Industry opportunities
Riverlink.PRN (postgraduate research network) was established to attract Honours, Masters and PhD students to the Sunraysia-Riverland region to further their studies. The network aims to encourage a pool of talent with fresh ideas and current horticultural expertise to expand local scientific research.

Investing in a Riverlink.PRN studentship project is a very cost effective method to achieve high qaulity industry relevant research. Honours, Masters and PhD projects are designed to address industry priorities and build on existing knowledge. The studentship also provides a mechanism to train and retain key research and development skills and disciplines within regional areas.

A studentship project is required to be linked to a university so that the student can be awarded a postgraduate qualification upon completion. Riverlink.PRN has establised close formal linkages with La Trobe University, which is the preferred provider of university supervision. However, arrangements with other unversities can be developed if required.

Research projects

Each studentship project requires well thought out research to address a scientific opportunity or industry issue. This can assist to solve important industry problems efficiently and effectively. Riverlink is looking for exciting innovative projects in a variety of fields including:

• Sustainable irrigated horticulture (grapes, citrus, vegetables)
• Sustainable land management
• Post-harvest horticulture

Intellectual property

Each project has an intellectual property agreement worked out in advance. Every endeavour is made for the student to maintain the right to publish their work as a scientific paper at completion of the studentship.

Typical PhD cost components

Tax free stipend

Australian Postgraduate Award minimum of $18,009 up to $25,500

Operating                                                       $15,000

Travel                                                             $ 5,000

Supervision and overheads                           $45,000

Total project cost                                            $90,500

This would be the typical cost per annum for 3.5 years.

Several options are available for funding a project:

Coinvestment with a funding body

$45,500 per annum contribution from industry, and

$45,000 per annum contribution from a university

Other levels of coinvestment

Other options that can be negotiated could involve industry partnerships with Riverlink, La Trobe Unversity, Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL), Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (GWRDC), Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) or the Australian Research Council (ARC).

The postgraduate student would work with a scientific agency and with industry on the project. Intellectual property generated by the project would be subdivided between the coinvestors depending on the levels of coinvestment.

Full funding of a studentship, with full intellectual property rights can also be negoiated. Part-time PhD studentships may also be considered.

Invitation to industry

Riverlink invites industry to invest in the journey of scientific exploration in the Australian horticultural industry.