New Zealand Regenerative Agriculture Research PhD

About Dairy Australia: 

Dairy Australia’s role is to provide services that benefit and advance dairy farm businesses and the industry. These services deliver value by enhancing farm business management, supporting farm employment needs, driving herd and feed innovation, managing climate and environment, promoting Australian dairy and commitment to sustainability, supporting policy development, growing international markets and responding to critical issues and events such as floods and bushfires. 

Our Vision and Values: 

At Dairy Australia, our vision is simple, to be leaders in shaping a profitable and sustainable dairy industry. Our passionate and talented people share this vision and make an impact each day through their commitment to our values of: 

• Farmer First - Farmer needs guide our purpose 
• One Team - We work together to achieve great things 
• Innovative Thinking - We embrace new ideas and learning as we go 
• Decisive Action - We make informed decisions and move quickly to implement 

About the role:

We are currently interested in receiving Expressions of Interest from PhD applicants for our Dairy Australia (in consultation with the Whenua Hauman team), funded PhD research program at Massey University in New Zealand. 

The PhD program - Whenua Haumanu (Nurturing the land through exploring pastoral farming) – will monitor multiple aspects of diverse pastures and pasture management, including implementing regenerative farming (RF) practices. 

Our aim is to scientifically quantify the effect of diverse pastures and RF practices and thereby assess the suitability and relevance of these under Aotearoa New Zealand conditions, whilst also testing the anecdotal claims that many of our conventional pastoral practices are ‘already regenerative’.

This project, led by Prof. Danny Donaghy (Massey University) will focus around the dairy farmlet work which remains with 5 lactations to complete.

Successful completion of a 3-4 year PhD program would result in this degree conferred from Massey University.

Start Date:

Applicants must be committed to commencing no later than February 2026. We will consider applicants wishing to commence mid-July 2025 in line with the new Semester. The majority of research and related academic work will be conducted at Massey University - NZ.

Funding:

Dairy Australia would support the successful candidate with funding to cover Years 1-3 of the PhD program with the following:

• University/course Enrolment Fees
• PhD Scholarship
• Assist with Relocation costs
• Possible funding to support Year 4 PhD to be negotiated pending overall student progress up to and including Year 3

Academic pre-requisites for candidates:

To be considered for this PhD opportunity, candidates should possess an Honours or Masters degree in agricultural, animal, veterinary or related science.

How to Apply:

Applications must include the following:

• one page cover letter
• your current CV
• copy of your university transcript.

Applications close 15^th May 2025. Please note interviews may be scheduled prior to application closing date.

Application Process:

Applications shall be reviewed by Research and Innovation Group members at Dairy Australia and Whenua Haumanu Research team members at Massey University. Shortlisted candidates will be notified and interviewed.