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 November
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 November 2026
PS2026_073_CS0636849_SoSc
School of Education
Lead Supervisor: Professor Jacqueline Ullman
Gender and sexuality diverse (GSD) teachers offer an important case study of diverse teacher wellbeing which has implications for students, the national teacher shortage and the political landscape for GSD people in Australia. Currently, Australia's hyperdiverse student population is not mirrored within its teaching staff – a problem that exacerbates students' inequitable school outcomes. Australia's current crisis of teacher supply and retention, compounded by all-time low levels of teacher wellbeing, has intensified a lack of teacher diversity.
The Australian Research Council-funded Discovery Project to which this PhD Scholarship is linked aims to better understand the initial teacher education and workplace experiences of pre-service and early career GSD teachers. This mixed-methods longitudinal research will investigate how GSD teachers negotiate the transition into teaching and what sustains them in the profession. The experiences of established GSD teachers, who have remained teaching past the critical early career phase, weathering significant moral panics related to GSD identities in schools, offer considerable insights into how particular schooling cultures and communities retain our newly trained GSD teachers. Further, it is critical to understand pre-service and early career GSD teachers' experiences of initial teacher education (ITE), specifically in relation to the acknowledgement of diverse identities; their transition from university to employment as teachers; and the systemic and institutional supports that enable them to remain in the profession after graduating, where they may potentially encounter challenging workplace environments for GSD identities.
The successful applicant, located in the School of Education, will develop a research project that runs alongside and interconnects with the above, investigating the university-to-classroom transition and school workplace experiences of GSD teachers with intersecting minority identities. It is anticipated that the lived experiences and intersecting identities of this candidate will inform the specific participant foci of their work (e.g. GSD teachers who are multiply marginalised). Their cohort-specific investigations will add to data synthesis across the project. The successful applicant will gain significant capacity building experience as part of a research team on a large-scale project, contributing to research meetings, collaborative analyses and translational activities.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $40,607 (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.
- Supervision by internationally recognised experts in gender, sexuality, and education research, including Project Lead, Professor Jacqueline Ullman.
- Opportunities for publication, Research Assistant work, and teaching.
- Access to the strong research networks and supports of Western Sydney University's School of Education and Institute for Culture and Society, as well as networks offered by the project's other Chief Investigators.
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 Masters with at least 25% research component, (iii) Research Master’s degree, or (iv) equivalent overseas qualifications.
- Have a background in education, social sciences, psychology, or related fields. Experience working in schools is strongly preferred.
- Have demonstrable research experience with qualitative or mixed methods. Experience conducting research with marginalised populations is preferred.
- Have demonstrable research interest in topics linked to gender and sexuality, schooling environments, and equity and inclusion in the workplace.
This scholarship is open to Australian domestic students only.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_084_CS0901092_SoE
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 November 2026
PS2025_CS0550452_MARCS
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 November 2026
PS2026_045_CS0815712_SoENG
School of Built Environment & Design
Lead Supervisor: Dr Jun Wang
Western Sydney University is offering two PhD scholarships as part of a newly funded research project under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV R&D Funding Round. The research will be undertaken in close collaboration with UGL, one of Australia’s leading engineering and infrastructure companies, and will focus on the development of next-generation intelligent robotic technologies for utility-scale solar farm construction, installation, inspection, progress monitoring, and operation and maintenance. The research will investigate an intelligent robotic platform combining autonomous mobile robots, collaborative robotic arms, multimodal sensing, artificial intelligence and Digital Twin technologies. Potential robotic tasks include automated fastening, cable installation and routing, component manipulation, quality inspection, construction progress monitoring, defect detection, autonomous navigation and solar farm maintenance.
The two PhD candidates will work as part of a multidisciplinary research team and will have opportunities to collaborate directly with UGL engineers and access real-world solar farm projects, project data, representative solar components and field-testing environments. The two scholarships are expected to have complementary research emphases:
PhD 1 – Robotic Manipulation and Embodied AI for Solar Farm Construction
This research will focus on robotic perception, manipulation and task execution, including collaborative robotic arms, mobile manipulation, multimodal sensing, teleoperation and demonstration learning, vision-language-action models, robotic foundation models and Sim-to-Real transfer. Example tasks may include fastening, cable handling, connector assembly, component manipulation and automated quality inspection.
PhD 2 – Digital Twin, Robot Simulation and Autonomous Solar Farm Robotics
This research will focus on developing Digital Twin and robotic simulation environments for solar farms, autonomous navigation and perception, construction process understanding, synthetic data generation, robot learning and integration between construction planning, Digital Twins and physical robotic systems. The research will support the development and deployment of autonomous robotic systems in large-scale outdoor solar farm environments.
What does the scholarship provide?
Each scholarship provides:
- a tax-free stipend of $38,707 per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory academic progress and the conditions of the scholarship;
- the opportunity to undertake a PhD within a major ARENA-funded renewable-energy research project;
- close collaboration with UGL and exposure to real utility-scale solar farm engineering and construction environments;
- access to advanced robotic platforms, collaborative robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots, LiDAR, RGB-D cameras, force/torque sensors and high-performance computing facilities;
- participation in a multidisciplinary research team spanning robotics, artificial intelligence, Digital Twins, construction engineering and renewable-energy infrastructure.
Eligibility Criteria
Domestic applicants (Australian citizens or permanent residents). Applicants must meet Western Sydney University's admission requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Applicants should have a strong academic background in one or more of the following areas:
- robotics, mechatronics or automation;
- computer science or artificial intelligence;
- computer vision, machine learning or embodied AI;
- autonomous systems;
- another closely related discipline.
Applicants with experience in one or more of the following areas will be particularly encouraged to apply:
- ROS/ROS2, MoveIt or robotic software development;
- robotic arms, mobile manipulators or collaborative robots;
- robot perception and manipulation;
- vision-language models, vision-language-action models or robotic foundation models;
- imitation learning, teleoperation or learning from demonstration;
- NVIDIA Isaac Sim/Isaac Lab, MuJoCo, Gazebo or other robotic simulation environments;
- Sim-to-Real transfer and synthetic-data generation;
- autonomous navigation, SLAM, LiDAR or 3D perception;
Applicants should also demonstrate:
- a strong interest in applied robotics and renewable-energy infrastructure;
- ability to undertake independent research and work within a multidisciplinary team;
- good written and verbal communication skills;
- willingness to collaborate closely with industry engineers and participate in laboratory and field-based research; and
- willingness to undertake site visits and field testing where required.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_087_CS0967059_SoBED
School of Medicine
Lead Supervisor: Dr Jerry Zhou
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is one of Australia's fastest growing cancers. There is an unmet clinical need for a minimally invasive test for early population-wide screening. This project builds up our previous research in developing a breath test to identify high-risk individual for further testing.
This applicant is expected to have experience in a clinical setting and/or laboratory-based research experience. The candidate will collaborate with the Southwest Sydney Local Health District clinical team in various hospital and the research team based at School of Medicine Campbelltown campus.
The candidate will also have the opportunity to work with Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Group Inc. (OCAGI). OCAGI is a local non-profit organisation based in Ingleburn and is Australia's only advocacy group dedicated to supporting oesophageal cancer survivors and their carers.
The candidate will also have the opportunity to be involved in an industry internship relevant to their field of expertise. The internship will provide valuable industry experience and skills required to develop a career in the private sector.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $38,707.00 (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.
- A minimum of three-month (60 days full-time) internship with our industry partner working on a relevant project
- Structured career and professional development training
Eligibility Criteria
- Be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident, or a New Zealand citizen
- 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.
- Not have previously completed a PhD, or any other primary scholarship
This scholarship is open to Australian domestic students only.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2025_CS0688342_SoM
School of Medicine
Lead Supervisor: Associate Professor Michael O'Connor
M.OConnor@westernsydney.edu.au
The human ocular lens is a specialised biological optical system that maintains transparency and focuses light onto the retina. Living human lens tissue is difficult to access, limiting investigation of lens development, cataract formation and the functional consequences of genetic variation. Human pluripotent stem-cell-derived lens epithelial-like cells and light-focusing micro-lenses provide a platform for controlled biological and optical studies.
This PhD will focus on the engineering challenge: designing, fabricating and validating novel culture systems and analysis rigs that improve control, reproducibility and quantitative assessment of human lens organoids. The candidate will develop microfluidic or related culture platforms, optical and mechanical-optical measurement systems, automated image-analysis workflows and, where appropriate, predictive models linking manufacturing inputs with biological and functional outcomes.
The primary contribution of the PhD candidate will be engineering design, prototyping, instrumentation, quantitative measurement and analysis. Prior human pluripotent stem-cell or organoid experience is not required. Relevant biological techniques will be learnt during candidature.
Research objectives
- Design and prototype novel microfluidic, hydrogel, micro-vessel or related culture systems for lens epithelial-like cells and micro-lenses.
- Develop controlled approaches to culture geometry, media exchange, handling, loading, recovery or longitudinal observation.
- Design and validate optical and mechanical-optical analysis rigs that quantify transparency, focusing, deformation, recovery and developmental trajectories.
- Develop automated image acquisition, calibration, segmentation, feature extraction and quality-control workflows.
- Quantify measurement uncertainty, biological variability and technical reproducibility.
- Develop explanatory or predictive models linking engineering inputs, culture conditions, geometry and functional outcomes.
- Generate design principles and quality-control approaches applicable to future organoid-manufacturing systems.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $36,000 (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 $36,000 (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 insurance (Single Policy).] Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
Eligibility Criteria
Develop the next generation of engineered human optical organoids.
Western Sydney University is seeking an outstanding engineering or quantitative researcher to develop novel culture systems and functional-analysis technologies for human lens organoids.
The project is primarily an engineering research project spanning microfluidics, device design, instrumentation, optical measurement, quantitative imaging and modelling. The central requirement is demonstrated aptitude for engineering or quantitative research. Prior stem-cell or organoid experience is not essential. Human pluripotent stem-cell-derived lens models provide the biological application. Prior stem-cell experience is not required, but aptitude for culture-related research needs to be demonstrated.
The successful candidate will help develop new approaches for:
- microfluidic organoid manufacturing
- automated optical testing
- optical and mechanical quality assessment
- predictive manufacturing and digital-twin modelling
- future biological optical systems
The project provides opportunities to work across multiple disciplines including:
- biomedical engineering
- mechatronics
- stem cell technology
- optics and imaging
- data science and machine learning
- organoid manufacturing
Candidate profile
Candidates with strong backgrounds in biomedical engineering, mechatronics, or microfluidics are encouraged to apply. The scholarship is particularly suited to applicants interested in developing novel technologies rather than solely undertaking biological research. Applicants should possess strong, demonstrable and verifiable experience in:
- quantitative and analytical skills
- engineering design, instrumentation, automation, prototyping
- quantitative reasoning, troubleshooting, and limitations analyses
- interest in biological systems and biotechnology
- capacity to participate in interdisciplinary research
Why apply?
This PhD provides an opportunity to lead the engineering development of new technologies for the controlled culture and quantitative assessment of human lens organoids. Rather than primarily undertaking established biological protocols, the candidate will design, build, test and refine novel culture systems, instrumentation and analysis methods.
The project provides opportunities to develop advanced research capability in areas including:
- microfluidic and engineered organoid culture systems
- biomedical device design, fabrication and prototyping
- optical and mechanical-optical measurement
- instrumentation, automation and experimental control
- quantitative imaging and reproducible image analysis
- statistical analysis of biological and technical variability
- predictive modelling of relationships between culture conditions, organoid geometry and functional outcomes.
The project is particularly suited to an applicant who wants to apply engineering, physical science or quantitative research skills to a challenging biomedical problem. Prior human pluripotent stem-cell or organoid expertise is not required. The candidate will learn sufficient stem-cell and organoid biology to understand the biological system, design appropriate technologies and interpret experimental outcomes.
Anticipated research outputs may include publications and conference presentations as well as software, analysis pipelines, engineering designs, prototypes and other technical outputs arising from the project.
Eligibility, scholarship inclusions and appointment or enrolment conditions will be governed by the applicable Western Sydney University requirements and the final approved scholarship terms.
Applicants must be able to substantiate material claims made in their application. Claims concerning qualifications, academic achievement, research experience, publications, research outputs and technical expertise may be verified with institutions, supervisors, referees or publicly available research records as part of the selection process. Material claims by applicants progressing through shortlisting will be subject to verification. False or materially misleading information may result in an application being excluded from consideration in accordance with applicable WSU requirements.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_091_CS0974085_SoM
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?
- 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.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School/Institute.
- 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 November 2026
PS2026_050_CS0889076_MARCS
PS2026_052_CS0889060_MARCS
MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development
Lead Supervisor: Professor Mark Antoniou
M.Antoniou@westernsydney.edu.au
Learning a second language is difficult, but mastery brings with it socioeconomic advantages. This is particularly relevant for English-speaking countries such as Australia that have large migrant populations. Yet, we do not know why some learners do well while others in the same setting flounder. It must be the case that successful learners have certain attributes that allow them to flourish in the learning setting, resulting in successful learning. Unsuccessful learners, on the other hand, are likely mismatched to their training method. This project will map the combination of predictors that matter most in successful language learning with the goal of tailoring training proactively to maximise learning outcomes for all learners.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35188 (AUD) per annum for up to 3 years to support living costs, supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project Funding.
- The successful candidate will also receive 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 speech and language training. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in psycholinguistics and cognitive neuroscience.
The successful applicant should:
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Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following:
- . 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 subjects relevant to psycholinguistics.
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Have an understanding of the importance of cross-language speech perception.
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Be willing to learn fNIRS data collection and analysis.
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Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_024_CS0802414_MARCS
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 $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
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 November 2026
PS2026_069_CS0889906_SoSc
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
Lead Supervisor: Dr Alihan Katlav
The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) at Western Sydney University is offering a PhD scholarship for a motivated domestic candidate to investigate microbial diversity, ecological associations and potential transmission pathways among Australian native bees and their associated mites. The project will address important knowledge gaps at the intersection of acarology, microbial ecology and pollinator health and contribute to the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS)-funded research program, "Diversity, systematics and evolution of Australian bee-associated mites", led by Dr Alihan Katlav.
Australian native bees are important pollinators, yet the diversity and ecological significance of their associated mites and microorganisms remain poorly understood. Mites occur on bees and within nests, interacting with brood and nesting materials and potentially facilitating microbial exchange. Whether bees and mites share beneficial, neutral or harmful microorganisms, where these microbes originate, and whether mites contribute to their dispersal or transmission remain largely unexplored.
The successful candidate will investigate mite-bee-microbe associations through field sampling, mite identification, advanced microscopy, molecular screening and microbial community profiling. The research will characterise the bacterial, fungal and viral communities associated with bees, mites and nest substrates, with a particular focus on identifying microorganisms shared between bees and mites, determining how their microbial communities differ or overlap, and investigating potential sources and pathways of microbial exchange. Where feasible, the project will also explore the potential role of mites in microbial dispersal and the ecological and health implications of these associations for bees, brood and colonies.
The PhD candidate will receive training in mite and bee systematics, molecular ecology, experimental design, data analysis and scientific communication, alongside specialists in bee biology and microbial ecology. Supervisors are Dr Alihan Katlav, Professor Markus Riegler and Professor James Cook at HIE, bringing complementary expertise in entomology, mite systematics, arthropod–microbe interactions, pollinator biology, molecular ecology and arthropod evolution.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic PhD candidates will receive a tax-free stipend at the Western Sydney University project-scholarship rate of AUD $38,707 per annum for up to 3 years, together with a Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset. The final rate and conditions are subject to Graduate Research School confirmation.
- The candidate will be based at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, and will join an established ABRS-supported research program on mite biodiversity and systematics.
- Support for approved fieldwork, laboratory research, conferences and other research-related costs may be available, subject to project budgets and Institute approval.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are invited from domestic candidates (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens) with interests in entomology, acarology, microbiology, pollinator health or molecular ecology. Previous experience with both mites/insects and microbiology is preferred; applicants willing to develop complementary skills are encouraged to apply.
The successful applicant should:
• Hold a qualification in a relevant discipline, such as entomology, ecology, zoology, microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, agricultural science or a closely related field, that meets Western Sydney University’s PhD admission requirements. This may include an Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree, a coursework Master’s degree with at least a 25% research component, a Research Master’s degree, or an equivalent qualification.
• Demonstrate strong academic performance and research potential in entomology, zoology, microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics or related subjects.
• Show a clear interest in native bees, bee-associated mites, host–microbe interactions and the ecological significance of arthropod-associated microorganisms.
• Be willing to undertake insect and mite sampling in the field, microscopy, molecular laboratory work, data analysis and, as appropriate, carefully controlled experiments.
• Demonstrate initiative, attention to detail, written and oral communication skills, and an ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Meet the University’s applicable English language and other doctoral admission requirements.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_092_CS0802108_HIE
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
Lead Supervisor: Distinguished Professor Belinda Medlyn
This project aims to extend the LPJ-GUESS dynamic vegetation model to predict performance of trees on farms. The project will examine different kinds of tree plantings, including plantings for agroforestry, biomass, and revegetation. It will apply the model to predict the value of benefits offered by tree plantings, including crop production, biomass production, plant and soil carbon sequestration and biodiversity, and compare these to establishment costs. It will support decision-making around integration of trees into farm landscapes in Australia.
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.
- The scholarship also provides support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs to the value of $9200 pa.
Eligibility Criteria
The project is suitable for candidates with a background in quantitative science and a strong interest in plant biology or agriculture. Applicants must:
- 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 mathematical modelling, such as maths, physics, computing or data science.
- Have a demonstrated interest in plant biology or agriculture.
- Be willing to collaborate closely with experimental scientists.
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_093_CS0916736_HIE
Translational Health Research Institute
Lead Researcher: Distinguished Professor Andre Renzaho
Andre.Renzaho@westernsydney.edu.au
This project addresses a critical challenge for Australia. Regional visa allocations surged by 86.3% in 2022-23 to 33,944 places to address rural workforce shortages. While official data indicates 32% to 50% of these migrants remain settled in regional areas after five years, around 45% eventually relocate to major capital cities. The project will investigate the challenges migrants face when settling in regional Australia and identify practical solutions to support them - and to revitalise regional communities. Phase 1 will link longitudinal and 'Big' data to examine the interplay between macro-level societal, meso-level community and micro-level individual factors influencing settlement outcomes. Phase 2 will use 25 Nominal Group Techniques (NGTs) to co-design and prioritise strategies to improve regional migrant settlement and support community revitalisation. Phase 3 will integrate findings from Phases 1 and 2 to identify critical domains of disparity and intervention, and develop and validate an evidence-based national consensus roadmap to reduce migrant-related inequities in regional Australia, with a focus on the major migrant groups settling in regional areas. The PhD component will lead the policy and environmental analysis underpinning Phases 1 and 2 and contribute to the design and implementation of the 25 NGTs in Phase 2, providing an integrated policy and community perspective on regional migrant settlement.
What does the scholarship provide?
- A tax-free annual stipend of $38,707.00 for three years
- World-class research training in migration, settlement, population health and regional Australia.
- Practical experience in co- design, community engagement, and participatory action research
- Advanced research skills in linked data, quantitative analysis and evidence-based policy research.
- Practical experience working with experienced academics, government and to translate research into policy and practice.
- A strong research career foundation, including opportunities for publications, professional development and contribution to nationally important research.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet Western Sydney University PhD admission requirements and have:
- A First Class Honours (H1) degree; or
- A Master's by Research; or
- A coursework Master's degree with demonstrated research capability, such as peer-reviewed publications, including at least one first-author publication.
This scholarship is open to Australian domestic students only.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_083_CS0969344_THRI
MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development
Lead Supervisor: Dr Tijl Grootswagers
T.Grootswagers@westernsydney.edu.au
In naturalistic settings such as browsing digital feeds, visual exploration is self-paced and proactive. Observers decide when and how to sample visual information, creating a closed loop where motor action directly triggers perceptual input. However, traditional visual cognitive neuroscience relies primarily on passive paradigms where subjects have no control over the timing or flow of information. Consequently, the neural mechanisms supporting active, observer-controlled visual recognition and memory formation remain poorly understood.
This project investigates how volitional control affects core neural dynamics of object recognition and memory encoding. Based at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, the project combines empirical neuroimaging with computational modelling to resolve visual representations over time. The candidate will gain expertise in neuroimaging, multivariate decoding, scientific programming, and computational modelling, and visual perception research.
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.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School.
- Fully funded PhD candidature embedded within an ARC Future Fellowship research program.
- Tax-free doctoral living stipend supported by an RTP training scholarship.
- Dedicated funding for project operational costs, participant reimbursement, and high-performance computing access.
- Financial support for national and international conference travel, workshops, and collaborative research visits.
- Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure at the MARCS Institute.
- Supervisory mentoring, training in cutting edge methodologies, and integration into an international network of cognitive neuroscience research.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds, who are keen to apply their skills to key issues in cognitive neuroscience. In particular, the project is suitable for candidates with strong interests in Cognitive Neuroscience.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Academic Qualifications: One of the following: An Australian First Class Honours Bachelor's degree, or a Research Masters, or a Coursework Masters with a minimum 25% research component, or equivalent overseas qualifications in Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology, Computer Science, Data Science, Biomedical Engineering, or Vision Science.
- Quantitative & Programming Skills: Expertise in quantitative data analysis, signal processing, and/or scientific programming (PYTHON/MATLAB/R).
- Domain Knowledge: Solid foundational understanding of human visual perception, cognitive neuroscience, and/or electroencephalography (EEG) methodology.
- Methodological Capability: Strong motivation to master advanced analytical techniques, including multivariate neural decoding, computational modelling, and deep neural networks.
- Open Science & Research Integrity: Commitment to open science practices, including public sharing of research data and code.
- English Proficiency: All applications must meet Western Sydney University English language proficiency requirements.
This opportunity is for Australian domestic applicants only.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_089_CS0733686_MARCS
School of Engineering
Lead Supervisor: Professor Samanthika Liyanapathirana
S.Liyanapathirana@westernsydney.edu.au
This project aims to develop an innovative ground improvement material using recycled waste glass aggregates and a geopolymer binder derived from industrial waste products. The student recruited for Phase 1 of the project will be responsible for developing the material mix design and conducting a comprehensive experimental investigation. This will involve laboratory testing commonly undertaken during the development of new geomaterials, including unconfined compressive strength testing, permeability testing, sieve analysis, and material characterisation using the advanced materials characterisation facilities at Western Sydney University.
In addition, the mechanical behaviour of the developed material will be systematically evaluated through monotonic and cyclic triaxial testing to establish its strength, stiffness, and deformation characteristics under various loading conditions. The outcomes of this experimental program will provide fundamental insights into the material's engineering performance and suitability for geotechnical applications.
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.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by School.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applications from candidates with qualifications in Civil Engineering, particularly those with a strong interest in experimental geotechnical research and the development and testing of innovative geomaterials.
The successful applicant should:
Hold qualifications equivalent to one of the following:
- An Australian First Class Honours Bachelor degree with a high GPA or an equivalent overseas qualification.
- Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to Geotechnical Engineering.
- Have experience with, or familiarity in operating, triaxial testing equipment, particularly for monotonic loading tests.
- Possess strong laboratory and analytical skills, with an interest in the experimental investigation of geomaterials and ground improvement technologies.
- Be willing to learn advanced experimental techniques, material characterisation methods, and the chemistry underpinning geopolymer binders and other sustainable construction materials relevant to the project.
- Demonstrate the ability to work independently, manage laboratory experiments, and contribute effectively within a collaborative research environment.
This project provides an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated student to gain expertise in the development, characterisation, and mechanical testing of sustainable geotechnical materials, while contributing to innovative solutions for ground improvement using recycled waste resources.
This opportunity is for Australian domestic applicants only.
Applications close: 30 November 2026
PS2026_090_CS0953667_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 November 2026
PS2026_070_CS0889906_SoSc
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 November 2026
PS2026_044_CS0441580_SoENG
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 Tooth-Billed 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 tooth-billed 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 tooth-billed 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) 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 September/October 2025.
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?
- 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.
- 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 November 2026
PS2025_CS0682757_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 November 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 November 2026
PS2025_CS0548284_SoEDBE
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 November 2026
PS2026_058_CS0889906_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.