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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?
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
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
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
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
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
Read more about Management practices to enable early wet season forage production in lowland rice production systems of The Lao PDR
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
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
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
more...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
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
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
Environmental monitoring with drones: Koalas
Honours project: Use drones to assist with wildlife conservation and research.
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.
01
Jan
Restoring grassy woodlands: interaction between native & invasive grasses
Honours project: Contribute to research into various strategies to restore grassy woodland.
01
Jan
Interactions between plant parasites & their hosts
Honours project: Join the investigation into the use of parasites as biological control agents.
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Food and nutrition science (related projects)
Food and nutrition science projects
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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![Salmonella species growing on X.L.D. agar Nathan Reading [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]](/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2019-05/salmonella.jpg?h=0d6ba564&itok=OEJygCHB)
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
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?
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 -
Horticulture (related projects)
Horticulture (related projects)
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Characterisation of the fungal extracellular matrix and its role in adhesion
Honours project: Determine the composition and role of plant fungal pathogen secretions
Read more about Characterisation of the fungal extracellular matrix and its role in adhesion
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.
Read more about Structural studies of cell wall proteins involved during pathogenesis
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?
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
more...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
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
Honours project: Research projects with fieldwork including differences in spatial heterogeneity between grazed and ungrazed areas.
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.
01
Jan
Restoring grassy woodlands: interaction between native & invasive grasses
Honours project: Contribute to research into various strategies to restore grassy woodland.
01
Jan
Interactions between plant parasites & their hosts
Honours project: Join the investigation into the use of parasites as biological control agents.
01
Jan
Mighty macrophytes: Ecology & management of common reed & bulrush
Honours project: Investigate the ecology and management of common reed and bulrush.
01
Jan
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.
01
Jan
Genomic analysis of fungal cell wall synthesis
Honours project: Examine which sugars are made by different fungal species as cell wall components through genomic analysis.
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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?
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
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
Read more about Lactation oestrus and breeding in sows
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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.
Read more about Genomics of tropical composite beef cattle
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
more...01
Jan
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.
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.
-
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?
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?
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
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 -
Viticulture (related projects)
Viticulture projects
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
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
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
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.
STEM Careers Night: On-campus and online
Whether you're still at high school or planning to join us mid-year, taking a break from study or rethinking your career path, come chat with us at our STEM Careers Night.
You and your parents are invited to join us on campus on Tuesday 18 May 2021 to see what’s available in the world of STEM.