We are always looking for keen, dedicated people to join us at a variety of levels. There are numerous ways to become part of the Hawkesbury Institute through volunteering, internships, scholarships, collaborative research exchanges, Summer Studentships, Masters and PhD programs.
Ask any of our students about their experience with the Hawkesbury Institute and they will tell you about a richly rewarding studentship, working among the most passionate and expert researchers in their fields.
Supervisor(s): Jeff Powell, Jonathan Plett, Brendan Choat, Neil Perry
Contact details: Jeff.Powell@westernsydney.edu.au
Description: Australia’s truffle industry is making a name for itself globally with premium, high-quality products. But as the industry grows, it faces two big challenges: (1) understanding how climate change affects the delicate mutualism between trees and fungi and (2) meeting stricter environmental regulations to stay competitive in international markets. This is where you come in. Exciting student projects are available to tackle these pressing issues, working directly with industry experts. Gain hands-on experience, build a strong network, and contribute to real-world solutions — all while helping shape the future of this unique and evolving industry.
Level: Suitable for undergraduate / Adv Sci student projects; MRes / MSc / MPhil; PhD
Funding: Student projects will be associated with a larger project funded by AgriFutures
Supervisor: A/Prof Rachael Gallagher
Contact details: Rachael.Gallagher@westernsydney.edu.au
Description: Investment in restoring ecosystems is at an all-time high. Many industries and government agencies have vested interests in making sure that this work is resilient and offers value for money. This project will focus on the concept of 'resilient restoration', an emerging approach which examines the value of restored lands from multiple dimensions of benefit (social, ecological, cultural). The research will see the student being embedded with industry and government partners as they are trained, giving practical real-world experience on how restoration programs are forged, enacted and evaluated.
Level: This project is suitable for MRes; MPhil; or PhD students
Funding: Funding for the project will be available for project costs and/or a potential stipend top-up for the candidate with the right suite of skills.
Supervisor(s): A/Prof Rachael Nolan
Contact details: Rachael.Nolan@westernsydney.edu.au
Description: The Australian Fire Danger Rating System provides important warnings to the community about bushfire risk. This system is underpinned by fire behaviour models for different vegetation types. These models require inputs such as the dryness of the fuel, and the amount of fuel (“fuel load”). For some vegetation types, we have very little information available on fuel moisture and fuel load. This project is a field-based project that aims to collect data on fuel moisture and fuel loads that can be used to improve the Australian Fire Danger Rating System. The student will have the opportunity to work with our industry partner, the NSW Rural Fire Service, and will be supported with fieldwork. Fieldwork is likely to target pine plantations, but may also target other vegetation types, including eucalypt forest.
Level: Suitable for undergraduate or Masters level students.
Funding: funding is available to support fieldwork, but no stipend is available.
Supervisor(s): Prof. Sally Power
Contact details: s.power@westernsydney.edu.au
Description: Global warming is driving more extreme patterns of rainfall, with changes in the size, frequency and timing of rainfall events resulting in longer, more intense droughts, and flooding, across much of the continent. Rainfall is one of the main drivers of ecosystem productivity and water availability is a key determinant of plant community composition, with more drought-resistant species being favoured when soil moisture is limited. Predicted changes in rainfall regimes will affect ecosystem functioning via both direct effects on plants and soils, and via indirect effects on plant species composition and plant-insect interactions. This project will take advantage of established grassland field experiments that manipulate rainfall regimes, at the Hawkesbury campus. It provides a unique opportunity to engage in all aspects of the research process, from hypothesis development to project design and data collection, to increase understanding of how changing rainfall patterns affect plant productivity, species diversity, carbon fluxes and plant-pollinator interactions.
Level: Suitable for Advanced Science undergraduate, MSc, MRes, MPhil and PhD students
The Masters of Research is a new two-year postgraduate qualification that provides in-depth training and preparation for continuing to a PhD. It replaces what was formerly the Honours program. The MRes is administered through the Graduate Research School.
Our PhD graduates almost always go onto excellent careers in the sciences, government or private industry. The HIE PhD program is well-regarded as providing high-quality scientific training with most students publishing in esteemed journals prior to graduation. PhD programs are administered through the Graduate Research School.
From time to time, we have positions available in the Institute. All vacancies are offered through the University Vacancies pages.
