Identification of mono-floral honeys from their chemistry and pollen

Cooperative Centre for Honey Bee Products

The low pricing of most honey bee products originating from Australia does not reflect their true value as unique and pure. Endemic flora, together with regulated isolation, has created the opportunity to produce these unique products, as well as develop a niche market in Australia, but it is an opportunity that is currently unappreciated. This Federally funded Cooperative Research Centre will resolve industry problems that are limiting both the value and expansion of the Australian honey bee products industry. It also proposes to develop bee disease insurance policies that seek to address a major global threat to the industry. The research centre aims to increase the value of the industry; provide pollination security to Australia through increasing the number of managed hives and develop a training pathway for professional beekeepers. For further information www.crchoneybeeproducts.com

Proposal Challenge

The PhD student will investigate a qualitative and quantitative HPTLC fingerprinting for a wide range of honeys and the effect of storage and processing conditions on the honey phytochemical composition and bioactivity.

Requirements

1. Experience, skills and/or a keen interest in chemistry, or similar. 2. Willingness to work as part of a large interdisciplinary team and achieve outcomes through a combination of planning, working independently, and collaborating with other team members. 3. Willingness to engage with external stakeholders, such as private companies and government departments, and effectively present scientific research results to this audience. Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills. 4. A limited fear of bees and bee stings. Bee allergies should be a consideration.

PhD students at the Cooperative Research Centre for Honey Bee Products will be enrolled through the host university. As a PhD student you will belong to a trans-disciplinary group of researchers that reaches across Australia and mixes with the industry. Each PhD student will have both an academic and industry supervisor as well as being trained in commercialisation.