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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
Sheep Pain Mitigation Trial
Honours project: Join a team of researchers who are investigating the experience of pain in sheep.
Read more about Sheep Pain Mitigation Trial
Rhizopus arrhizus: Fantastic fungi and how to control them
Honours project: Rhizopus arrhizus is a fast-growing fungus that spoils our food - it also has a huge biotechnological potential.
Read more about Fantastic fungi and how to control them
Transcription factors controlling seed development
Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project understanding seed development in flowering plants.
Read more about Transcription factors controlling seed development
Fruit fly control: CRISPR mutagenesis of the yellow2 gene
Honours project: Help generate a sterile fruit fly strain with a visible marker to facilitate easy tracking of sterile males after release.
Read more about CRISPR mutagenesis of the yellow2 gene
Genes controlling seed development
Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project on dissecting the MADS-box interactome during barley ovule and seed development.
Read more about Genes controlling seed development
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?
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?
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
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
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
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
more...01
Jan
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
01
Jan
Improving wheat yields in dispersive soils
Honours project: Examine how wheat yield can be improved by increasing tolerance to different soil constraints
01
Jan
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
01
Jan
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
01
Jan
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
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.
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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![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=aTqH116v)
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)
Genes controlling seed development
Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project on dissecting the MADS-box interactome during barley ovule and seed development.
Read more about Genes controlling seed development
Transcription factors controlling seed development
Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project understanding seed development in flowering plants.
Read more about Transcription factors controlling seed development
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
Plant science (related projects)
Plant science projects
Genes controlling seed development
Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project on dissecting the MADS-box interactome during barley ovule and seed development.
Read more about Genes controlling seed development
Transcription factors controlling seed development
Honours project: Participate in a plant breeding project understanding seed development in flowering plants.
Read more about Transcription factors controlling seed development
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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.
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Production animal health (related projects)
Animal science projects (Production animals)
Sheep Pain Mitigation Trial
Honours project: Join a team of researchers who are investigating the experience of pain in sheep.
Read more about Sheep Pain Mitigation Trial
How does Vitamin D improve piglet performance?
Honours project: Measure the impact of exposure to UV light on growth, serum levels of vitamin D, and immune function in nursing piglets.
Read more about How does Vitamin D improve piglet performance?
Uterine priming and pig fertility
Honours project: This pig fertility project will explore the influence of pre-breeding seminal components on gilt fertility.
Read more about Uterine priming and pig fertility
Is apple cider vinegar good for newborn piglets?
Honours project: This study will look at supplying an acid to newborn pigs to establish gut health and microbial populations.
Read more about Is apple cider vinegar good for newborn piglets?
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.
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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.
Read more about How do environmental factors influence sheep movement, space use and social behaviour?
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 -
Soil science (related projects)
Soil science projects
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?
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?
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.
Competition: Young Scientist of the Year
How do we feed the world’s growing population? How do we save our wildlife from extinction? Got an idea that will build a brighter, greener world?
Australian high school students are invited to submit a short video about one of Australia’s big science challenges.