Postgraduate student: Sugarcane crop physiology

The South African Sugarcane Research Institute based in Mount Edgecombe near Durban seeks a postgraduate student to join an experienced team of researchers to conduct exciting crop physiology research in sugarcane.

Postgraduate student: Resource use efficiency of high biomass sugarcane for bio-energy production  (Jan 2012 to Mar 2013, Mount  Edgecombe, stipend of ZAR 60 000 pa). 

Resource (solar radiation, water and nitrogen) use efficiency of different sugarcane cultivar types aimed at the production of bio-energy and sugar production respectively, will be investigated in order to determine the feasibility of sugarcane production for bio-energy in marginal areas, and to provide guidelines for breeding and managing such crops.

The postgraduate student  will:

(1) review current knowledge and use existing data to give broad indications of  the production potential and resource requirements for sugarcane biomass production in S.A. and
(2) conduct an experiment to closely monitor and better understand the physiology of crop development, water uptake, radiation interception, structural growth, biomass partitioning and crop response to water stress.
 
Research outcomes will include chapters in a research report, publications in scientific journals and an M.Sc.  thesis.
 
The ideal candidate will have:

• A B.Sc. Hons. or B.Sc. Agric.  Hons.  in crop science, plant physiology, agronomy or related field.
• A good knowledge of crop physiology, computer literacy
• The ability to:
(1) use instruments to measure crop, soil and atmospheric processes,
(2) to quantitatively analyse crop experimental data and
(3) to formulate and  test concepts of crop response to environmental factors.

For further information please contact Dr. Abraham Singels abraham.singels@sugar.org.za

The Application Process

Only applications submitted through our online job portal will be considered.  To enter the portal, please visit the SASA website, careers page and point to ''Click here to apply for any of the positions listed on the left'' to enter the portal.  Please feel welcome to provide comprehensive information when making your submission as this will assist our short-listing process. 

Closing date:  Until a suitable candidate has been identified.