Soil CRC PhD graduate lands job with farmer group

When Soil CRC participant West Midlands Group were recently recruiting, they found a former Soil CRC PhD student was the best person for the role.  

In a serendipitous turn of events, CRC PhD graduate Md. Zahangir Hossain has just begun his role of Cropping Systems Officer at the West Midlands Group (WMG) in Western Australia.

WMG Executive Officer, Dr Nathan Craig says they didn’t actively seek to employ a Soil CRC PhD graduate, but always recruit the best person for the role and Zahangir was the right candidate.

“It is testament to the high quality of soil research at the Soil CRC to have a PhD graduate employed through the network of grower groups,” he says.

Zahangir was drawn to the wheatbelt of Western Australia because of its extensive high production agriculture, wide variety of crops, and challenges of sandy soils.

His PhD project is relevant to these challenges; he produced a novel biochar-based fertiliser for use on low fertility soils.

“My project involved creating biochar from manure and biosolids and mixing it with chemical fertilisers to increase its nutrients. It was then applied to soil, with some good results from the pot plant trials. I am excited by the challenge of the poor soils in the area, I want to help farmers and keep researching to find solutions,” he says.

One of Zahangir’s projects at WMG will be to continue the work started at a Soil CRC project site with Dr Richard Bell from Murdoch University. Nathan Craig says “Zahangir’s PhD study in biochar will be very useful to the project.”

The role with WMG will also see Zahangir using his extensive experience from around the world to help growers improve their soil fertility and crop productivity.

Zahangir grew up in a small village in Bangladesh where his father was a farmer. He graduated from agricultural science and then worked with growers in Bangladesh and also as a lecturer. Zahangir completed a Masters of Science in Germany, focussing on his passion – organic agriculture.

“I come from a farming family, so I love working with farmers and growers. I am very keen to share my knowledge from different environments and climates and to share my passion to improve soil health.”

Zahangir says completing his PhD through the Soil CRC was rewarding.

“It was an amazing opportunity to be supported to complete this work. Producing a novel sustainable fertiliser is something that I have been passionate about for a long time,” Zahangir explains.

Nathan says Zahangir’s experience as a PhD student brings value to the organisation.

“Having a new team member hit the ground after completing a PhD in soil research shortens the time needed to train and ultimately, start delivering information and value to our members.”

Zahangir will be moving to Western Australia with his family once the border restrictions are eased.

To find out more about our PhD students, visit our website to see profiles of each current students.