PhD Student Profile

Novel materials with significant water retention capability in the soil will tend to mitigate a regional drought issue across Australia. Tthis study aims to synthesise novel cellulose-based materials by utilising biomass waste and converting the waste into valuable products to mitigate the drought in soil.

This study will also help in minimising the waste from the environment and ultimately support the sustainable goals of development.

PhD Title: “Developing highly effective novel cellulose-based moisture-retaining materials”

PhD start date: October 2022

Supervisors: Professor Chengrong Chen (Griffith University), Dr Jia Xu (Griffith University), Tony Vancov (NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development).

What interested you about this research?
Investigating a way to address major environmental issues such as soil drought and minimise agricultural waste from the environment.

What do you love about your PhD?
I am passionate about learning new methods and technologies that will  help to improve soil health. I have enjoyed the opportunity to network with like-minded people through the Soil CRC.

What do you love about soil?
Soil puts food on our plates, purifies our water, protects us against flooding and combats drought.

How will your PhD help to make a difference for farmers?
I am developing different novel cellulose-based materials to mitigate the drought in the soil. This will help farmers use water resources more efficiently, improve crop yields, and quality and reduce agricultural production costs.

What do you want to do when you finish your PhD? 
I want to continue as a researcher or scientist in the agriculture or environmental sector to help farmers and improve agriculture productivity.

Find out more

• Connect with Sundus on LinkedIn
• View her publications on ResearchGate or Google Scholar