Back row (L-R): WAARC Director Dr Kelly Pearce, Lien Do Thi Thuy (Murdoch University), WAARC Capacity Building and Extension Program Lead Jenny Crisp, Dylan Tran (Curtin University) and Subash Gautam (Curtin University).
Front row (L-R): Ammar Ali (Murdoch University), Angad Singh (UWA) and Ryan Hall (UWA).
Six emerging researchers have been awarded WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC) scholarships to tackle priority challenges and opportunities across Western Australian agriculture.
The scholarships were awarded through Round 3 of WAARC’s Postgraduate Research Scholarship Program to students from Curtin University, Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia (UWA), with two recipients from each institution.
A welcome morning tea held today brought the PhD students together with the WAARC team and fellow recipients as they joined WAARC’s growing network of agricultural researchers and future leaders.
Their addition brings WAARC’s total scholarship cohort to 42 students, including 36 PhD scholars and six Honours scholars.
The recipients’ projects span crop disease management, biosecurity, advanced plant breeding, digital agriculture, low-emissions livestock systems and farm productivity, all critical to the future of Western Australia’s agrifood sector.
WAARC Director Kelly Pearce said the scholarships were an investment in the next generation of talented researchers who would drive innovation across Western Australia’s agrifood sector.
“The long-term success of WA agriculture depends on attracting, developing and retaining people with the expertise needed to tackle complex industry challenges,” Dr Pearce said.
“Beyond supporting individual researchers and their projects, WAARC’s scholarship program is building a connected cohort with the skills, confidence and industry networks needed to translate research into practical outcomes.
“Through WAARC, scholars gain valuable connections with industry, government and university partners that strengthen their work and maximise its real-world impact.”
For the first time, Round 3 applicants were required to align their research with priority workforce capacity areas identified through WAARC’s 2025-26 Capacity Needs Analysis.
These areas include Data and Digital, Extension and Communication, Climate and Sustainability, Agronomy and Production Systems, and Systems and Interdisciplinary Capacity.
Twenty-nine applications were received for Round 3, with six scholarships awarded following a competitive assessment process.
In partnership with WAARC members Curtin University, Murdoch University and UWA, scholarship recipients will receive more than $25,700 a year in top-up funding for up to three-and-a-half years while completing their PhDs.
Beyond financial support, scholars will benefit from professional development and industry engagement opportunities through WAARC’s non-university members, including the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), CSIRO and Grower Group Alliance (GGA).
“Building a strong pipeline of researchers is essential if Western Australia’s agrifood sector is to remain innovative, globally competitive and ready to respond to future challenges,” Dr Pearce said.
“By investing in emerging research talent today, we’re helping develop the knowledge, skills and connections that deliver lasting benefits for farmers, agribusinesses and regional communities.”
The scholarship program forms part of WAARC’s broader commitment to capacity building and extension, alongside initiatives including its Honours Partnership Program with GGA and sponsorship of a 2026 Churchill Fellowship.
For more information, including a full list of Round 3 scholarship recipients and their research projects, visit the WAARC website: Round 3 scholarships 2026 | WA Agricultural Research Collaboration
WAARC is backed by $25 million in State Government funding to strengthen Western Australia’s agricultural research capacity and industry sustainability.