An exciting opportunity exists for up to two four-year PhD scholarships, beginning in 2021, to be part of a five-year Australian Research Council Laureate Program led by Professor Quentin Grafton. An attractive stipend of a minimum of $28,092/year (tax free) is payable for each PhD scholar. In addition to the stipend, there is a full offset for tuition fees and full-cost support for field-related research.
PhD scholars do not need to be from a particular discipline, but it would be an advantage to have either training, experience or expertise in any of the following: environmental sciences, resource and environmental management, health/wellbeing, restoration ecology, anthropology, hydrology, geography, law, and economics, particularly if the expertise was grounded in Indigenous knowledge(s). The appointed PhD scholars must be willing to undertake substantial field research within Australia and be highly motivated to work as part of an interdisciplinary team that focuses on water justice (see Water Justice Hub).
The overarching aim of the Laureate project, of which the PhD scholars will be a key part, is to develop pioneering ways of understanding and supporting water justice. Possible research associated with the scholarships include valuing water and supporting resilient decision-making.
The Laureate project has a particular research focus on water justice issues that are relevant to Indigenous Peoples, especially Australia’s First Peoples. The project is developing collaborative co-research partnerships with First Peoples’ organisations. The proposed Australian field sites include the Barwon-Darling Catchment, New South Wales and the Martuwarra-Fitzroy Basin, Western Australia.
All suitably qualified students are welcome to apply, including international students. We especially encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to apply. Prospective students are asked to submit:
(1) Curriculum Vitae (CV);
(2) Relevant academic transcripts and, where relevant, English Language test scores (in accordance with the ANU’s English language requirements);
(3) Maximum two-page description of their own water-related research or justice-related research, their own broader research interests and experience, and any field-work experience; and
(4) Maximum two-page description of their suitability for a Laureate PhD scholarship including possible research questions they might like to investigate as part of their PhD thesis.
Scholarships remain open until filled but prospective candidates are asked to submit their application before 15 November 2020 to nhatmai.nguyen@anu.edu.au. Queries and further details about the scholarships and the ARC Laureate Project are available directly from Quentin Grafton who can be contacted, in the first instance, at quentin.grafton@anu.edu.au (and please cc to nhatmai.nguyen@anu.edu.au).
Please note that the application is a two-stage process. Successful scholarship candidates must also separately apply for entry into one of four PhD programs at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy with Professor Grafton nominated as the Chair of the supervisory panel (closing application date for commencement semester 1, 2021 is 31 October 2020 and for semester 2, 2021 are 10 March and 12 May 2021). A minimum requirement for entry into a PhD program at the ANU is an Honours degree, a Master’ degree (if without an Honours degree) with a significant research/thesis component, or a combination of qualifications, research publications and/or professional experience related to the field of study (see ANU guidelines here, including English language requirements if English is a second language).
The award of the PhD scholarships is conditional on the successful students being accepted by the ANU into a suitable PhD program beginning in 2021 and the students being able to commence their PhD studies in 2021.