PhD Scholarship: Digital Modelling of Apple for Quality Prediction at Massey University, New Zealand

Digital twins are an emerging topic for horticultural supply chain. A digital twin is a virtual representation, usually in the form of models, of real horticultural produce mimicking the complex biological processes in response to external conditions. This project is part of a larger government-funded research project that aims to develop digital apple twin models that focus on fruit growth and development on the tree, and how the fruit then perform in storage.

The PhD will build on initial data and findings from the first year of a 5-year research project, with the aim to acquire comprehensive sensor data over multiple growth seasons and develop methodologies to associate sensor data with fruit development and quality outcomes. This includes development of appropriate fruit models which will subsequently be incorporated into larger tree models for simulation of other processes such as light and/or water interception, crop load management or impact of global warming on fruit storability.

Given the sheer quantity of data collected from the sensor arrays, and the complexity of the processes involving a large set of mechanistic models, there is also a need to investigate how sensor data can be integrated with inputs of physiology-guided models to enable and improve prediction and simulation of firmness and overall quality of the harvest product in a cyber-physical representative of fruit.

With funding and support from MBIE, the Massey AgriFood Digital Lab (MAFDL) seeks a PhD candidate to (i) develop methods to model fruit quality and storability development based on multiple fruit sensor data and (ii) setup a digital twin with inputs of sensor data in mechanistic models for more robust firmness prediction and simulation of apples. This project is to be operated as a joint research collaboration between MAFDL and Plant and Food Research Hawke’s Bay. The successful candidate will join a team of professors, young researchers and PhD students. The role will be primarily based in Massey University’s Manawatu campus in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

The successful candidate will receive a stipend of $30,000 NZD per year plus tuition fees ($8,500 NZD per year) for a three year period, and travel allowance. The candidate will spend a majority of their time on the Manawatu campus and may also be working at Plant and Food Research Hawke’s Bay site. The successful candidate is expected to travel internationally for conferences, and to collaborate with international research groups.

Applicants that are currently completing their degree may be considered, with the understanding that the position is to be filled by April 2023. Interested candidates should send all requested documents to Dr. Mo Li.

Eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible for this project, the applicants must:

• Hold an appropriate Master’s (B or higher result) or Honours (2nd class div I) degree in a relevant discipline. Relevant disciples are wide ranging and can include Engineering, Physics, Mathematics and Plant Science.
• Be capable of designing and executing large scale laboratory experiments.
• Be capable of collecting and analysing large sets of data.

Other competencies which would be seen favourably by the selection team include:

• Previous experience with the horticulture industry.
• Previous experience living/working in multiple culture environments.

Application checklist

Include the following with your application:

• your CV
• a cover letter
• a one-page essay on how you would suggest tackling the research problem
• a copy of your complete transcripts for all tertiary study

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