Scholarships to boost biosecurity talent in the Top End

April 23, 2026

For the second consecutive year, the Crawford Fund for Food Security’s NT Committee is proud to announce the successful recipients of scholarships to support researchers in the field of biosecurity to generate knowledge and learning through conference attendance and/or international travel. 

“These scholarships are focused on building the biosecurity capacity and capability within the NT and shaping the biosecurity careers of the successful recipients,” said Emeritus Professor Helen Garnett, Chair of the Crawford Fund’s NT Committee.

“Given our unique location as a potential frontline entry-point for an increasing number of animal and plant pests and diseases, it is a key priority in the Top End to develop the next generation of biosecurity specialists,” she said.

The Crawford Fund NT has awarded scholarships to three local biosecurity researchers to attend conferences in Melbourne and Brisbane to help build their knowledge and networks.

The successful recipients are:

Isla McDonald, a graduate at the NT Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, who will travel to Melbourne in September to attend the Australasian Soilborne Disease Symposium (ASDS), a biennial national conference that brings together researchers, practitioners, industry stakeholders, and primary producers to examine current and emerging challenges in the diagnosis, prevention, and management of soil‑borne plant diseases.

Shreya Patel, a Senior Molecular Scientist, with the NT’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will be supported to attend the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) Symposium in Melbourne next month. This symposium’s program covers key biosecurity themes include early warning and risk assessment, diagnostics and surveillance, resilient crop protection systems and readiness and recovery.

Asha Tonkin-Reeves, a Molecular Scientist with the Northern Territory Government will attend the 73rd Genetics Society of Australasia Annual Conference in Brisbane in July. This conference brings together researchers working across genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, and the program highlights the latest developments in sequencing technologies, molecular diagnostics, and analytical workflows.

These scholarships are generously supported by the Northern Territory Government.

Congratulations to Isla, Shreya and Asha! We look forward to sharing highlights of their experiences in the coming months.