By targeting early and mid-career researchers, the GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program addresses a gap in available Australian travel awards

By connecting talented Australian researchers with talented international researchers, the GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program (IVFP) enhances Australia’s connection to global scientific networks.

GRDC capacity and extension manager Katelyn Lubcke says the program addresses a gap in available travel awards.

The investment seeks to partner emerging national and international research leaders from differing disciplines with established grains researchers.

“For R&D investors such as GRDC, one way to access new capacity and engage non-traditional partners is by establishing mechanisms that support interaction and collaboration between established R&D providers and non-traditional partners, including leading global R&D institutions in new or emerging research fields.

It promotes the exchange of ideas and the transfer of knowledge and technology which results in R&D that benefits Australian growers.

A recent program recipient is Dr Jun Zou. Her work focuses on canola genetics, genomics and pre-breeding at the Rapeseed Research Centre, Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU).

Canola is Australia’s second-largest crop and in China it is the largest winter oilseed crop.

Hosted by the University of Western Australia (UWA) and senior canola researcher Dr Sheng Chen at The UWA Institute of Agriculture, Dr Zou has travelled across Australia meeting researchers at the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute (WWAI), CSIRO and several canola breeding companies.

An early career researcher, Dr Zou worked with University of Western Australia (UWA) researchers to analyse the genomic composition of advanced Brassica hexaploid lines with A, B and C genomes. This research unpacked the genome changes of novel material.

The B genome in Brassica hexaploid lines possess valuable segments controlling desirable traits. “These novel traits would be of great benefit potential to canola without B genome,” Dr Chen says.

During the visit, Dr Zou strengthened cooperation for exploring approaches that can be used in Brassica hexaploid lines as novel canola breeding material, such as its use in abiotic stress tolerance for canola breeding.

Six researchers from Australia were invited to the 2024 International Rapeseed Genomic Breeding Symposium held and funded by HZAU following the fellowship to “build more extensive and in-depth cooperations,” Dr Zou says.

More information: Dr Jun Zou, zoujun@mail.hzau.edu.cn; Dr Sheng Chen, sheng.chen@uwa.edu.au

Resources: GRDC International Visiting Fellowships Program 2025/26.