The CRC’s growing cohort of early-career researchers embedded across the Murray–Darling Basin is bringing us closer to our landmark goal in research training.

Fundamental to the One Basin CRC is our commitment to develop the next generation of talent for Basin communities and industries, and at the heart of this commitment is an ambitious target to train 50 PhD researchers over our 10-year lifespan.

As we reach the end of our fourth year, the program is building real momentum towards this goal.

As of June, 26 researchers had started their studies, and another 10 are expected to begin in coming months. 

What makes the program distinctive is where this research is happening. The majority of our PhDs are embedded in one of our Regional Hubs —  Loxton, Mildura, Griffith, or Goondiwindi — conducting research in and alongside Basin communities. Six researchers are First Nations candidates based on country, reflecting the CRC’s commitment to ensuring Basin communities are not just subjects of research, but active participants in generating it.

The research itself spans the breadth of challenges facing the Basin, with projects tackling topics including water security, irrigation and water infrastructure innovation, climate adaptation pathways, governance systems and policy innovation, river and ecosystem health, sustainable agriculture and regenerative food systems, financing and incentivising ecosystem services, and emerging areas such as First Nations-led approaches to environmental stewardship, governance, cultural revitalisation and knowledge systems.  

PhD research topics are co-developed with and co-funded by industry partners, ensuring the research is grounded in real-world needs and has clear pathways to impact.

With nine additional PhD positions in various stages of recruitment, covering topics from fish-friendly farm practices to data science and risk decision-making, the pipeline remains active and diverse. Strong prospective candidates continue to come forward, drawn by the CRC’s unique model of place-based, industry-connected doctoral training. 

Taken together, the program is doing exactly what it set out to do: building a new generation of researchers with deep expertise in Murray–Darling Basin communities and industries.

Industry partners seeking to capitalise on the remaining PhD funding and to bring on new students in early 2027 are encouraged to identify research needs and potential topics by the end of July 2026. Please contact the relevant Research Program Lead or the Education and Training team at educationandtraining@onebasin.com.au for further information.