In Program 3, we’ll be integrating our research projects with placements to provide students and postdocs with experience working first-hand in plant biosecurity.
This approach, coupled with entrepreneurship training, will develop new innovators with a mindset for research translation and industry transformation.
Community building, networking, and fostering novel collaborations will be a key aspect of our Centre.
– Program Leader, Deputy Director Mostafa Rahimi Azghadi
Details
Plant biosecurity in Australia is a shared responsibility undertaken by a highly networked ecosystem of stakeholders, governments, and industry partners.
The Centre has 27 partner organisations that span the breadth of the sector and promise to facilitate a strengthened collaborative national network on plant biosecurity.
Placements
We will facilitate the development of “job-ready” graduates that are networked across multiple partner organisations. Students and early career researchers will be placed in partner organisation to gain in-depth understanding of working principles and how their research can lead to impact for end-users.
Each student and early career researcher funded by the Centre will have a minimum of 12 months placed within a partner organisation or several organisations. This time might be taken in a single chunk or in multiple experiences. For example, a student might spend a month with Plant Health Australia, attend fortnightly team meetings with DAFF, and undertake fieldwork in Burdekin Productivity Services several times. Or a student might be primarily based at CSIRO and only attend campus occasionally.
The Training Centre has budget set aside to cover travel costs for placements. In the first six-months of enrolment, students will create a placement plan with their university supervisors and relevant partners that meets their needs and interests and will support the project. These placements are a fantastic opportunity to explore future career options, build networks and gain skills for employment.
Translating research outcomes
We will equip trainees with skills to translate research into real-world applications with the industry end-users involved in the innovation and translation process. This will be facilitated by our Research-to-Impact translation course.
The Centre will work with partners to integrate and expand existing programs such as CSIRO’s ON, Startup Onramp, or Farmers2Founders unique 5-step program, which is tailored toward agrifood startups.