About this role
<div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:8.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">.</H2> </div><div><p style="margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif;line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong><span style="line-height:107%;color:#00424a">MSc<span> project in Genetics or Statistics</span></span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif;line-height:107%"> </p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Position<span>: </span>Student (MSc)<br>Location<span>: </span>Invermay Campus, Mosgiel</span></strong></span></p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif;line-height:107%"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">This is a full-time position over 1 year. <br>Bioeconomy Science Institute Ltd is unable to provide support for relocation and visa activities.</span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif;line-height:107%"> </p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif;line-height:107%"> </p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong><span style="color:#00424a">Mō te Pakihi | About the Company: </span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-right:0.0cm;margin-left:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">The <strong><span style="font-weight:normal">Bioeconomy Science Institute </span></strong>is New Zealand’s newest Public Research Organisation, formed through the merger of AgResearch, Plant & Food Research, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, and Scion. The <strong><span style="font-weight:normal">Bioeconomy Science Institute</span></strong> exists to power New Zealand’s transition to a circular, resilient, and prosperous bioeconomy. Through world-leading scienc<strong><span style="font-weight:normal">e, the B</span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight:normal">ioeconomy Science Institute </span></strong>drives innovation across agriculture, horticulture, forestry, aquaculture, biotechnology, and manufacturing. It protects and enhances ecosystems, strengthens biosecurity and climate resilience, and develops cutting-edge bio-based products and technologies. </span></p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:8.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">.</H2> </div><div><p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong><span style="color:#00424a">Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the role </span></strong></span></p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Topic: </strong><strong>Detecting and characterising parental contamination in open-pollinated orchards</strong></span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt"><strong>Supervisors: </strong>Prof Phillip Wilcox (Mathematics and Statistics, Otago) and Dr Ken Dodds (Bioeconomy Science Institute*, Invermay, Mosgiel)</span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt"><strong>Funding:</strong> One-year domestic tuition fees plus stipend of $NZ22,000, contributed by the Radiata Pine Breeding Company (Christchurch).</span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:8.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">.</H2> </div><div><p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Open-pollinated orchards are often used to multiply up genetically improved plants and generate seeds for commercial populations. These orchards rely on natural pollination, and the intention is that the pollen is from trees within the orchard. Sometimes pollen is carried from outside the orchard ("contamination") and is of unknown genetic merit, devaluing the seed.</span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt"><strong> </strong></span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">This project will look at methods and strategies for estimating the contamination rate using genotyping. The project will consider sampling strategies, genotyping requirements and options, and completeness of parental genotyping. It may involve both simulation and actual datasets. It may also consider spatial effects whereby the contamination rate differs across the orchard and relate this to environmental and management factors.</span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">The successful applicant must be eligible to enrol in an MSc in genetics or statistics at the University of Otago. The student is expected to split their time between the University of Otago and the Invermay Agricultural Centre (Mosgiel) while working on the project (2 or 3 days/week at each site). </span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt"><strong> </strong></span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Dr Sai Arojju from the Radiata Pine Breeding Company will be an advisor to this project. Other staff from the University of Otago, Bioeconomy Science Institute or Radiata Pine Breeding Company may be added as additional advisors depending on the final requirements of the project.</span></p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="margin:0.0cm;line-height:107%;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">* The Bioeconomy Science Institute formed in 2025 as a merger of AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and Scion.</span></p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:8.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">.</H2> </div><div><p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong><span style="color:#00424a">Ōpūmanawa | About you </span></strong></span></p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0cm;margin-top:0.0px" type="disc"> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">A Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science that includes a thesis or dissertation.</span></li> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Must be eligible to enrol in a MSc in genetics or statistics at the University of Otago (average undergraduate grade of B+).</span></li> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Strong communication skills, especially writing. </span></li> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Effective interpersonal and critical thinking skills. </span></li> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Demonstrated capacity for collaborative work. </span></li> </ul></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:8.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">.</H2> </div><div><p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong><span style="color:#00424a">Tono Mai | Apply Now! </span></strong></span></p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">If you are interested in applying, please click on the link, which will allow you to upload a Cover Letter and CV. In your one-page (maximum) Cover Letter, please outline the following: </span></p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <ul style="margin-bottom:0.0cm;margin-top:0.0px" type="disc"> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Your motivation in applying. </span></li> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Why you feel you are a good fit for the role. </span></li> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">What specific experience and skills you will bring to the role. </span></li> <li style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Any other elements you would like us to consider in your application. </span></li> </ul> <p style="line-height:normal;margin-top:0.0cm;margin-right:0.0cm;margin-bottom:0.0cm;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">For further information regarding your application please contact Ken Dodds at [email protected].</span></p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"> </p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong><span style="color:#00424a">Note</span></strong></span><span style="font-family:Intra, serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">: </span><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt">Interested candidates should apply at any time as this opportunity will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Therefore, this advertisement may close if a suitable candidate is found prior to 1 March 2027.</span></span></p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><strong><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Intra, serif;color:#00424a"> </span></strong></p> <p style="line-height:normal;margin:0.0cm;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong><span style="color:#00424a">Applications close: 1 March 2027.</span></strong></span></p></div></div><div style="padding:10.0px 0.0px;border:1.0px solid transparent"><div style="font-size:8.0px;word-wrap:break-word"><H2 style="font-size:1.0em;margin:0.0px">.</H2> </div><div></div></div></div>