Phenomics Infrastructure
for Excellence in Plant Science (PIEPS)
The Australian Plant Phenomics Facility (APPF) is committed to facilitating cutting edge
research in plant phenomics. We have introduced the Phenomics Infrastructure for
Excellence in Plant Science scheme to provide improved access to APPF platforms for
interdisciplinary collaborators undertaking innovative projects of significant scale and
vision.
Background
The Australian Plant Phenomics Facility is a world leading research facility
aimed at underpinning innovative plant phenomics studies to accelerate the
development of new and improved crops, healthier food and more
sustainable agricultural practice.
Established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure
Strategy (NCRIS), the APPF involves three research infrastructure facilities
located at the University of Adelaide, the Australian National University and
CSIRO Agriculture and Food in Canberra.
The APPF provides researchers with access to high quality plant growth
facilities and state-of-the-art automated phenotyping capabilities in
controlled environments and in the field.
To help accelerate research outputs, our phenomics technologies are
supported by experts from a number of fields, i.e. agriculture, plant
physiology, biotechnology, genetics, horticulture, image and data analysis,
mechatronic engineering, computer science, software engineering, mathematics and statistics.
Conditions of Award
The Phenomics Infrastructure for Excellence in Plant Science scheme involves access to APPF phenotyping
capabilities at a reduced cost to facilitate exceptional research projects of significant scale and vision that
produce high impact outcomes using plant phenomics approaches (i.e. delivering substantial outcomes for
Australian agriculture and resulting in high impact journal publications).
Emphasis is placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches with preference given to collaborative
projects on an international scale. The APPF team will work in partnership with you to provide consultation
on experimental design for optimal use of the equipment.
Selection is based on merit. Applications are assessed in consultation with the APPF’s independent
Scientific Advisory Board. Interviews will be conducted.
Timing:
Depending on availability of the required phenotyping platform and most suitable season
for plant growth, it is expected that projects commence within six months of award
confirmation and are completed within a two-year time frame.
Award:
The level of support depends on the nature and scale of the project, type and duration of
infrastructure use and the anticipated outcome and impact of the project. The award is
capped at $50,000.
Project:
Projects of significant scale and vision that produce high impact outcomes in plant
phenomics (i.e. delivering substantial outcomes for Australian agriculture and resulting in
high impact journal publications) will be considered.
Eligibility:
The Phenomics Infrastructure for Excellence in Plant Science scheme is open to all
publicly funded researchers. Emphasis is placed on novel collaborations that bring
together scientists preferably from different disciplines (e.g. from plant physiology,
computer science, engineering, biometry, quantitative genetics, molecular biology,
chemistry, physics) and from different organisations to focus on problems in plant
science.
Researchers will work in partnership with the APPF to determine experimental design
and optimal use of the equipment.
Conditions:
 Project findings must be disseminated in international, high-quality peer review
journals and must be made freely available as soon as possible after publication, and
licensed in ways which allow others to build upon and re-use this content.
 Researchers must acknowledge the APPF in the ‘Acknowledgements’ section of any
publications that may arise from the use of the Facility; “Australian Plant Phenomics
Facility, an Australian Research Facility established under the National Collaborative
Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)”.
 Applicants must provide a project plan outlining the activities from project
commencement until project completion, as well as associated milestones to be
achieved.
 Successful applicants must provide a project update every six months and report on
performance against agreed milestones and KPIs.
 Within six months of project completion, successful applicants must submit a final
report for inclusion in the APPF Progress Report and website/blog, describing the
project, how the facility helped address their research question, preliminary research
findings and anticipated and/or achieved results.
Note:
The APPF reserves the right not to make an award.
Deadline:
30 September 2017
Applications: Prior to submitting the application, applicants are asked to contact the APPF to discuss
the project proposal, infrastructure needs and access fees to determine project feasibility
and level of support.
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APPF, Adelaide: Dr Bettina Berger or Dr Trevor Garnett (University of Adelaide)
APPF, Canberra: Dr Xavier Sirault (CSIRO) or Prof Justin Borevitz (ANU)
Applications must be made by completing the attached application form and submitting
it to [email protected]
ATTACHMENTS: The CVs of all project collaborators must be attached to the application.
Application - Phenomics Infrastructure
for Excellence in Plant Science (PIEPS)
About the Principal Investigator
Family Name :
Given Name:
Email address:
Phone No.:
Organisation:
Department:
Street address:
Suburb:
P/C and State:
Proposed Project
Project Title:
APPF infrastructure involved:
Timeframe for the project:
Anticipated start date:
Anticipated completion date:
APPF staff with whom the proposal has been discussed:
Abstract / Description of the project (max. 500 words):
Impact / anticipated outcome:
Target journal:
Other publications or events (e.g. conferences, seminars) where this work will be presented (include timeline):
Collaborators and their role in the project:
Please comment on your research group’s and/or organisation’s ability to provide statistical analysis support of the
large datasets acquired from using APPF infrastructure:
Project budget and level of support sought:
Other relevant information including preliminary data:
Please provide an outline of the milestones to be achieved during each quarter (i.e. three-month period) of the
project.
Quarter:
Milestones:
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Please attach the CVs of all collaborators in this project.