Help solve pressing global issues such as food security and climate change as a graduate researcher in veterinary, agricultural and food sciences. You’ll join a supportive and stimulating research community that extends across three campuses.
Our research is driven by purpose and designed for real-world impact. We’re making discoveries that advance animal and environmental well being and working with industry and government partners to solve large-scale global issues like food security, biosecurity concerns and climate change.
Staff knowledge, expertise and experience extends across many areas of agricultural, food, veterinary and biomedical sciences. This means you can choose from a wide range of research projects.
Whatever you’re curious about, you’ll find experts here who share your passion and determination – and have the resources and infrastructure to help you deliver your own breakthrough research.
Explore our research
The University’s research covers a wide range of themes across all aspects of veterinary, agricultural and food sciences.
We are passionate about discovering solutions to global health, environmental and social issues. These include sustainable practice, climate change solutions, animal welfare, as well as sustainable and nutritious food systems.
Our One Health mission promotes interdisciplinary approaches that recognise that human, animal, plant and environmental health are all interdependent.
Current research in Agriculture and Food, and Veterinary Science, explore topics in areas including:
- Agribusiness
- Agronomy and crop science
- Animal genetics and physiology
- Clinical veterinary practice
- Food and agricultural policy
- Food science and safety
- Indigenous agriculture
- Livestock production systems
- One Health
- Plant genetics
- Rural innovation and agricultural economics
- Sensing technologies
- Soil science
- Veterinary pathology
- Virology and parasitology
- Waste and environmental management
Research centres and institutes
The University hosts or is involved with a range of related research centres and initiatives, including:
Learn how we're making a difference
New research knowledge is benefiting communities in Australia and internationally. We work closely with industry and government partners to ensure research discoveries create real-world impact.
For example, Associate Professor Vern Bowles has had commercial success with a new prescription head lice treatment. In 2020, the treatment, known as Xeglyze™ and developed by Hatchtech, received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to be sold in the USA.
Discoveries are ongoing. Through research, we are learning how to:
- Help to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering Australia.
- Design zoo enclosures that reduce the negative effects of visitors on animals.
- Use policy to safeguard nutritious and equitable food supply.
- Prevent antibiotic resistance in our food through healthy soil management.
- Using biometrics to identify and prevent racehorse injuries before they become catastrophic.
- Help control epilepsy in humans by vaccinating pigs.
- Use digital and technological tools to save wine vintages from bushfire smoke.
- Adopt sustainable farming practices while maximising crops.
- Using Targeted Genetic Intervention to conserve wildlife.
And this is just a taste of the research discoveries that are happening in your field.
Collaborate with other disciplines
We have an inspiring and supportive research community. This means you can work with researchers from other disciplines to expand your learning opportunities.
Working with colleagues from other disciplines helps you reflect on the world in different ways. Depending on the topic, you might work with experts from areas like science, engineering or business.
Interdisciplinary initiatives and institutes that relate to veterinary, agricultural and food sciences include:
Graduate researchers also have access to many other interdisciplinary research opportunities across the University, including PhD Programs.
Partner with an overseas institution
Our international joint PhD opportunities allow you to access expertise, training and resources from two institutions, and spend a minimum of 12 months studying overseas.
Joint PhD opportunities within the theme of veterinary, agricultural and food sciences have included:
- A study into canine and feline vector-borne leishmaniasis, with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel).
- A study defining root exudates, with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China).
Explore more fully-funded joint PhD projects.
Work in a stimulating environment
Our Campuses
Our research in veterinary, agricultural and food sciences spans three campuses. Each campus offers programs that are tailored to your discipline. And at each campus, you’ll find a supportive community that shares your passion for research.
Parkville is our main campus, located very close to the centre of Melbourne. Here, you can pursue research in the fields of veterinary, agricultural and food sciences.
Dookie is our specialist agricultural campus – a living laboratory just over two hours’ drive from Melbourne. This rural campus is built on 2240 hectares of farmland. It consists of a high-tech robotic dairy, broadacre farming crops and 5000 merino sheep.
Our Werribee campus is in Melbourne’s west. Werribee is our veterinary campus, and houses the University of Melbourne Equine Centre.
Next steps
- Search for a supervisor in your field of research.
- Find out more about how to apply.
- Read about the latest research findings in veterinary, agricultural and food sciences.
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