The ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture at Western Sydney University is offering a fully funded PhD scholarship for a highly motivated candidate to join a research group focused on increasing horticulture productivity through Life Cycle Analysis of Horticulture Food Systems. Based at the Hawkesbury Campus, this project is part of a collaborative initiative between industry and research institutions, aiming to develop innovative approaches for the sustainable horticulture industry in Australia. The research will perform a comprehensive sustainability impact analysis of horticulture supply chains, examining selected horticultural produce types and accounting for differences among production systems, supply chains, and integrated technologies. Using life cycle impact assessment and various environmental indicators, the project will compare the environmental performance of alternative systems, including smart glasshouses, poly tunnels, vertical farming, and conventional farming. The intersection of technology and sustainability will be explored to develop strategic and operational solutions for enhanced sustainable performance. Outcomes of the study will include novel life cycle impact datasets contextualised for Australian horticulture supply chains, providing key stakeholders with actionable insights to strengthen industry sustainability. The project is led by Professor Dilupa Nakandala (School of Business) and Professor Oula Ghannoum, with support from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), a leading research institute renowned for high-quality horticulture research. Funding: Domestic and international candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $37,000 AUD per annum for up to 3 years. International candidates with a strong track record may be eligible for a tuition fee waiver and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Policy. Additional support is available for conference attendance, fieldwork, and other approved costs. Eligibility: Applicants should hold an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, a coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, a Research Master's degree, or equivalent overseas qualifications. Strong academic performance in optimisation methods, analytics, and supply chain management is required, along with experience in advanced statistical methods, data analysis, and field studies. Candidates must be enthusiastic, motivated, able to deliver research outputs, communicate scientific findings effectively, and work well in multidisciplinary teams. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency. Application Process: Review the eligibility criteria and prepare a document explaining how you meet them. Contact the lead researcher by email to discuss your eligibility and express your interest. Request a letter of support from the lead researcher. Submit an online application via the Online Portal, selecting 'Project Scholarship'. Applications close on 31 January 2026 at 11.59pm AEDT. For further information or questions, contact Prof. Oula Ghannoum ([email protected]) or Prof. Dilupa Nakandala ([email protected]).

The ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture at Western Sydney University is offering an industry PhD scholarship for a highly motivated candidate to join a research group focused on optimising the yield and quality of horticultural crops grown in protected facilities. The project is based at the Hawkesbury Campus and is part of a collaboration with the University of Adelaide, University of Western Australia, and industry partner Valucky. The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) is a leading research institute within WSU, renowned for its plant environmental and ecological research. This PhD project aims to develop and test innovative solutions for monitoring the growth, health, and quality of crops in protected cropping facilities. Central to the research is the Hex Product Identity Network (Hex-PIN), a next-generation digital supply chain infrastructure built on scalable blockchain architecture and integrating IoT and AI technologies. The network enables trusted digital identities for products, full lifecycle traceability, transparent collaboration, and intelligent governance across supply chains. Research topics include enhancing trust, transparency, and data integrity in agricultural supply chains using blockchain; digitising supply-chain events and assets to support verifiable and low-risk financing; developing credit-risk assessment frameworks for agricultural producers using blockchain and smart contracts; analysing economic and incentive mechanisms for stakeholder participation; evaluating governance models for multi-party collaboration; and conducting empirical and simulation-based studies to improve financing accessibility, transaction efficiency, and risk reduction in agricultural value chains. The project generates theoretical and applied insights relevant to FinTech, digital agriculture, supply chain economics, and decentralised systems. The successful applicant will receive a tax-free stipend of $37,000 AUD per annum for up to 3 years. Domestic candidates are supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset. International candidates with a strong track record may be eligible for a tuition fee waiver and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Policy. Additional support is available for conference attendance, fieldwork, and approved costs. Applicants must hold an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, Research Master's degree, or equivalent overseas qualifications. Candidates should have an interdisciplinary background in blockchain technology, supply chain systems, and supply chain finance, experience in financial software operation and digital financial systems research, strong research interest in agricultural systems and agri-finance, knowledge of AI models in agriculture finance/supply chain context, strong academic writing skills, and good oral and written communication skills. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency. Applications close on 31 March 2026 at 11.59pm AEDT. For questions and advice, contact Prof. Oula Ghannoum at [email protected]. For more information and to apply, visit the project page.