Project Scholarships
Project scholarships provide a stipend and other benefits to support higher degree candidates undertaking research in a predefined project.
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The list of currently available project scholarships is updated on a monthly basis.
Scholarships closing 30 April
The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development
Lead Researcher: 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. 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 A/Prof Chloe Diskin-Holdaway, Dr Kakeru Yazawa and Dr Jooyoung Lee.
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.
- International candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $35,188 (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 the 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:
- Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following in the area of Corpus or Computational Linguistics (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 Computational and Corpus Linguistics.
- Have an ability to program in a variety of computational languages.
- Have an understanding of the importance of computational and corpus methods for analysing linguistic data.
- Be willing to learn to program and conduct computational and empirical experiments to collect linguistic data.
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applications close: 30 April 2026
PS2026_023_CS0801950_MARCS
The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development
Lead Researcher: Associate 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 $35,188 (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 $35,188 (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 the School/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:
- Hold qualifications and experience equal to one of the following in the area of Corpus or Computational Linguistics (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 psycholinguistics.
- Have an understanding of the importance of cross-language speech perception.
- Be willing to learn fNIRS data collection and analysis.
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applications close: 30 April 2026
PS2026_024_CS0802414_MARCS
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment
Lead Researcher: Professor Oula Ghannoum
o.ghannoum@westernsydney.edu.au
The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (HIE) at Western Sydney University (WSU) is offering one research scholarship to a highly motivated PhD candidate to work within a research group addressing the key challenge of optimising the yield, quality and disease and stress resistance of horticultural crops (e.g., mushroom, leafy greens, strawberry) grown in vertical farms, in collaboration with Prof Wen Hu at University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Industry Partner Vertical Patch.
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 connect plant biology and imaging to IOT project led from UNSW.
This project will appoint one HDR student as part of an ARC Linkage project (Battery-Free IoT-Based Sensing and Control for Protected Cropping), a collaboration between UNSW (lead organisation, WSU and Industry Partner Vertical Patch to an innovative solution by integrating battery-free intermittent computing and sensing and data-driven adaptive control for real-time environmental optimisation. The project will contribute to the education and training of ECR and HDR for the protected cropping
industry, particularly indoor vertical farming.
The aim of this PhD project is to collect physiological (including photosynthesis) and imaging data towards developing an integrated crop monitoring and decision support system for real-time controlled optimisation of crop growth and growth conditions in vertical farms.
The project will combine measurements of photosynthesis as well chlorophyll fluorescence to study plant biology together with plant phenotyping using RGBD imaging and/or commercial phenotyping facility as part of APPN node at WSU Hawkesbury campus. The project is led by Professor Oula Ghannoum at WSU in collaboration with a Prof Wen Hu (WSU, and Mr Wayne Forde (Vertical Patch).
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, a tuition fee waiver and an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Single Policy.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by the School/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 digital phenotyping and using state-of-the-art algorithms to build digital plant model for the applications in photosynthesis for example assessing parameters that influence carbon assimilation.
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 crop physiology, including leaf photosynthesis (gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence) and biochemistry (assays of enzymes and metabolites).
- Demonstrate experience with advanced statistical methods and data-set analysis using statistical software packages (e.g., R, Python).
- Experience in collection and analysis imaging (e.g, RGB, infrared and/or hyperspectral) is essential.
- Willingness to learn computational techniques applicable to crop phenotyping.
- 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 April 2026
PS2026_018_CS0794311_HIE
School of Built Environment and Design
Lead Researcher: Doctor Md Kamrul Hassan
Fire safety in marine environments remains a critical challenge due to confined spaces, hydrocarbon fuels, complex electrical systems, and harsh operating conditions. Lightweight aluminium honeycomb panel systems, widely used in ships and offshore structures to form compartmentalised vertical and horizontal assemblies, are particularly vulnerable under fire exposure. Elevated temperatures can rapidly reduce structural strength, leading to deformation, instability, and potential structural collapse. Enhancing the fire resistance of these systems is therefore essential to ensure sufficient time for evacuation and emergency response.
This PhD program aims to develop a novel intumescent coating specifically engineered to improve the fire performance of lightweight aluminium honeycomb panel systems. The proposed coating will expand under high temperatures to form a stable, insulating char layer, delivering superior fire protection. And, the coating will have improved durability and corrosion resistance in the harsh weather, such as marine like condition. Overall, the intumescent coating will achieve a good balance of fire resistance, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and long-term stability. The project will study key aspects of fire resistance, corrosion resistance and durability of aluminium honeycomb panel with intumescent coating. Experimental testing and materials characterisation will be used to develop optimised material formulations.
The successful candidate will join the renowned research team and work within a multidisciplinary research team in collaboration with an industry partner. The project provides opportunities for industry engagement and the translation of research outcomes into practical marine applications. This offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to research in marine construction materials, with strong potential for both academic impact and real-world implementation.
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.
- Support for conference attendance, fieldwork and additional costs as approved by the School/Institute.
Eligibility criteria
Australian citizens, permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens, or international students are welcome to apply. We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds with a strong interest in chemical engineering, fire retardant materials, building materials and the marine industry.
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 chemical engineering, fire retardant materials, building materials and the marine industry.
- Demonstrate experience with advanced material characterisation, including SEM-EDS, TGA, FTIR, XRD etc.
- Have experience in conducting fire tests on building materials.
- Have experience to publish in Q1 article in reputed journals.
- Have good oral and written communication skills and be highly motivated to progress research in a timely manner.
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applications close: 30 April 2026
PS2026_026_CS0808976_SoBED
School of Built Environment and Design
Lead Researcher: Doctor Jason Jiang
cheng.jiang@westernsydney.edu.au
This PhD project focuses on the development of advanced monitoring technology for modular house construction, with applications across the construction and real estate sectors. The research will combine computer science (CS), artificial intelligence (AI), and smart sensing technologies to improve the quality, efficiency, and reliability of modular housing systems. Particular attention will be given to key building components such as doors, windows, and prefabricated building envelopes.
This project offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to smart construction and digital innovation in modular housing construction, with both academic and industry relevance.
What does the scholarship provide?
- Domestic candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $40,000 (AUD) per annum for up to 3.5 years to support living costs, supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset.
- International candidates will receive a tax-free stipend of $40,000 (AUD) per annum for up to 3.5 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 the School/Institute.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds with strong interests in low-carbon construction, computer science, and property building.
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 and background in subjects relevant to Construction Management, Computer Science, Internet of Things Engineering, and Property Building.
- Demonstrate strong programming expertise in Java, C, C++, or similar.
- Have an ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Desirable attributes include:
- Relevant work experience in the areas of Property Building and Construction in Australia.
- Prior research experience, journal or conference paper publication record.
- Onshore applicants (those currently based in Australia) or Western Sydney University internal applicants.
Applications close: 30 April 2026
PS2026_027_CS0805525_SoBED
Scholarships closing 31 May
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Lead Researcher: Professor Ajesh George
Diabetes affects almost 1.9 million Australians and is one of the biggest challenges for the nation's health care system, costing the national economy $17.6b annually. Gum (periodontal) disease is the sixth most prevalent complication of diabetes. Diabetes also has a bidirectional relationship with gum disease. However, recent consensus has shown that treating gum disease can significantly improve blood glucose management among people with diabetes.
Both Australian and international guidelines highlight the effectiveness and safety of periodontal treatment for people with diabetes and recommend that all diabetes care providers undertake oral health reviews as part of holistic management. Research, however, has shown that diabetes care providers place little emphasis on oral health due to limited training and knowledge. Currently, there is no system in place that offers people with diabetes regular and effective oral health promotion.
This PhD project will complement a larger randomised controlled trial that will explore the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and implementation of a preventive diabetes oral health intervention delivered by diabetes care providers (DIOH), along with a dental service (DS) intervention. The RCT aims to address the above research gaps. The PhD Project will involve analysing and evaluating the implementation and sustainability of the program to better understand its scalability.
The student will be based at the Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH) (www.acioh.com), the leading national research centre in integrated oral health care. The centre is based at the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research (Liverpool Precinct).
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 the School/Institute.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applicants with a background in public health, nursing, medicine, health science, health promotion, or implementation science.
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.
- Have an understanding of the importance of integrated oral health care systems.
- Experience in systematic reviews/meta-analysis, qualitative/quantitative data collection and analysis using relevant software’s (e.g. NVivo, SPSS, Stata).
- Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to undertake further study at an advanced level.
International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Applications close: 31 May 2026
PS2026_015_CS0590220_SoNM
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.