Apply now for PBRI’s Ritman Scholarship
Take the next step in your plant health journey – applications for PBRI’s Ritman Scholarship are now open, closing 5pm, Thursday 2 April 2026.
This exciting scholarship offers plant health students a unique opportunity to attend the 2026 PBRI Symposium on May 12 & 13, connect with leaders in plant health, and showcase their work. Scholarship recipients will present a short talk at the Symposium highlighting their research and its significance to the future of plant health.
In addition, for the two-year duration of the scholarship, recipients will gain valuable leadership and networking experience through co-convening the PBRI Plant Health Student Network with a focus on plant health careers.
The scholarship honours the legacy of Dr Kim Ritman, a founding member of PBRI and Australia’s Chief Plant Protection Officer. A passionate champion of early-career researchers, Dr Ritman dedicated his career to strengthening Australia’s scientific capability in plant biosecurity.
Application criteria.
Applicants must:
- Be a full-time post-graduate student working on a plant biosecurity related topic
- Provide approval from a university or research supervisor to attend the Symposium.
How to apply.
- Complete the application form here
- Email the following documents to support your application to PBRI Program Director, Jo Luck – jo.luck@horticulture.com.au
- An abstract of your post-graduate research (300 words)
- A brief biography (250 words) detailing your interest in plant biosecurity and why you would like to attend the PBRI Symposium.
Please submit all required materials by 5pm, Thursday 2 April 2026 (AEDT).
Winners will be announced at the 2026 Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative Symposium.
Through the Ritman Scholarship, PBRI proudly invests in the next generation of plant health leaders. Discover what our current scholarship winners say about their experience –
“The opportunity to help run the Plant Health Student Network was both enjoyable and professionally rewarding. Through this experience I developed valuable leadership skills and insight into the broader plant health community, beyond my academic training. I also enjoyed taking a deep-dive into learning about the research of others, which helped me to contemplate my own work.” – Michael Edwards, La Trobe University
“Being a Ritman Scholar during my PhD has been a valuable experience. I enjoyed engaging with Australia’s plant health and biosecurity leaders and decision-makers in government and industry, especially at the 2024 PBRI Symposium where I presented my research. As one of the coordinators of the Plant Health Student Network, I had the opportunity to lead online meetings with students and early-career researchers globally, strengthening my leadership, communication, and operational skills. Learning alongside the other three Ritman Scholars in such a supportive and passionate team was a great experience.” – Zali Mahony, University of Queensland
“Being a Ritman Scholar during my PhD was an extremely rewarding experience. The program provided opportunities to engage with Australia’s plant health and biosecurity community and to present my research beyond an academic setting. Through the scholarship, I was supported to attend and present at the B3, Better Border Biosecurity Conference in New Zealand, where I was able to connect with plant health and biosecurity researchers, industry representatives, and leaders across borders, and gain insight into applied biosecurity priorities. Co-convening the Plant Health Student Network as part of the Ritman Scholarship helped build my confidence and strengthen my leadership skills during my PhD.” – Rabia Ali, Macquarie University
“Being a Ritman Scholar was an incredibly rewarding and valuable opportunity, particularly during the final stages of my PhD. Co-convening the Plant Health Student Network meetings was a particular highlight, providing the opportunity to meet and learn from plant health scientists across Australia and New Zealand, while also building friendships with other scholars. Most importantly, the scholarship enabled me to attend the Plant Biosecurity Research Symposium. As my PhD project involved limited industry engagement, this experience allowed me to broaden my plant health network across both industry and academia, an opportunity I would not have had without the Ritman Scholarship.” – Alyssa Martino, University of Sydney
