The AICF Institute AgriTwins program will be offering PhD/Masters of Philosophy scholarships for outstanding research scholars commencing in 2025.
Projects can be expanded below to detail the specific information on each digital twin, scholarship, ideal candidate criteria and eligibility requirements.
Expressions of Interest are to be submitted initially using the online form. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted through May and June 2025.
To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must be domestic students as per the Higher Education Support Act at the time of award.
Domestic students include:
Project 1: PhD Project: Development of A Digital Twin of a Rice Handling and Processing Facility
This project aims to create a comprehensive digital twin of the Sunrice rice handling and processing facility to enhance operational efficiency, optimise resource utilisation, and improve product quality and sustainability. By leveraging historical data from the facility, the project will develop machine learning algorithms to build a digital twin, enabling detailed analysis, visualisation, and monitoring of rice processing steps.
Preferred candidate (skill set):
The preferred candidate should have strong programming and data science skills. Knowledge of digital twins and IoT will be desirable, and the application will be in agriculture.
Supervisory team:
Dr. Ibrar Yaqoob
Dr. Abdullah Abdullar
Dr. Jian Liu
Project 9: PhD Project: Using Data Science and Digital Twin technology on Developing Landscape Metrics for Animal Welfare in Extensive Grazing Systems
This project aims to transform quantitative landscape metrics and animal data into practical tools and knowledge that grazing producers can use to measure animal welfare outcomes in extensive grazing systems. It employs data science and digital twin modelling to enhance both welfare and business outcomes through landscape stewardship.
Preferred candidate (skill set):
The preferred candidate should have a good animal science/veterinary background and be passionate about simulation models. Knowledge of programming and data science skills would be desirable. The application will be in an agricultural environment, particularly around livestock.
Supervisory team:
Dr. Fendy Santoso
Professor Jane Quinn
Project 12: PhD Project: Using Data-Centric Tools to Develop a Comprehensive Digital Twin for Charles Sturt University’s Commercial Farm
The CSU Global Digital Farm is a 2,500-hectare farming enterprise consisting of two properties in Wagga Wagga and Orange, supporting a diverse range of agricultural production, teaching, and research activities. This project will investigate the spatial and temporal relationships among various soil, plant, and weather data, as well as crop management practices within the dryland cropping program. A range of existing crop and plant growth models (APSIM, Yield Prophet, etc.) that utilise these data and relationships will then be integrated to create a spatially enabled, digital twin-based decision support system focused initially on fertiliser management of cereals. With other management issues, crop types, and pastures also potentially able to utilise a similarly structured capability, an emphasis on developing a template-based framework will be employed to streamline future applications.
Preferred candidate (skill set):
The preferred candidate should have strong programming and data science skills. Knowledge of agricultural/environmental science, digital twins, GIS, remote sensing, and IoT will be desirable, and the application will be in the agricultural environment.
Supervisory team:
Professor Ganna Pogrebna
Professor Geoff Gurr
Mr. Jonathan Medway etc.
To be eligible to receive the scholarship applicants must:
Domestic students include:
* Australian citizens
* Australian permanent residents
* a person entitled to stay in Australia, or to enter and stay in Australia, without any limitation as to time
* a New Zealand citizen.
The scholarship provides the following benefits:
Stipend: This scholarship is valued at $42,483 per annum, payable in fortnightly instalments.
Tuition Fees: Domestic candidates: Fee exemption for a period equivalent to:
* 3.5 years (seven sessions) for PhD at full-time study.
* 2 years (4 sessions) for Masters by Philosophy at full-time study
Operating Funds: Scholarship candidates are allocated an allowance to assist with the reimbursement of costs associated with a candidate’s research.
PhD candidates
* Training - $5,000 pa for 3 years
* Travel - $5,000 in total
* Thesis Allowance - $840 in total- 3.5 years (seven sessions)
Masters by Research
* Training - $5,000 pa for 2 years
* Travel - $5,000 in total
* Thesis Allowance - $420 in total
The scholarship is tenable for:
PhD candidates - 3.5 years (3.5 years FTE for the stipend and tuition fee coverage, and 3 years for operating funds allowances) subject to satisfactory progress.
MPhil candidates - 2 years FTE for the stipend, tuition fee coverage, and operating funds allowances) subject to satisfactory progress.
Scholarship candidates are entitled to 20 paid annual leave working days per year and 10 paid sick leave days per year; however, they are not eligible for paid primary parental care leave or additional personal leave.
A two-stage process will be undertaken. Initial Expressions of Interest where candidates will respond to a specific project “pitch”.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to apply for enrolment.
Selected candidates will then apply for an AgriTwins Scholarship when completing their Charles Sturt course admission application. When given the option to apply for a scholarship, select 'Yes', 'Full-time AGRTP', and 'Other'. Under 'Other', enter AgriTwins Scholarship Project.
Limited projects are now available. Shortlisting will conclude when all projects have been allocated.
Email aicf@csu.edu.au with the headline ‘AgriTwins student enquiries + project number’
