ferment fructose

Disease resistance in plants: Chickpea

Honours project: Combine your passion for agriculture, plant science and bioinformatics to investigate genetic resistance to disease in chickpea.
Read more about Chickpea

Disease resistance in plants: Oat

Honours project: Combine your passion for agriculture, plant science and bioinformatics to investigate the genetics of septoria leaf blotch to aid the development of resistant oat varieties.
Read more about Oat

Advanced research in plant hormones

Honours project: Contribute to new research on ways to make plants more resilient.
Read more about Advanced research in plant hormones

Flower development in barley

Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project on controlling organ development in barley by MADS-box transcription factors.
Read more about Flower development in barley

CRISPR genome editing approach for vetch improvement

Honours project: Opportunities to use state-of-the-art next generation breeding technology to improve vetch seed nutrition.
Read more about CRISPR genome editing approach for vetch improvement

Nutrition & collective movement in the Australian plague locust

Honours project: Investigate the movement of plague locusts using laboratory and field experiments.
Read more about Nutrition & collective movement in the Australian plague locust

Improving salt tolerance in grapevines

Honours project: Investigate the movement of salt and water in grapevines in order to understand the effect of salinity on growth.
Read more about Improving salt tolerance in grapevines

Enhancing wheat yield and drought tolerance

Honours project: Join an international project that aims to increase yield potential in wheat.
Read more about Enhancing wheat yield and drought tolerance

Understanding pollination processes between bees and flowers

Honours project: Investigate the molecular basis of extrorse anther outcrossing mechanism in flowering plants.
Read more about Understanding pollination processes between bees and flowers

Made-in-SA: Advanced materials derived from local growers’ agricultural waste

Honours project: Turn fruit and vegetable waste into functional products
Read more about Advanced materials derived from local growers’ agricultural waste

Analysing compostable plastics

Honours project: Are compostable plastics really what they say on the packet? Research opportunities are available to test a new fully compostable type of plastic.
Read more about Analysing compostable plastics

Plant nematode-interactions: parasitism and defence

Honours project: Discover how parasitic nematodes affect cereal plant roots and exactly which genes help the plants fight back.
Read more about parasitism and defence

Exploring the interaction between novel drought signals in plants

Honours project: Investigate the interaction between different plant chemical signals and their role in plant drought tolerance.
Read more about Exploring the interaction between novel drought signals in plants

Exploring the function of MADS-box genes in barley inflorescence development

Honours project: Learn about functional gene research combined with molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and developmental biology
Read more about Exploring the function of MADS-box genes in barley inflorescence development

Improving drought and salt tolerance of wheat

Honours project: Examine wheat water use efficiency under saline conditions.
Read more about Improving drought and salt tolerance of wheat

Use of drones to assess the performance of wheat in sodic soils

Honours project: Investigate wheat growth and yield in high-sodium soils using drone-mounted imaging techniques
Read more about Use of drones to assess the performance of wheat in sodic soils

Identifying novel tolerance to subsoil constraints in a FIGS wheat set

Honours project: Identify wheat lines from around the world that are tolerant to subsoil challenges such as high salinity and soil pH
Read more about Identifying novel tolerance to subsoil constraints in a FIGS wheat set

Improving plant responses to sub-optimal conditions through plant hormones

Honours project: Make fundamental discoveries about how strigolactones act to alter the growth of plant root cells or applying the latest knowledge of strigolactones to crops.
Read more about Improving plant responses to sub-optimal conditions through plant hormones

Improving wheat yields in dispersive soils

Honours project: Examine how wheat yield can be improved by increasing tolerance to different soil constraints
Read more about Improving wheat yields in dispersive soils

Effect of micronutrients on the growth of wheat in sodic soils

Honours project: Examine how micronutrient interactions alter the growth and ion concentrations of wheat in sodic soils
Read more about Effect of micronutrients on the growth of wheat in sodic soils

Role of an RNA m5C methyltransferase during plant reproduction

Honours project: Investigate the role of an RNA m5C methyltransferase during early reproductive development as mutants abort early during seed development.
Read more about Role of an RNA m5C methyltransferase during plant reproduction

Design of biomimetic coatings to understand plant-pathogen relations

Honours project: Investigate how plant fungal pathogens adhere to and infect plant surfaces.
Read more about Design of biomimetic coatings to understand plant-pathogen relations

01
Jan

Characterisation of the fungal extracellular matrix and its role in adhesion

Honours project: Determine the composition and role of plant fungal pathogen secretions

01
Jan

Shoots or roots - which controls plant-fungal interactions?

Honours project: Investigate the origin of signals affecting colonisation of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

01
Jan

Structural studies of cell wall proteins involved during pathogenesis

Honours project: Study the structure of fungal cell wall proteins using ion mobility mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography.

01
Jan

Assessing the effects of plant seed extracts on Caco2 and IEC-6 cell cultures

Honours project: Investigate the nutritional value of a range of plant seeds using cell culture models

01
Jan

Improving food safety using plasma sterilisation

Honours project: Investigate the use of a high energy form of matter (plasma) to improve food safety.

01
Jan

Ecological & evolutionary genetics of plants, wildlife forensic biology

Honours project: How about a research project in ecological and evolutionary genetics of plants and wildlife forensic biology?

01
Jan

4D in vivo biophotonics for metabolism and pain in real time

Honours project: Participate in an emerging area of science which could improve outcomes for type-1 diabetes sufferers as well as provide crucial redox balance information for athletes, livestock and plants.

01
Jan

Ecology of Koonamore Reserve

Honours project: Research projects with fieldwork including differences in spatial heterogeneity between grazed and ungrazed areas.

01
Jan

Spatial information, environmental remote sensing & GIS

Honours project: Use spatial information tools and data in a wide range of applications and settings, including terrestrial, wetland and marine ecology, wildlife and habitats, land assessment and management and earth science.

01
Jan

Interactions between microbes & plants

Honours project: Learn about the success of invasive species and how we can help increase our ability restore native vegetation.

more...
Production animal health (related projects)

Animal science projects (Production animals)

Can the novel IVOS biosensor diagnose mastitis in dairy cows?

Honours project: Validate a novel biosensor as a potential diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows.
Read more about Can the novel IVOS biosensor diagnose mastitis in dairy cows?

Impact of thermal environment and melatonin on animal body temperature and reproduction

Honours project: Research opportunities are available to investigate how body temperature variation in pigs and sheep impact reproduction.
Read more about Impact of thermal environment and melatonin on animal body temperature and reproduction

Evaluating vaccine response in sheep

Honours project: Evaluate the efficacy of a Mycoplasma vaccine to produce an immune response in sheep.
Read more about Evaluating vaccine response in sheep

Use of local anaesthesia for lamb marking

Honours project: Evaluate the efficacy and adoption of Numnuts, a local anaesthetic used on sheep.
Read more about Use of local anaesthesia for lamb marking

Lactation oestrus and breeding in sows

Honours project: Efficacy of a modified gonadotrophin protocol for oestrus and ovulation in lactation
Lactation oestrus and breeding in sows.
Read more about Lactation oestrus and breeding in sows

Identification of genes controlling marbling in cattle

Honours project: Identify genes controlling the deposition of the intramuscular fat (that is, marbling) in beef cattle to better understand fat metabolism and to provide genetic markers for selection to improve beef quality.
Read more about Identification of genes controlling marbling in cattle

Investigating the cause and prevention of red gut in lambs grazing lucerne

Honours project: Identify factors contributing to the incidence of red gut in lambs grazing lucerne, and develop strategies to prevent red gut from occurring.
Read more about Investigating the cause and prevention of red gut in lambs grazing lucerne

Effect of pre-partum hCG on farrowing performance of older parity sows & their piglets viability

Honours project: Investigate blood oestrogen levels of older sows and subsequent piglet growth and survival.
Read more about Effect of pre-partum hCG on farrowing performance of older parity sows & their piglets viability

Maternal supplementation to improve lamb survival

Honours project: Test the level of caffeine supplementation fed to outdoor, semi-intensive grazing ewes during late gestation.
Read more about Maternal supplementation to improve lamb survival

Acoustic communication in alpacas

Honours project: Investigate how alpacas communicate in the context of its group’s social behaviour.
Read more about Acoustic communication in alpacas

Improving sheep reproduction via pregnancy scanning

Honours project: Undertake research that aims to increase lambing percentages through better use of pregnancy scanning technology.
Read more about Improving sheep reproduction via pregnancy scanning

Transmission of Salmonella from broiler breeder to progeny

Honours project: This animal science project aims to understand the prevalence of Salmonella in meat type breeder flocks and their progenies.
Read more about Transmission of Salmonella from broiler breeder to progeny

Water restriction practices in broiler breeder hens: effect on egg albumen composition

Honours project: Determine the effects of maternal water restriction on egg development by investigating key proteins in the albumen of fertile chicken eggs which are vital for the survival and growth of the chicken embryo.
Read more about effect on egg albumen composition

Stockpersons' knowledge of Codes of Practice in the pig industry

Honours project: Undertake qualitative research methods to determine farmer awareness and knowledge of a range of secondary legislative documents pertaining to the pig industry.
Read more about Stockpersons' knowledge of Codes of Practice in the pig industry

Evaluate changes in the cognitive ability of sheep due to disease development

Honours project: This project involves developing cognitive and behavioural tests in sheep to evaluate disease phenotypes.
Read more about Evaluate changes in the cognitive ability of sheep due to disease development

Mitochondrial DNA haplotype & response to placental restriction in sheep

Honours project: Determine effects of mitochondrial DNA haplotype on extent and response to placental restriction in sheep.
Read more about Mitochondrial DNA haplotype & response to placental restriction in sheep

Effect of inoculation of the neonatal ruminant with foreign microbiota

Honours project: Analyse the effect of inoculation of neonatal lambs with known populations of rumen microbes on the development of the innate immune system.
Read more about Effect of inoculation of the neonatal ruminant with foreign microbiota

Do sheep hang out with other sheep who have similar personalities?

Honours project: Determine whether sheep prefer to associate with other individuals that are similar in their behavioural type, and whether this results in an assortative social network structure.
Read more about Do sheep hang out with other sheep who have similar personalities?

Trans-Tasman cattle maternal efficiency

Honours project: Explore genetic selection strategies for maternal productivity in Angus and Hereford cattle in Australia and New Zealand.
Read more about Trans-Tasman cattle maternal efficiency

Optimising fodder beet grazing management for beef cattle

Honours project: Investigate the stocking rates, allocation of leaf and bulb and daily allocation of beets and the effect that changes in these parameters have on cattle performance.
Read more about Optimising fodder beet grazing management for beef cattle

Managing diurnal changes in rumen pH of cattle grazing fodder beet

Honours project: Increase our knowledge of the extent of rumen pH fluctuations in cattle grazing fodder beet long-term.
Read more about Managing diurnal changes in rumen pH of cattle grazing fodder beet

Sow conformation & performance

Honours project: Determine the relationship between sow conformation (assessed at gilt selection) and performance over four parities.
Read more about Sow conformation & performance

Genetics of lamb survival

Honours project: Examine the genetic relationship between birth weight and lamb survival in a research flock.
Read more about Genetics of lamb survival

Assessing cellular response to bioactive compounds as a prelude to testing in vivo

Honours project: Establish tissue culture and tissue explant systems for the bovine mammary gland.
Read more about Assessing cellular response to bioactive compounds as a prelude to testing in vivo

Cattle colostrum programming for a healthy life

Honours project: Compare the biological and molecular effects on a calf of receiving colostrum from its natural mother, from a different cow or not receiving colostrum at all.
Read more about Cattle colostrum programming for a healthy life

Thermal imaging of lamb temperature to help boost survival

Honours project: This project aims to assess lamb body temperature using thermography as an indirect selection criterion for genetically improving its survival.
Read more about Thermal imaging of lamb temperature to help boost survival

Detecting Huntington's disease using naturally occurring compounds in the breath

Honours project: Identify volatile organic compounds from exhaled breath for early diagnosis of Huntington’s disease using a sheep model.
Read more about Detecting Huntington's disease using naturally occurring compounds in the breath

Growth signalling pathways acting on the intestinal stem cell

Honours project: This project aims to access activity of positive and negative signalling pathways that act on intestinal stem cells in pigs.
Read more about Growth signalling pathways acting on the intestinal stem cell

Impact of birth trauma on piglet mortality

Honours project: Are lesions indicative of birth trauma present on still-born piglets? If so, are these lesions are also present on piglets dying from other causes.
Read more about Impact of birth trauma on piglet mortality

Factors affecting fertility of female pigs

Honours project: Study the effect of maternal parity and suckled litter size on sexual development of female pigs.
Read more about Factors affecting fertility of female pigs

01
Jan

Genomics of tropical composite beef cattle

Honours project: Work on a project to improve the accuracy of breeding value estimation in a commercial breeding program.

01
Jan

How do environmental factors influence sheep movement, space use and social behaviour?

Honours project: Identify how environmental factors influence movement, space use and social behaviour in Merino sheep.

01
Jan

Improving survival of new born piglets & sow performance

Honours project: This research aims to increase the reproductive output of sows by increasing piglet survival using supplementary nutritional strategies in late gestation.

more...
Soil science (related projects)

Soil science projects

How do native plants affect the supply of phosphorus to soils?

Honours project: Assess the role of native plants in the supply of phosphorus to soils.
Read more about How do native plants affect the supply of phosphorus to soils?

Can graphene and cement stop PFAS from contaminating our environment?

Honours project: Evaluate the leaching behaviour of PFAS from contaminated soil stabilised and solidified with cement and graphene.
Read more about Can graphene and cement stop PFAS from contaminating our environment?

Fighting fire-fighting foams: carbon materials for mitigating PFAS contamination

Honours project: Help reduce the environmental contamination caused by fire-fighting foams.
Read more about carbon materials for mitigating PFAS contamination

Plasma coating of fertilisers

Honours project: Study advanced plasma polymer coatings for slow nutrient release fertilisers.
Read more about Plasma coating of fertilisers

Nutrient cycling and soil respiration

Honours project: Investigate how soil microbial activity and nutrient availability are influenced by changes in water content or exposure to high temperature.
Read more about Nutrient cycling and soil respiration

Use of drones to assess the performance of wheat in sodic soils

Honours project: Investigate wheat growth and yield in high-sodium soils using drone-mounted imaging techniques
Read more about Use of drones to assess the performance of wheat in sodic soils

Identifying novel tolerance to subsoil constraints in a FIGS wheat set

Honours project: Identify wheat lines from around the world that are tolerant to subsoil challenges such as high salinity and soil pH
Read more about Identifying novel tolerance to subsoil constraints in a FIGS wheat set

Improving wheat yields in dispersive soils

Honours project: Examine how wheat yield can be improved by increasing tolerance to different soil constraints
Read more about Improving wheat yields in dispersive soils

Effect of micronutrients on the growth of wheat in sodic soils

Honours project: Examine how micronutrient interactions alter the growth and ion concentrations of wheat in sodic soils
Read more about Effect of micronutrients on the growth of wheat in sodic soils

Shoots or roots - which controls plant-fungal interactions?

Honours project: Investigate the origin of signals affecting colonisation of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
Read more about Shoots or roots - which controls plant-fungal interactions?

Using remote sensing to measure the variation in suspended sediment in Gulf St. Vincent

Honours project: Use remote sensing project to characterise historical variation in suspended sediment in Gulf St. Vincent.
Read more about Using remote sensing to measure the variation in suspended sediment in Gulf St. Vincent

Developing usable rangeland-condition assessment tools

Honours project: Develop usable rangeland-condition assessment tools in the area of remote sensing.
Read more about Developing usable rangeland-condition assessment tools

Measurement & characterisation of arid wetland vegetation dynamics

Honours project: Explore the dynamics of arid wetland vegetation.
Read more about Measurement & characterisation of arid wetland vegetation dynamics

Characterisation of river plume extent through remote sensing with high/moderate resolution satellite imagery

Honours project: Use satellite imagery to examine the extent of river plume in some of the world's most significant rivers.
Read more about Characterisation of river plume extent through remote sensing with high/moderate resolution satellite imagery
Viticulture (related projects)

Viticulture projects

Grape berry responses to extreme heat

Honours project: Discover how the biochemistry and physiology of grape berries respond to extremely high temperatures.
Read more about Grape berry responses to extreme heat

Where does the acid in wine come from?

Honours project: Can you help find the missing link in grape berry biochemistry?
Read more about Where does the acid in wine come from?

Battleground of the grapevine: Shiraz Disease under the microscope

Honours project: Help us understand disease progression and cultivar-specific grapevine defence responses to Shiraz Disease.
Read more about Shiraz Disease under the microscope

Improving salt tolerance in grapevines

Honours project: Investigate the movement of salt and water in grapevines in order to understand the effect of salinity on growth.
Read more about Improving salt tolerance in grapevines

Bioinformatics as applied to the study of genome structure and function

Honours project: Expand your knowledge and curiosity in bioinformatics and computational genetics.
Read more about Bioinformatics as applied to the study of genome structure and function
Wine science (related projects)

Wine science projects

Grape berry responses to extreme heat

Honours project: Discover how the biochemistry and physiology of grape berries respond to extremely high temperatures.
Read more about Grape berry responses to extreme heat

What is the effect of yeast diversity on secondary ‘malolactic’ fermentation outcome?

Honours project: Explore the interactions encountered during winemaking by creating artificial diversity systems and investigating the effect of adding or removing yeast species has on malolactic fermentation.
Read more about What is the effect of yeast diversity on secondary ‘malolactic’ fermentation outcome?

Where does the acid in wine come from?

Honours project: Can you help find the missing link in grape berry biochemistry?
Read more about Where does the acid in wine come from?

Agave spirits: Using wild yeasts to ferment fructose

Honours project: Fermentation of wild yeasts to create Australia's first agave spirit.
Read more about Using wild yeasts to ferment fructose

Aboriginal fermentations: Discovering their chemistry and new yeast species

Honours project: Wine scientists are seeking students to work on multi-disciplinary research projects that aim to discover new yeast species and unravel the chemistry behind Aboriginal fermentations.
Read more about Discovering their chemistry and new yeast species

Advanced yeast for challenging bioprocesses

Honours project: Test new and improved yeast strains to advanced winemaking and other biotechnology processes.
Read more about Advanced yeast for challenging bioprocesses

Influence of immersive virtual reality on consumers’ perception of wines

Honours project: Examine the impact of immersive VR on consumer perceptions of wine aroma and flavour and their wine preferences.
Read more about Influence of immersive virtual reality on consumers’ perception of wines

Examining perceived wine complexity and how it impacts consumer preference

Honours project: Investigate methods suitable to assess complexity of wines and collate a range of wines varying in perceived complexity.
Read more about Examining perceived wine complexity and how it impacts consumer preference

Honours handbook

For more specific details about honours program structure, assessment criteria and key contacts, read the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine honours handbook.

AFW honours handbook