Background

Biometrics traineeships are awarded to University of Wollongong students

NSW DPI Biometrics is a group of over 20 statisticians with an international reputation in applied statistics and biometrics. The group provides a statistical consultancy service to staff of NSW DPI and undertakes applied statistical research of relevance to the corporate goals of NSW DPI.

NSW DPI Biometrics provides a consulting service to scientists within NSW DPI. Staff also play a significant role in many large, collaborative research projects involving plant improvement, animal and plant genetics, bioinformatics, environmental monitoring and sustainable systems.

NSW DPI biometricians used experimental design and linear mixed models for the selection, propagation, and processing of high quality green tea for export to Japan.

The group also pursues an active research program in applied statistics and statistical computing. A brief introduction to some of the projects and staff can be found at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/areas/research-operations/biometric-services. The flagship research project is the linear mixed models package ASREML. The ASReml project commenced in 1992 and was originally motivated by the analysis of a large and complex dataset arising in crop variety evaluation programmes. Contemporary statistical algorithms and software platforms were unable to cope with the size of the dataset and the complexity of the models being examined. The average information (AI) algorithm was then devised by Professor Thompson and developed with Dr Gilmour in 1992 for fitting linear mixed models using Residual Maximum Likelihood estimation. The AI algorithm became the foundation of the numerical methods for the ASReml software system, and together with the implementation of a range of statistical and genetical models has resulted in a comprehensive statistical analysis package for a range of applications.

NSW DPI Biometrics is strongly involved in plant breeding and evaluation research: choosing the best varieties for a range of traits and environments.

NSW DPI Biometrics also undertakes a range of exciting and innovative research, consulting and collaborative projects with links to many Australian universities, overseas research organisations and CSIRO.

There is an ongoing problem with recruitment of suitably trained graduates who are interested in a career in biological statistics, located outside the major metropolitan areas. NSWDPI has identified the University of Wollongong as a provider of high quality tertiary education in regional NSW. The university has an active program in applied statistics within the School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics.

Undergraduate Traineeship

NSWDPI is offering up to four traineeships for undergraduate students who are studying statistics for tenure in the 2008 academic year. The terms and conditions of these traineeships are set out below:

• Applicants must be studying, or intending to study 200 or 300 level statistics courses
• The stipend is to the value of $6,000 for one year
• Applicants must be willing to participate in the vacation employment scheme set out below
• Applicants will be expected to be employed for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks during vacations (salary rate of $33,000pa or equivalent) to be located at one of the major NSW DPI research centres where there is at least 1-2 grade 2 or above resident biometrician(s). Successful applicants will be expected to complete the majority of their vacation employment before the commencement of the new academic year.

Honours Traineeship

NSW DPI Biometrics uses detection probability models in the design and analysis of mark-recapture aerial surveys to monitor wildlife and feral populations.

NSWDPI is offering up to two traineeships for undergraduate students who are studying statistics in 2008 and intend to undertake an honours program in applied statistics in 2009. The terms and conditions of these traineeships are set out below:

• Applicants must be studying 300 level statistics courses in 2008
• The stipend is to the value of $12,000
• Applicants must be willing to participate in the vacation employment scheme set out below
• Applicant will be expected to be employed for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks during vacations (salary rate of $45,000 or equivalent) to be located at one of the major NSW DPI research centres where there is at least 1-2 grade 2 or above resident biometrician(s). Successful applicants will be expected to complete the majority of their vacation employment before the commencement of the new academic year.  
• Applicants must also undertake a research project to be co-supervised by a NSW DPI senior (ie grade 4 or above) biometrician

Selection Process

Undergraduate/graduate students from the Applied Statistics degree at Wollongong University should email their application to Professor Brian Cullis at brian.cullis@dpi.nsw.gov.au together with a supporting statement from the School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics. Applications close on XXth November 2008. Application forms can be downloaded below.

More information and application form

Download an application form [Word 57kb]

View slides from the NSW DPI presentation at the University of Wollongong (17 October 2007) [PDF 1.6MB]