A new application round under the Sheep Industry Business Innovation Scholarships program is open for eligible students planning research projects in the second semester.

DPIRD development officer Katherine Davies said the program aimed to encourage individuals keen to pursue further study by addressing key sheep industry focus areas.

"This program aims to build students' capabilities to contribute to the sheep industry and value chain, including building knowledge in business and agricultural and animal science," Davies said.

"Areas identified as relevant to the WA sheep industry supply chain may include increased reproduction, adoption of new technology, exploring opportunities to add value along the supply chain and development of new business models."

Eligible WA-based research projects may receive support of up to $5000 for honours projects and up to $38,000 per annum for two years of masters and three years for PhD, plus negotiable levels of operating expenditure.

"The scholarship program to date has funded four PhDs, seven honours and five vocational/internships scholarships," Davies said.

University of WA Honours student Alison Walsh recently received a scholarship for her project focused on the viability of carbon mitigation for native shrubs as sheep feed.

"The process of getting the scholarship application together helped me pull the project together and get the research going a lot quicker than I might have done otherwise," Walsh said.

"Advice from the scholarship assessment panel helped with making connections that I wouldn't have otherwise been able to make."

Students can be invited for vocational or internship opportunities in the sector.
The department can also provide in-kind support through field sites, office space, equipment and general support.

Applications are now open and close 30 April 2019. Candidates are encouraged to find out more at the department's website:
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-research-development/western-australian-sheep-industry-university-scholarship-program

The scholarship program is funded by the department and MLA Donor Company (MDC), with support from the Australian Wool Education Trust.