CSIRO Industry PhD Program

PhD scholarship opportunity in AI-powered visual recognition for dairy cow health and behaviour monitoring at Murdoch University, in collaboration with CSIRO and an industry partner. The project sits at the intersection of computer science, robotics, information technology, agriculture, and veterinary science, with a strong applied focus on developing visual recognition systems for identifying and monitoring dairy cow health and behaviour.

The scholarship is part of the CSIRO Industry PhD Program (iPhD), a four-year research training program designed to connect university research with industry needs. The package includes approximately A$47,000 per year tax-free, plus A$13,000 per year for project expenses and development, along with 60 days of industry engagement and access to CSIRO professional development and training.

Eligibility is limited to Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens. Applicants must meet Murdoch University PhD admission and English language requirements, must not already hold a PhD, and should be able to commence in the year of offer. Full-time enrolment is expected, though part-time arrangements may be considered with approval. Candidates should also be prepared for project-location requirements and CSIRO onboarding, including background checks.

To apply, submit an expression of interest to A/Prof Hai Wang with a two-page research statement, CV (including publication list), and academic transcripts. The supervisory team will review applications, shortlist candidates, and interview selected applicants.

Supervision includes Associate Professor Hai Wang (Murdoch University), Dr Quanxi Shao (CSIRO Data61), and Dr Mark McHenry (Peninsula Downs Pty Ltd). The project is based at Murdoch University in Western Australia, with industry engagement and CSIRO involvement.