Microbiome-based strategies for enhancing drought resilience in native vegetation Western Sydney University in Australia

Join the federally funded Future Drought Fund 'DRI.SEED' project at Western Sydney University, focusing on enhancing the diversity, function, and drought resilience of native ground cover in agricultural landscapes. This interdisciplinary PhD project sits at the interface of plant ecology, soil science, and microbiome research, offering opportunities for fundamental insights into plant-microbial drought adaptation and applied outcomes for sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration under increasing climate variability.

The research will explore how soil and root-associated microbial communities influence plant establishment, stress tolerance, and ecosystem resilience under drought conditions. You will employ laboratory, controlled experiments, and field-relevant approaches to generate data that inform both ecological understanding and practical land-management solutions.

As a PhD candidate, you will receive training in experimental design, field surveys, advanced statistics and data analysis, and reproducible research workflows. Techniques include microbiome inoculation and manipulation experiments, quantitative plant trait measurements, soil and root microbiome sampling and sequencing, and multivariate and mixed-effects statistical analyses in R. Mentorship in scientific writing, communication, and career development is provided, along with a supportive, collaborative research environment within an interdisciplinary group. Opportunities for publication, national and international conference travel, and professional networking are available.

The scholarship provides a tax-free stipend of $35,188 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years for both domestic and international candidates. International candidates with a strong track record may be eligible for a tuition fee waiver. Additional support for conference attendance, fieldwork, and approved costs is included. International candidates must hold Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of their study in Australia (not covered by the scholarship).

Eligibility requires a First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, Research Masters degree, or equivalent overseas qualifications. Strong academic performance in ecology, plants, and entomology, understanding of climate change adaptation, willingness to learn analytical techniques, and enthusiasm for advanced study are expected. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.

To apply, review the eligibility criteria and prepare a document explaining how you meet them. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the Online Portal. Once approved, submit your completed application by the deadline. For questions, contact Dr Eleonora Egidi ([email protected]) or Prof Paul Rymer ([email protected]). Applications close 30 April 2026.