Project Scholarships
Project scholarships provide a stipend and other benefits to support higher degree candidates undertaking research in a predefined project.
You are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for review by the relevant School or Institute. Please submit your EOI at least 5 business days before the scholarship closing date to allow enough time to submit your full application. Only full applications submitted before the deadline will be considered.
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The list of currently available project scholarships is updated on a monthly basis.
Scholarships closing 30 September
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
Lead Supervisor: Professor Oula Ghannoum
o.ghannoum@westernsydney.edu.au
The ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture is offering one GRS domestic research scholarship to a highly motivated PhD candidate to work within a research group to sustainably increase horticulture productivity using Life Cycle Analysis of Horticulture Food Systems at the Hawkesbury Campus of Western Sydney University. This project is part of the ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture collaboration between industry and research institutions to develop new approaches for the horticulture industry.
The project will contribute to the education and training of students and personnel for the sustainable horticulture industry. The project seeks to perform a comprehensive sustainability impact analysis of horticulture supply chains, focusing on selected horticultural produce types and recognising the differences among production systems, supply chains and integrated technologies.
Taking the life cycle impact assessment approach and using various environmental impact indicators, the project will analyse and compare the environmental performance of alternative systems, including smart glasshouses, poly tunnels, vertical farming and conventional farming. The project will explore the intersection between technology and sustainability for developing innovative strategic and operational strategies and solutions for enhanced sustainable performance. The findings of the study will contribute to novel life cycle impact datasets contextualised for Australian horticulture supply chains and will guide the key stakeholders with optimum responses for strengthening the sustainability of the horticulture industry.
The project is led by Professor Dilupa Nakandala, and a team at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE), a research institute within WSU. HIE has rapidly become a research leader in horticulture research, with a strong reputation for delivering research outcomes of the highest quality.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $40,000 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by the Institute and Centre.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds, who are keen to apply their skills to key issues related to optimisation methods, analytics and horticulture supply chain management.
The successful applicant should:
- Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Master's degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance, including subjects related to optimisation methods, analytics and supply chain management.
- Demonstrate experience with advanced statistical methods using software packages.
- Have experience in with computing packages to analyse large datasets and linking datasets.
- Demonstrate experience in conducting field studies for collecting data from external stakeholder participants.
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake the research project, maintaining progress, meeting project time requirements, and achieving project goals.
- Be able to confidently deliver research outputs to industry and academia.
- Demonstrate the ability to write manuscripts and reports that effectively communicate scientific findings.
- Be able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_075_CS0858162_HIE
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
Lead Supervisor: Associate Professor Chris Cazzonelli
c.cazzonelli@westernsydney.edu.au
The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) is offering one postgraduate research scholarship to an ambitious PhD candidate for a 3-year PhD program of research to commence in 2026.
The candidate will investigate and generate new knowledge of mechanisms controlling complex mango fruit colour and quality, as well as their interactions with the environment at a crop level. The project is funded by Horticulture Innovation, an industry-led project focussed on Genetics for Next Generation Orchards.
The scholar will advance gene annotations, characterise gene functions, decipher regulatory mechanisms, and understand genetic variability in the target crop mango. The scholar will utilise genomics, molecular, biochemical, synthetic and genetic engineering approaches to characterise gene functions in plant systems.
The mission is to develop molecular marker tools for breeders, growers, and scientists to expedite the selection of new crop cultivars, adding substantial value to industries currently worth $3 billion annually and ensure long-term viability, profitability, and global competitiveness in next generation orchard systems.
The HIE is a premier research institute within Western Sydney University has a strong reputation for delivering research outcomes of the highest quality and has become a leader in plant biology, horticulture, agricultural ecology, and global change biology. The project will be based at HIE with an opportunity to work with academic and industry partners on interrelationships between genetic, molecular, physiological, cellular, and biochemical processes modulating valuable sensory traits at a crop level.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,550 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- International candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,550 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs. Those with a strong track record will be eligible for a tuition fee waiver.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
- International candidates are required to hold an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) insurance policy for the duration of their study in Australia. This cost is not covered by the scholarship.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds, who are keen to apply their skills to key issues in next generation tree crop orchard systems. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in understanding the genomic regulation of desirable plant traits at the molecular, epigenetic, biochemical, and physiological levels that can facilitate molecular marker development for plant breeding programs.
The successful applicant should:
- hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Master’s degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to plant molecular biology, genomics, biochemistry, physiology, agriculture, and/or horticulture.
- demonstrate an exceptional interest and understanding of plant molecular biology, functional genomics, and molecular marker development for tree crop breeding programs.
- be willing to learn bioinformatics techniques applicable to plant genomics.
- possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and be creative.
- have proven data analysis experience.
- International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_076_CS0930016_HIE
NICM Health Research Institute
Lead Supervisor: Dr Keshav Paudel
Australian Indigenous medicinal plants represent a unique and underexplored source of bioactive compounds with significant potential for the development of novel therapeutics.
This PhD project aims to investigate the biological activities and therapeutic applications of selected Australian native plants, with a particular focus on inflammatory and chronic lung diseases. The successful candidate will be based at the NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, a leading centre for complementary medicine and natural product research. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the student will receive training cellular and molecular biology experimental techniques, advanced in vitro disease models, and data analysis. Depending on the project's progress, opportunities may also be available to collaborate with national and international research partners, and present findings at scientific conferences.
The PhD candidate will be responsible for exploring Australian Indigenous medicinal plants extract and / or its bioactive compounds and further developing advanced drug delivery of selected bioactive compounds, evaluating their mechanisms of action using cellular and molecular approaches, and assessing their therapeutic potential in models of inflammation and related chronic lung diseases. The student will contribute to experimental design, laboratory research, scientific writing, and dissemination of research outcomes through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
This research has the potential to uncover novel plant-derived therapeutic candidates and generate new scientific evidence supporting the medicinal value of Australia's unique flora. The outcomes may contribute to the development of innovative, evidence-based natural medicines while promoting sustainable utilisation of Indigenous botanical resources.
The project also aims to strengthen collaborations between biomedical researchers, natural product scientists, and Indigenous knowledge holders, supporting Australia's growing capability in translational natural products research and fostering the next generation of researchers in this important field.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $38,707 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- International candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $38,707 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs. Those with a strong track record will be eligible for a tuition fee waiver.
- International candidates are required to hold an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) insurance policy for the duration of their study in Australia.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applications from candidates with diverse academic backgrounds who are motivated to apply their skills to key challenges in natural product pharmacology, drug delivery, with a particular focus on respiratory diseases. This project is especially suited to applicants with a strong interest in pharmacology and advanced drug delivery systems, their physicochemical characterisation, and both in vitro and in vivo evaluation.
- Applicants should meet one of the following academic requirements: (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree (ii) a coursework Master’s degree with a minimum 25% research component (iii) a Research Master’s degree or (iv) an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution.
- Candidates must demonstrate strong academic performance in relevant disciplines, such as drug delivery, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, immunology, or microbiology. A sound understanding of the importance and potential of advanced drug delivery systems is highly desirable.
- The successful applicant will be expected to develop or further their expertise in cellular and molecular techniques and show a clear commitment to interdisciplinary research. A high level of enthusiasm, motivation, and readiness to undertake advanced study are essential.
- International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_071_CS0910029_NICM
School of Science
Lead Supervisor: Assoc.Prof Kate Umbers
To scale up biodiversity conservation, technological solutions to improve biodiversity monitoring are paramount (Pringle et al. 2025). Insect diversity is a key indicator of ecosystem health, and this project aims to genuinely revolutionise insect monitoring in Australia by adapting AI algorithms and generating training data sets to monitor Australia's priority insects, such as invasives and pests, threatened species, and indicator species. Building on a data-rich approach from Europe, this project will help track landscape restoration, monitor threatened species, improve biosecurity surveillance, and hone precision in pest control methods. The hardware for automated insect monitoring units, BugEyes, are in pilot funded by WSU School of Science, TERN, and the Wedgetail Foundation (through Umbers' Industry Fellowship partner Invertebrates Australia), due for deployment in the Blue Mountains and Tasmania in 2026 and Umbers' ARC Linkage Project on Bogong moth breeding grounds and stewardship. The project will help train neural networks to identify Australian priority species from images libraries that will be developed from citizen science platforms like iNaturalist, verified by experts. This project has the potential to substantially increase monitoring power, help bend the curve on biodiversity loss, and deliver a scalable, marketable product. This project ties into global networks including Insect AI, WildLabs, and the Research Coordination Network for Insect Decline.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $38,707 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds, who are keen to apply their skills to key issues in environmental biology. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in insect conservation, applied conservation, threatened species management and the application of AI to insect monitoring.
The successful applicant should:
- hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Masters degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to insect conservation, applied conservation, threatened species management, artificial intelligence, biodiversity montioring.
- have an understanding of the Australian insect fauna and importance of insect conservation.
- be willing to learn AI techniques and analyses.
- be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
- be excited about contributing to a vibrant and inclusive lab culture
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_073_CS0636849_SoSc
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
Lead Supervisor: Professor Ian Wright
ian.j.wright@westernsydney.edu.au
Why do some plant species build tissues that last for decades, while others invest in rapid growth and short-lived tissues? How do these contrasting strategies influence ecosystem carbon storage, resilience and responses to climate change?
Join the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) and help answer these fundamental questions through a PhD in plant functional ecology.
Plants face universal trade-offs in resource investment. Species that invest in fast resource acquisition often grow rapidly but produce short-lived tissues, while species that invest in resource conservation typically grow more slowly but build longer-lasting tissues. These trade-offs underpin influential ideas such as the Leaf Economics Spectrum yet major gaps remain in our understanding, particularly concerning the lifespan of wood and how it coordinates with other plant traits.
Working with Professors Ian Wright (plant ecologist) and Ben Smith (ecosystem modeller), and collaborators in Australia and overseas, you will investigate how variation in tissue lifespans shapes whole-plant strategies and ultimately scales up to ecosystem processes such as carbon storage. We see exceptional opportunities for novel and impactful discoveries, especially relating to wood lifespan and its integration into broader plant economics frameworks.
HIE is a world-leading research institute in ecology, physiology, genetics and global change biology, with outstanding field, laboratory and analytical facilities. Your project can be tailored to your interests and may include:
• Field studies across diverse Australian environments.
• Laboratory research in plant physiology, hydraulics and anatomy.
• Analysis of large Australian and global trait datasets.
• Quantitative modelling of how plant strategies influence ecosystem function.
This PhD will provide training in field and laboratory research, data analysis and modelling, preparing you for a career at the forefront of plant science.
Applicants with strong quantitative and analytical skills are particularly encouraged to apply.
What does the scholarship provide?
- The successful applicants will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs.
- A domestic candidate will be supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants with clear background in plant sciences or ecology or ecophysiology, or in statistical modelling.
The successful applicant should:
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand, or be eligible to undertake higher degree research study in Australia.
- Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Master’s degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to plant biology and/or quantitative analysis of scientific data.
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
- Be willing to learn sampling and data analysis methods applicable to plant ecology/ecophysiology, and other areas as appropriate.
- Have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Hold a current driver’s licence (required for fieldwork)
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_074_CS0906963_HIE
School of Built Environment & Design
Lead Researcher: Distinguished Professor Vivian Tam
The desirable candidate must have a strong background and experience in interdisciplinary projects, including civil engineering, materials engineering, or construction management. Experimental work may be required for this project. The candidate may be required to perform model development, optimisation, and programming. This project aims to develop a durable recycled concrete using nanotechnology that can store and release thermal energy in response to temperature changes. This research will unveil fundamental insights into producing defect-free few-layer graphene dispersion from graphite and will explore the hybrid nanoreinforcement effect on the properties of phase change material-infused recycled concrete to address critical issues of poor bonding, a porous microstructure, and low thermal performance. The expected outcome is to develop a sustainable building material that can significantly reduce energy demand for heating and cooling in buildings, contributing to a net-zero emissions future and cost savings in the construction industry.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
Eligibility Criteria
The successful applicant should:
- hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following: (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Master's with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Master’s degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to civil engineering, material engineering or construction management.
- have an understanding of the importance of recycled concrete.
- be willing to learn modelling and optimisation.
- be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2025_CS0430115_SoEDBE
School of Built Environment & Design
Lead Researcher: Distinguished Professor Vivian Tam
The desirable candidate must have strong background and experience on inter-disciplinary projects including civil engineering, material engineering or construction management. Experimental work may be required for this project. Candidate may required to perform model development, optimisation and programming.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- Exceptional candidates will receive an extra $5000 top-up scholarship per annum.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
Eligibility Criteria
The desirable candidate must have strong background and experience on inter-disciplinary projects including civil engineering, material engineering or construction management. Experimental work may be required for this project. Candidate may required to perform model development, optimisation and programming.
The successful applicant should:
- hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Masters degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to civil engineering, chemistry, material engineering or construction management.
- have an understanding of the importance of construction/building.
- be willing to learn modelling and optimization.
- be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2025_CS0548284_SoEDBE
MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development
Lead Supervisor: Professor Paola Escudero
paola.escudero@westernsydney.edu.au
This PhD project is part of a funded ARC Discovery Project entitled Understanding the mastery of multiple languages and dialects. Summary of the Discovery project: This project will provide a unifying theory of how subsequent languages are acquired after mastering two languages or dialects. Expected outcomes include a deep understanding of how multilingual and multidialect mastery proceeds, how these are represented in the brain, and how they manifest in communicative contexts.
The PhD candidate will work on connecting the project's computational model with the corpus testing, including linguistic and statistical analysis and write-up of journal articles and a PhD thesis. They will also assist with data management and corpus cleaning. They will also conduct online testing for 250 sessions spread over years 1 and 2, including participant recruitment, and therefore the PhD candidate should have experience with conducting either computational and empirical studies and be interested in learning one of the two methodologies if they do not have experience with it.
Primary supervision will be provided by Professor Paola Escudero Lead CI of the ARC Discovery project, with external co-supervision by co-CI A/Prof Chloe Diskin-Holdaway and PI Dr Kakeru Yazawa.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants with a background in computational, statistical and corpus linguistics with demonstrated skills in computational programming languages for linguistic analysis.
The successful applicant should:
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Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following in the are of Corpus or Computational Linguistics:
- an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree,
- coursework Masters with at least 25% research component,
- Research Masters degree, or
- equivalent overseas qualifications.
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Demonstrate strong academic performance in Computational and Corpus Linguistics.
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Ability to program in a variety of computational languages.
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Have an understanding of the importance of computational and corpus methods for analysing linguistic data.
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Be willing to learn to program and conduct computational and empirical experiments to collect linguistic data.
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Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2025_CS0550452_MARCS
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
Lead Supervisor: Dr. Anastasia Dalziell
a.dalziell@westernsydney.edu.au
The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) at Western Sydney University is offering a research scholarship to a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate the vocal mimicry of the Toothbilled Bowerbird. The PhD candidate’s work will be part of an Australian Research Council Discovery Project investigating vocal mimicry in Australian songbirds. This research program is a collaboration between the HIE, The Australian National University, Exeter University (UK), and the University of the Pacific (USA).
Vocal mimicry is widespread among songbirds, yet much remains unknown about the evolutionary origin and maintenance of this trait. While the most conspicuous forms of vocal mimicry are typically performed by male birds during courtship; both sexes often mimic, and mimicry can function across multiple ecological contexts. Increasing our knowledge of the ecology of vocal mimicry in the region where birdsong began – Australia – will help provide a more thorough understanding of vocal mimicry and the evolution of vocal learning.
The toothbilled bowerbird is a versatile and accurate vocal mimic restricted to the tropical montane forests of north Queensland. Little is known about the form and function of their vocal mimicry, especially outside male courtship displays.
This PhD project will combine fieldwork with data analysis to assess vocal mimicry in toothbilled bowerbirds in both sexes and across socioecological contexts, including at display courts and nests. This project will then synthesise this new knowledge in the context of other known Australian vocal mimics.
The PhD candidate will be supervised by Dr Anastasia Dalziell (HIE), together with Prof Justin Welbergen (HIE), Prof Jo Madden (Exeter, UK) Dr Lyanne Brouwer (James Cook University, Townsville, Australia) and Dr Fiona Backhouse (HIE), and in collaboration with researchers involved in the ARC Discovery Project. The successful applicant is anticipated to commence work in 2026.
Western Sydney University is ranked 1st in the world by the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for its success in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What does the scholarship provide?
- Candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 (AUD) per annum for 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- Operational costs are covered under the overarching ARC Discovery Project.
- Support is also included for conference attendance, fieldwork, and additional costs, as approved by the HIE.
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds who are keen to apply their skills to key questions in animal behavioural ecology and evolution. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in avian ecology and evolution.
This application is open to domestic students only.
The successful applicant should:
- hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Masters degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to behavioural ecology or related disciplines. Previous experience with the quantitative analysis of acoustic and visual data would be considered a distinct advantage, as would be the ability to identify bird sounds by ear.
- be able to work in challenging, remote locations, for protracted periods, under tropical montane conditions.
- be able to work as part of a team of national and international researchers and liaise with landholders.
- be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2025_CS0682757_HIE
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Lead Supervisor: Professor Hannah Dahlen
Birth trauma is increasingly recognised as extending beyond the birthing woman to affect fathers and non-birthing partners, who report high rates of distress, exclusion from care conversations, and unmet psychological support needs — yet partners remain largely absent from perinatal mental health research and intervention design. This full-time stipend PhD is embedded within Respectful Maternity Care for Maternity Clinicians (RMC-MC), a national interprofessional education program that trains maternity clinicians in trauma-informed, respectful, and consent-based care across four partner health services in NSW, SA and WA.
The project will examine the impact of RMC-MC training on fathers and non-birthing partners' experiences of maternity care. Using a mixed-methods, pre/post comparative design, the candidate will analyse partner survey data collected before ('Usual Care') and after ('RMC-MC Care') clinician training at each site. In-depth qualitative interviews with fathers and non-birthing partners will be collected across the four sites, exploring what they observed and experienced in clinicians' communication, inclusion and informed-consent practices, and whether these observations shifted following training.
The candidate will join a national, multidisciplinary research team with direct experience delivering and evaluating interprofessional Respectful Maternity Care for Maternity Clinicians (RMC-MC) education, supervised by researchers with established expertise in fathers' perinatal mental health, cultural safety and respectful maternity care. The project offers genuine capacity to influence national practice: findings will directly inform a Facilitator Handbook, Maternity Clinician Toolkit and National Implementation Strategy.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $38,707 (AUD) per annum for 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
Eligibility Criteria
- Completion of a relevant Honours (First Class or Second Class Division A) or Master's degree with a substantial research component, in midwifery, nursing, psychology, public health, social work, or a related health or social science discipline
- Meets Western Sydney University's Higher Degree Research (HDR) admission requirements, including English language proficiency where applicable
- Demonstrated interest, ideally, prior research or clinical experience in perinatal mental health, fathers'/men's health, birth trauma, or family and relationship research
- Sound quantitative research skills (survey/statistical analysis) and/or qualitative research skills (interviewing, thematic analysis), or a clear willingness to develop mixed-methods competence
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage respectfully and effectively with consumers, clinicians and health service partners
- Eligible to hold, or willing to obtain, a current Working with Children Check (NSW) and any site-specific research credentialing required by partner health services
- Willingness to travel periodically to partner health services in WA, NSW and SA, and to conduct data collection via telehealth/phone where required
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_077_CS0733811_SoNM
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
Lead Supervisor: Professor Oula Ghannoum
o.ghannoum@westernsydney.edu.au
The ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture is offering an industry research scholarship to a highly motivated PhD candidate to work within a research group addressing the key challenge of optimising the yield and quality of horticultural crops (e.g., tomato and snacking capsicum) grown in protected facilities at the Hawkesbury Campus of Western Sydney University. HIE is a research institute within WSU and has rapidly become a research leader in plant environmental and ecological research, with a strong reputation for delivering research outcomes of the highest quality. This research will uncover the novel germplasm for high-level production inside a protected environment.
This project will appoint one HDR student as part of the ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture collaboration between industry and research institutions to develop new crop monitoring technologies for the protected cropping industry. The project will contribute to the education and training of students and personnel for the protected cropping industry. The overall project aims to develop and test novel solutions to monitor the growth, health, and quality of crops grown in protected cropping facilities. A Blockchain-, IoT- and AI-Enabled Digital Product Supply Chain Infrastructure. The Hex Product Identity Network (Hex-PIN) is a next-generation digital supply chain infrastructure built on an open and highly scalable blockchain architecture, integrating Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The network is designed to establish trusted digital identities for physical and digital products, enabling full lifecycle traceability, transparent collaboration, and intelligent governance across the entire supply chain.
This project will be conducted at the Western Sydney University node of the ARC Training Centre for Smart & Sustainable Horticulture (TC-SaSH) on the Hawkesbury Campus and will involve close collaboration with the University of Adelaide and University of Western Australia. The project is led by Professor Oula Ghannoum in collaboration with a team of plant physiologists and data scientists including Associate Professor Yi Guo at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) and the School of Computer, Data and Mathematical Sciences (CDMS) at WSU, in collaboration with Valucky (Industry Partner).
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $37,000 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- International candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $37,000 (AUD per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs. Those with a strong track record will be eligible for a tuition fee waiver and an Oversears Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Policy.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by the Institute
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds, who are keen to apply their skills to key issues in crop physiology in protected facilities. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in:
- Investigate how blockchain technologies can enhance trust, transparency, and data integrity across agricultural supply chains with multiple heterogeneous stakeholders.
- Examine models for digitising supply-chain events and assets (e.g. crop inventories, logistics milestones) to support verifiable and low-risk financing mechanisms.
- Develop credit-risk assessment frameworks for agricultural producers using non-traditional data sources enabled by blockchain and smart-contract ecosystems.
- Analyse the economic and incentive mechanisms that encourage participation from farmers, processors, lenders, and logistics providers in a decentralised supply-chain network.
- Evaluate governance models for multi-party collaboration, focusing on accountability, data-sharing protocols, and decision-making structures.
- Conduct empirical and simulation-based studies to assess potential improvements in financing accessibility, transaction efficiency, and risk reduction in agricultural value chains.
- Generate theoretical and applied insights applicable to the broader fields of FinTech, digital agriculture, supply chain economics, and decentralised systems.
- Investigate how blockchain technologies can enhance trust, transparency, and data integrity across agricultural supply chains with multiple heterogeneous stakeholders.
- Examine models for digitising supply-chain events and assets (e.g. crop inventories, logistics milestones) to support verifiable and low-risk financing mechanisms.
- Develop credit-risk assessment frameworks for agricultural producers using non-traditional data sources enabled by blockchain and smart-contract ecosystems.
- Analyse the economic and incentive mechanisms that encourage participation from farmers, processors, lenders, and logistics providers in a decentralised supply-chain network.
- Evaluate governance models for multi-party collaboration, focusing on accountability, data-sharing protocols, and decision-making structures.
- Conduct empirical and simulation-based studies to assess potential improvements in financing accessibility, transaction efficiency, ad risk reduction in agricultural value chains.
- Generate theoretical and applied insights applicable to the broader fields of FinTech, digital agriculture, supply chain economics, and decentralised systems.
The successful applicant should:
Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following:
(i) An Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework master's with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Master's degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
Have an interdisciplinary background in blockchain technology, supply chain systems, and supply chain finance.
Demonstrate experience in financial software operation and research on digital financial systems.
Show a strong research interest in agricultural systems and agri-finance.
Demonstrate knowledge in AI models in agriculture finance/supply chain context.
Demonstrate strong academic writing skills for peer-reviewed publications.
Have good oral and written communication skills and be highly motivated to progress research in a timely manner.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_078_CS0932796_HIE
School of Engineering
Lead Supervisor: Dr Anil Ravindran
a.ravindran@westernsydney.edu.au
Project Overview
This ARC DECRA and Western Sydney University funded PhD project investigates bio-inspired, multi-scale toughening strategies to revolutionize carbon fibre composites for next-generation 15MW offshore wind turbines. Currently, the composite spar-caps used in these massive structures suffer from brittle failure, matrix cracking, and low impact tolerance. Inspired by the hierarchical architecture of natural materials like bone and nacre, this project will develop novel composites using a hybrid blend of nano- and micron-scale fillers to drastically improve structural durability, fracture toughness, damage tolerance and samage prognosis of composite structures used in wind turbines.
Role & Responsibilities
The successful candidate will drive the end-to-end development of these advanced materials. Core responsibilities include optimizing manufacturing frameworks and methodologies of traditional composite manufacturing processes.. The student will rigorously evaluate the materials through quasi-static and cyclic fracture toughness testing, alongside low-velocity impact assessments and structural analysis. Furthermore, the candidate will perform advanced microstructural characterization (using SEM and µ-CT) and pioneer an in-situ structural health monitoring system. This system will integrate electrical resistance measurements with machine-learning-enhanced Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to track damage in real-time.
Location
The PhD candidate will be based within the School of Engineering at Western Sydney University (WSU), utilizing state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing and composite testing infrastructure.
Research Impact
Ultimately, this project addresses the pressing mechanical limitations of existing renewable energy technology. By engineering lighter, more damage-tolerant, and structurally intelligent turbine blades, this research will directly support global efforts to expand high-capacity offshore wind generation. The outcomes will play a vital role in accelerating the transition toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, while yielding advanced manufacturing techniques directly transferable to the aerospace and civil engineering sectors.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $40,109.00 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of engineering backgrounds, who are keen to apply their skills to key issues in advanced manufacturing, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, design engineering, aerospace engineering and material science. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in composite materials, fracture mechanics, structural health monitoring, and/or renewable energy technologies.
- Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree in engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Civil Engineering), (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Masters degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to solid mechanics, materials science, composite structures, finite element analysis, data analysisand manufacturing processes.
- Have an understanding of the importance of lightweight structural integrity and damage tolerance for next-generation wind turbines. Have a strong understanding exposure to composite manufacturing, testing and characterisation techniques.
- Be willing to learn advanced composite manufacturing processes (such as LCM and VARTM), mechanical testing methodologies, mechanical testing and microstructural characterization techniques (including SEM and µ-CT).
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_045_CS0815712_SoENG
MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development
Lead Supervisor: Doctor Ying Xu and Professor Gregory Cohen
This scholarship project will contribute to the development of neuromorphic algorithms for robust maritime perception, detection, and monitoring in challenging marine environments. Maritime platforms such as autonomous surface vessels, underwater vehicles, buoys, and coastal monitoring systems require reliable sensing methods that can operate under difficult conditions, including low visibility, strong background noise, dynamic waves, cluttered scenes, and limited power availability.
The project will investigate neuromorphic sensing and computing approaches inspired by biological perception systems, with a focus on event-based vision, neuromorphic acoustic processing, and multi-modal sensor fusion. Unlike conventional frame-based cameras and signal processing pipelines, neuromorphic methods process sparse, asynchronous changes in the environment, offering potential advantages in low-latency operation, high dynamic range, data efficiency, and real-time decision-making.
The successful candidate will develop algorithms for detecting, tracking, localising, and characterising maritime targets such as vessels, surface activity, and underwater acoustic sources. Research activities may include event-based feature extraction, acoustic signal representation, spike-based neural processing, target detection, localisation, classification, sensor fusion, and machine learning for sparse event-driven data. The project may also explore biologically inspired models for efficient perception, including cochlear processing, spiking neural networks, and neuromorphic feature learning.
The research will involve both simulation and experimental data, including maritime datasets collected from field trials. The outcomes are expected to support the development of next-generation intelligent sensing capabilities for autonomous maritime operations, environmental monitoring, and defence-related applications.
This project is suitable for a candidate with a background in electrical engineering, computer science, robotics, signal processing, machine learning, physics, or a related discipline. Experience in Python, machine learning, computer vision, acoustic signal processing, event-based data processing, or neuromorphic computing would be highly desirable.
What does the scholarship provide?
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Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $45,811 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
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Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
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Access to a range of competitive internal funding and development opportunities, including:
- Anne Cutler Memorial Travel Grant (up to $50,000 - $80,000 AUD awarded annually)
- Denis Burnham Award (up to $5,000 AUD awarded annually)
- MARCS Writing Fellowships ($8,000 AUD awarded quarterly)
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applicants who are keen to apply their skills to key challenges in neuromorphic sensing. In particular, this project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in electrical engineering, computer science, robotics, signal processing, machine learning, physics, or a related discipline.
The successful applicant should:
- Hold qualifications and experience equivalent to one of the following:
- Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree;
- Coursework Masters degree with at least 25% research component;
- Research Masters degree;
- Equivalent overseas qualifications; or
- Other research experience, and demonstrated research capability considered equivalent by the University.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to neuromorphic sensing, signal processing, machine learning, computer vision, robotics, or related areas.
- Have an understanding of the importance of maritime sensing for autonomous systems, environmental monitoring, and defence-related applications.
- Be willing to learn and apply neuromorphic engineering methods to real-world sensing problems.
- Be enthusiastic, self-motivated, and capable of undertaking research at an advanced level.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_050_CS0889076_MARCS
PS2026_052_CS0889060_MARCS
School of Engineering
Lead Supervisor: Richard Yang
This ARC DP project aims to develop a novel 3D printing technology, Fused Granular Fabrication, to integrate innovative nanotechnology and high-performance 3D-printed nanocomposites using recycled plastic reinforced with carbon nanoadditives. It will focus on fabrication, testing, characterisation, modelling, optimal design, and optimal 3D printing for the enhancement of material properties using nanoadditives. This project will deliver sustainable manufacturing solutions for the urgent and critical plastic waste management issue for the nation and the world. The 3D-printed nanocomposites developed with superior mechanical, thermal and electrical properties could be widely used in primary industries such as aerospace, automotive and electronics.
This project will develop an innovative 3D printing method, Fused Granular Fabrication, to effectively print high-performance nanocomposites using recycled plastic, polylactic acid (PLA), noting the tonnes of waste created and the associated environmental and economic impacts. It addresses one of Australian Science and Research Priorities – Advanced Manufacturing. The research will generate a sustainable manufacturing solution for plastic waste management and deliver high-performance recycled materials. It will maximise plastic waste recycling and reuse, contributing to the circular economy and Net Zero. In addition, the high performance of the materials will be achieved through the applications of novel carbon nanoadditives and nanotechnology.
The PhD scholarship is funded by Graduate Research School (GRS), WSU of $35,188 per year for three years. A top-up scholarship of $5,000 per year for three years will be also provided by the School of Engineering (SoEng), WSU. Tuition fee will be waived by the university for the PhD candidate, who is offered the scholarship. The PhD student will be supervised by Prof Richard (Chunhui) Yang as the Principal Supervisor and co-supervised by Adjunct Prof. Yixia (Sarah) Zhang and Distinguished Professor Brian Falzon.
We are now offering this research scholarship to a highly motivated PhD candidate.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Student will receive a tax-free stipend of $40,188 per annum for three years to support living costs. For domestic student, tuition fees will be supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs for materials/consumables/small equipment, up to $4,600 per year as approved by School/Institute.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants with strong academic backgrounds in Engineering Mechanics, Computational Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Materials or other relevant areas such as Physical Sciences with experience in laser technology. Research experience in composites and nanocomposites and 3D pritning technology inclduing both Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) are desired although not compulsory.
The successful applicant should:
Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Master’s degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications;
- Have excellent academic records and meet the minimum English requirement for PhD admission at Western Sydney University;
- Experience on omposites and nanocomposites and 3D pritning technology inclduing both Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) is desired although not compulsory
- Experience on computational mechanics/numerical modelling is desired.
- Have good academic writing capability with publications in quality journals;
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level
- Good communication and team work skills.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_044_CS0441580_SoENG
School of Engineering
Lead Supervisor: Distinguished Professor Brian Falzon
About the Project
RIFT is widely used but highly sensitive to process and material variability, which can lead to defects such as racetracking, dry spots, voids and porosity. The project will create a digital twin that ingests live sensor data, links it to physics-based models and machine learning, and supports defect prediction and proactive process adjustment during infusion.
About the PhD role (PhD1 – Experimental Stream)
You will lead the experimental program underpinning the digital twin. Your work will focus on:
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Designing, building and commissioning an instrumented lab-scale RIFT rig (flat-panel mould + transparent bagging, injection/vacuum ports).
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Integrating sensors and measurement systems (pressure mapping, temperature sensing, and synchronized video for flow-front tracking).
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Developing repeatable experimental protocols including calibration, data acquisition, and run metadata management.
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Conducting a structured experimental campaign across:
- Oil-substitute runs for rapid iteration and visualisation, and
- A defined program of real resin infusion runs to capture true material behaviour and defect formation.
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Performing controlled parameter studies (e.g., viscosity via temperature, injection pressure, vacuum level, infusion strategy) and defect-induction studies.
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Producing a high-quality, defect-labelled dataset that will be used to validate simulations and train surrogate models for real-time digital twin inference.
You will work closely with the project Research Fellow and other PhD students (modelling and ML streams), and your data will directly drive publications and demonstrations.
What we’re looking for
We are seeking a motivated, hands-on candidate with strong fundamentals and an interest in experimental research. Applicants should have:
Essential
- First-class Honours or Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical/Aerospace/Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, Mechatronics, or related discipline.
- Interest in experimental work and practical problem-solving in a lab environment.
- Good quantitative skills and comfort working with data (MATLAB/Python desirable).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative team.
Desirable
- Exposure to composites manufacturing (infusion, VARTM/RTM, vacuum bagging), polymer processing, or materials characterisation.
- Experience with sensors/DAQ, calibration, or time-series data processing.
- Familiarity with experimental design/DOE, uncertainty, and reproducible data workflows.
What you’ll gain
- Work on a high-profile ARC project at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, sensing, data, and digital twins.
- Hands-on experience establishing a modern instrumented manufacturing testbed and generating publishable experimental datasets.
- Clear publication pathway with a target of at least three Q1 journal papers plus thesis.
- Mentoring from an experienced, multidisciplinary supervisory team and access to strong lab and computational infrastructure.
Location
Primary location is Penrith campus, with periodic work at Parramatta as required.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_032_CS0820067_SoENG
School of Engineering
Lead Supervisor: Dr Zuhaib Siddiqui
z.siddiqui@westernsydney.edu.au
Development of a suitable separation technique to concentrate the Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), design and Testing of an established ion-selective plasma technique.
PhD1: Development and fabrication of a nano sensor and design in collaboration with PhD2 Candidate working on a separation (adsorption) and degradation using an ion-selective plasma technique.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 AUD per annum for up to 3 years to
support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should have:
I. A Bachelor's Honours (Class I or IIA) or master’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
II. A good academic record and a strong interest in water treatment, adsorption, environmental remediation, or materials research.
III. Basic knowledge of computational methods is desirable but not essential.
IV. Familiarity with Unix/Linux operating systems is preferred but not essential.
V. Good written and spoken English, meeting the University's PhD admission requirements.
VI. The ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_058_CS0889906_SoEng
School of Science
Lead Supervisor: Dr Sunil Panchal
s.panchal@westernsydney.edu.au
Vascular calcification is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease progression and represents a significant clinical challenge, particularly in ageing populations and individuals with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. It occurs when calcium phosphate crystals accumulate within the blood vessel wall, leading to arterial stiffening, reduced vascular flexibility and increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite its clinical significance, there are currently limited therapeutic strategies that directly target the cellular mechanisms driving vascular calcification.
Food-derived anthocyanins have gained increasing attention for their potential to support cardiovascular and metabolic health. Anthocyanins are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds found in purple-coloured fruits, including blueberries and Davidson’s plum, and have been reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective properties.
Davidson’s plum is an Australian native fruit rich in polyphenolic compounds and represents a locally relevant source of anthocyanin-rich extracts with potential functional food and nutraceutical applications. However, the direct effects of Davidson’s plum-derived anthocyanins on vascular calcification and vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching remain underexplored.
This project will investigate the modulatory effects of Davidson’s plum-derived anthocyanins on vascular calcification using a well-established human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) model. This model was established and validated at NICM Health Research Institute (Western Sydney University) through proteomic profiling and molecular characterisation, demonstrating its relevance for studying early-stage calcification processes in a controlled in vitro setting.
This project will be undertaken at NICM HRI, Westmead and School of Science, Hawkesbury Campus.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 AUD per annum for up to 3 years to
support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
Eligibility criteria
- Applicants for this PhD project should have one of the following degrees in molecular biology or related areas: (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree or (ii) a coursework Master’s degree with a minimum 25% research component or (iii) a Master of Research degree
Desirable criteria:
- Demonstrated research experience through research assistantship, relevant publications, conference presentations or technical reports is desirable
- Strong understanding of molecular and cellular biology concepts
- Experience with statistical analysis and scientific software (R, Python, GraphPad Prism, etc.)
- Evidence of scientific writing skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Good communication and presentation skills
- Motivation and interest aligned with the proposed research project
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_070_CS0889906_SoSc
School of Science
Lead Supervisor: Dr Sunil Panchal
s.panchal@westernsydney.edu.au
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join an exciting research project focused on the sustainable recovery and utilisation of anthocyanins from food and agricultural wastes and by-products. Anthocyanins are bioactive phytochemicals with significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and natural colourant properties. Large quantities of anthocyanin-rich by-products are generated by the food, horticultural, and agricultural industries, presenting an opportunity to develop value-added ingredients while advancing circular economy principles.
This PhD project will explore innovative approaches for the extraction, characterisation and utilisation of anthocyanins from a range of food and agricultural by-products. The successful candidate will investigate sustainable and environmentally friendly extraction technologies, optimise recovery processes and evaluate the chemical composition, stability and biological activities of anthocyanin-rich extracts.
The project may also examine the application of recovered anthocyanins in functional foods and value-added products that support the transition towards a circular economy. The research offers opportunities to work with advanced analytical techniques, including chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, and to collaborate with multidisciplinary researchers across food science, nutrition, molecular biology, and biotechnology.
The successful candidate will contribute to developing innovative solutions that transform waste into valuable resources while addressing global challenges related to food sustainability and resource efficiency. This project will be undertaken at School of Science, Hawkesbury Campus and NICM HRI, Westmead.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 AUD per annum for up to 3 years to
support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
Eligibility criteria
- Applicants for this PhD project should meet one of the following academic requirements in Food Chemistry or related areas: (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree or (ii) a coursework Master’s degree with a minimum 25% research component or (iii) a Master of Research degree
- Applicants should possess a strong academic background in Chemistry, with preference given to candidates specialising in Food Chemistry. Applicants from Nutrition, Biotechnology, Biochemistry or related disciplines may also be considered, provided they can demonstrate substantial experience in laboratory-based research.
- Candidates with expertise in analytical chemistry, natural products chemistry, phytochemicals, bioactive compounds, chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques (e.g., HPLC, LC-MS/MS, GC-MS), extraction and characterisation of plant-derived compounds and related areas will be highly regarded.
- The successful candidate should have strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research environment.
Applications close: 30 September 2026
PS2026_069_CS0889906_SoSc
Scholarships closing 31 October
Institute for Culture and Society
Lead Researcher: Catherine Hastings
C.Hastings@westernsydney.edu.au
This PhD project aims to contribute theoretical and applied knowledge to better understand inequalities in people's experiences of legal problems and the opportunities for meaningful reforms that address intersectional disadvantages.
The law permeates everyday life, influencing and regulating personal relationships, health, education, employment, housing, and our interactions with governments. Legal problems affect most people at some point in their lives. However, the likelihood of experiencing such problems varies across population groups, with individuals living in socioeconomic disadvantage more likely to face legal problems, including multiple and more complex legal issues. Unresolved legal problems (or unmet legal needs) can escalate and compound disadvantage, inequality and poverty for those already experiencing hardship, resulting in social and economic costs for individuals and communities.
This is a unique PhD opportunity for an HDR candidate to develop impactful research across academic and industry settings. It will be part of an ARC DECRA project that will generate critical realist causal explanations of why and how legal problems arise for clients of Australia's tax-funded legal assistance sector (www.legalneedsproject.org). It will also contribute to the work of the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW, an independent statutory body, whose multidisciplinary team undertakes mixed-methods research on inequalities in access to justice, legal assistance service provision and evidence-based justice system reform (www.lawfoundation.net.au).
This PhD project should align with the aims of these two partners, but can focus on a particular affected population, type of legal issue, experience of legal need, specific context, aspect of the legal assistance sector's work or other relevant topic.
The HDR candidate will be based at the Institute for Culture & Society (ICS), located in Parramatta. They will also have an opportunity to work with the Foundation's interdisciplinary team on a large-scale national legal needs survey.
The PhD project will commence on 04 January 2027.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic students will receive a tax-free stipend of $45,188 per annum to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by ICS.
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applicants with a disciplinary background in sociology, law, human geography, psychology, public health, social work, cultural studies or other relevant fields. Contact Dr Catherine Hastings (c.hastings@westernsydney.edu.au) to discuss your eligibility, the project requirements and your intention to apply.
The successful applicant should:
- Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Masters degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to the project.
- Have an authentic interest in access to justice and the Australian legal assistance sector, a solid understanding of intersectional disadvantage, and be motivated by a concern for social justice.
- Be willing to learn skills in descriptive interpretation of quantitative data or develop their knowledge of more complex statistical methods, ideally proposing a mixed-methods methodology as part of their proposal.
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
- Have experience in human-centred service delivery or policy making in human services or legal assistance contexts (highly regarded but not essential).
The scholarship is limited to domestic students.
Applications close: 31 October 2026
PS2026_043_CS0856569_ICS
School of Engineering
Lead Supervisor: Dr Anil Ravindran
a.ravindran@westernsydney.edu.au
This PhD project addresses a critical barrier to Australia's 2050 net-zero ambitions: the compressive weakness of the carbon-fibre spar-caps at the heart of next-generation 15-megawatt offshore wind turbine blades. Because carbon fibres rely on the surrounding resin for lateral support, they fail prematurely through micro-buckling and kink-banding, at compressive strengths 30–70% below their tensile potential. Drawing inspiration from natural hierarchical materials such as bone, nacre and wood, the student will investigate how functionally graded fibre architectures and controlled defects can be tailored to maximise the structural performance under static and cyclic loading.
The student will lead an integrated experimental and computational framework. They will develop a reproducible manufacturing route for functionally graded carbon and glass laminates; quantify manufacturing-induced defects using X-ray computed tomography, SEM and optical microscopy; and characterise compressive behaviour under quasi-static, cyclic and impact loading using digital image correlation to capture kink-band formation. In parallel, they will build unit-cell and laminate-scale finite element models in ABAQUS/ANSYS, validated against experimental data, culminating in a multi-scale stiffened panel incorporating toughened matrices and in-situ structural health monitoring.
The PhD candidate will be based within the School of Engineering at Western Sydney University (WSU), utilizing state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing and composite testing infrastructure. The student will be based within a well-equipped composites research group, working alongside a multidisciplinary supervisory team spanning manufacturing, micromechanics and numerical modelling, with potential collaboration with other national universities and industry supplies. This provides access to advanced manufacturing, characterisation and computational facilities.
What does the scholarship provide?
External Facing for advertisement which is going to be externally facing to public.
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $40,370.00 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- International candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $40,370.00 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs. Those with a strong track record will be eligible for a tuition fee waiver.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
[International candidates are required to hold an insurance policy for the duration of their study in Australia. This cost is not covered by the scholarship.]
Eligibility Criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of engineering backgrounds, who are keen to apply their skills to advancing lightweight composite materials for the renewable energy transition. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in composite materials, structural mechanics, manufacturing and/or computational modelling.
- Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following (i) an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, (ii) coursework Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Masters degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications, in mechanical, aerospace, materials, civil engineering or a closely related discipline.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to composite materials, solid mechanics, material science finite element analysis and materials characterisation.
- Have an understanding of the importance of lightweight, high-stiffness, carbon fibre, solid mechanics, polymer chemistry, micromechanics, carbon fibre composite manufacturing (i.e. resin infusion, autoclave curing, RTM or/and pultrusion, high-performance materials in decarbonisation and renewable energy technologies.
- Be willing to learn experimental characterisation techniques (e.g. mechanical testing, digital image correlation, X-ray computed tomography, microscopy) and numerical modelling tools (e.g. ABAQUS/ANSYS).
- Have strong programming skills in developing analytical programs via Matlab, Python, etc.
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
- Willing to apply for competitive grants and undertake teaching experience.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Publish in Q1 journal papers within the field.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applications close: 31 October 2026
PS2026_080_CS0940045_SoENG
Frequently asked questions
All scholarship applicants must review the following frequently asked questions (FAQs) before submitting an application.
You can only create one application at a time in the application portal. You should apply based on your first preference of project and supervisor.
However, you may be considered for multiple opportunities at the discretion of the relevant School/Institute.
To apply for multiple project scholarships, please attach a cover letter identifying the project scholarships in order of your preferences to your application. You will also need to attach a letter of support from the Lead Researcher for each project scholarship.
If your application is unsuccessful you can submit a new application for a different scholarship.
Yes. Current candidates may apply for a project scholarship.
If the project scholarship is for the same program in which you are currently enrolled, you do not need to submit a new application through the application portal. Instead, please email the lead researcher directly with a cover letter addressing the selection criteria and clearly state that you are a current candidate applying for the project scholarship.
If the project scholarship is for a different program to your current enrolment, you will need to submit an application through the application portal.
Please note that if you are successful in receiving a project scholarship, your candidature will not restart. Any candidature time already consumed in your current program will be taken into account and applied to your candidature under the new project.
Contact us
For questions or advice about a project, please contact the Lead Researcher.
You can contact the Graduate Research School through our enquiry forms.