The Cotton CRC works hard to make students feel part of a Cotton CRC research community. This is achieved by ensuring that they have adequate opportunities to present their work at scientific forums, by facilitating training in communication and leadership, including IP management, and by conducting meetings and teleconferences across all Cotton CRC programs to ensure that student needs are met.

The Cotton CRC postgraduate program continues to strengthen with 42 current postgraduate students working across the four research programs. Students have regular interaction with the organisations involved in the Cotton CRC. The CRC has now reached its target for enrolments with over 50 postgraduate students enrolled with additional 3 students starting in 2010-11.They are enrolled in 10 partner and affiliate universities, the main ones being the University of New England, University of Sydney and University of Queensland.

Nicola Cottee continues her PhD studies with CSIRO, The University of Sydney and the Cotton CRC. Nicola’s project explores new methodologies for screening cotton cultivars for high temperature tolerance and is funded by CRDC.