Project-based graduate research scholarships
We offer a range of doctoral scholarships available for specific research projects. Successful scholarship applicants will receive a generous stipend, tuition fee scholarship and allowances. Stipends are valued at $33,500 per annum (2023 full-time rate) for 3.5 years.
The 2023 end-of-year project scholarship round is now open
Applications will close:
| International | 30 September 2023 |
|---|---|
| Domestic | 31 October 2023 |
How to apply
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If you want to apply for a graduate research scholarship to undertake one of these projects, please make sure to:
- review details on how to apply for PhD candidature
- select a project from the available projects listed below
- check the project requirements for eligibility and any additional special conditions
- contact the nominated contact person for your preferred project via email to express your interest and obtain their in-principle agreement for you to apply
- complete your application for admission into La Trobe’s PhD program – indicating the relevant project code as listed below (PRO-23---)
- complete a Research Statement Form for your nominated project (only one project can be nominated) and attach this to your application
- a research proposal is not required unless specifically requested as a special condition
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Domestic applicants, submit your application via the Domestic Online Application System. Select the ‘Graduate Research - End-of-year Scholarship Round’ scholarship option when prompted.
International applicants, submit your application via the International Online Application System
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Your application cannot be accepted without in-principle agreement for you to apply from the nominated contact of the research project.
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If you have any further questions about the application process, please contact research.study@latrobe.edu.au
Available projects
La Trobe Law School
Description:
Directed by Professor Luis Eslava, the Global Poverty and the 21st Century project examines the underlying legal, political, economic, cultural, technological and historical forces shaping the generation and experience of poverty today. Scholarly grounded and public policy oriented, the project’s objective is to inform academic, institutional and activist agendas focused on overcoming today’s global precarity in both the Global South and the Global North. Two (2) scholarships are available for PhD candidates who wish to explore the changing nature of poverty in the 21st Century from an interdisciplinary perspective. The scholarships are available to students with undergraduate and/or postgraduate studies in anthropology, development studies, economics, history, international relations, law, political science, sociology and related disciplines.
Supervisor:
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Luis Eslava
Email: L.Eslava@latrobe.edu.au
La Trobe Rural Health School
Description:
The goal of this project is to use Drosophila models to determine which cell types and mechanisms underly the altered neuronal excitability seen prior to onset of symptoms in motor neuron disease. Understanding this will help determine intervention points and may identify novel therapeutic approaches.
Supervisor:
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Donna Whelan
Email: D.Whelan@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
An opportunity is available for an outstanding candidate to undertake a PhD with the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research. The candidate will work closely with a team to investigate and test approaches to engagement, recruitment and retention of people considered ‘hard to reach’ to a Rural Health Consumer Panel. The Panel, established in 2022, aims to recruit 1500 rural consumers by 2027 and systematically empower them to advise on research priorities, design and translation into real impact. The Panel is being developed in partnership with the NIVEL Institute in the Netherlands and with a diverse advisory group of consumers, policymakers and health providers.
Supervisors:
Dr Leigh Kinsman and Dr Fiona Dangerfield
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Leigh Kinsman
Email: L.Kinsman@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
An opportunity is available for an outstanding candidate to undertake a PhD with the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research. The candidate will investigate the impact of a model developed to reduce preventable Emergency Department presentations for First Nation’s (FN) people and those who leave against medical advice. The successful candidate will join a team of researchers, led by a FN expert, who applied Aboriginal research methodologies to codesign a model for the Loddon Mallee Region.
Supervisors:
Dr Leigh Kinsman and Dr Mishel McMahon
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Leigh Kinsman
Email: L.Kinsman@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
An opportunity exists for an outstanding candidate to undertake a PhD with the Holsworth Research Initiative.
Supervisor:
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Michael Kingsley
Email: M.Kingsley@latrobe.edu.au
School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment
Description:
It was recently discovered that shrinking (atrophy) of the spleen commonly occurs in the days immediately following cerebral ischemia (stroke) in humans and animals. In mice, we have found that this atrophy is preceded by apoptosis of cells within the spleen and is associated with reduced numbers of circulating leukocytes (leukopenia) and increased susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia. However, the causes and consequences of post-stroke splenic atrophy remain poorly understood. The initial goal of this project will be to provide the first thorough characterisation of the phenomenon of post-stroke splenic atrophy. In experimental mice subjected to stroke, we will identify the features of apoptotic cell death within the spleen, including the types of cells involved and their morphological changes. We will also assess the extent to which other forms of cell death, such as pyroptosis and necroptosis, contribute to the splenic atrophy, and how this differs among knockout mice strains that have specific deficiencies in apoptotic and other cell death pathways. Furthermore, we will test whether this phenomenon is dependent upon the age or sex of the individual that suffers a stroke. A second goal will be to identify the mechanisms of apoptotic cell clearance associated with atrophy and of cell replenishment during restoration of spleen size. We will determine the role of inflammatory mechanisms in the clearance of dead cells and whether these processes can be pharmacologically or genetically modified to reduce disease severity. A third part of the project will seek to determine if the features and stages of splenic atrophy and replenishment are reflected in the profile of apoptotic bodies present in the plasma of post-stroke mice. Analyses will also be done in plasma obtained from stroke patients to determine whether a similar plasma profile occurs in humans and whether biomarkers for infection risk could be identified.
Supervisors:
Professor Chris Sobey and Dr Amy Baxter
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Chris Sobey
Email: C.Sobey@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
Symbiotic nitrogen fixation plays a crucial role in ensuring the profitability and sustainability of legume agriculture. This project aims to enhance our understanding of how nitrogen fixation is impacted by abiotic stresses. Leveraging genetic diversity, our goal is to pinpoint specific genes that contribute to enhancing legume plants' ability to withstand challenging abiotic stresses like heat, drought, and waterlogging. Through in-depth molecular analysis, we will validate the significance of these identified genes in nitrogen fixation.
Supervisors:
Dr Dugald Reid and Dr Penelope Smith
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Dugald Reid
Email: Dugald.Reid@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
This project is focussed on revealing new knowledge about the molecular mechanism(s) of synthesis and regulation of (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan (mixed-linkage glucan, MLG), a major soluble dietary fibre component of cereal grain cell walls. The major polysaccharide synthase is CSLF6, an enzyme of Glycosyltransferase (GT) family 2 (www.cazy.org/), the same family to which many of the enzymes that make cell surface glycans in plants, bacteria, fungi and mammals belong. The student will: (i) attempt to reconstitute CSLF6 with the aim of obtaining detailed structural information about the enzyme, and (ii) undertake domain-swap experiments in plants and bacteria to obtain further insight into the synthesis and regulatory mechanisms utilised by MLG synthases.
Supervisors:
Dr Monika Doblin and Professor Antony Bacic
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents.
Special Conditions:
Preference will be given to a candidate who is available to start early in Sem 1 2024. A background in protein biochemistry is desired.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Monika Doblin
Email: M.Doblin@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
TBA
Supervisor:
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
Special Conditions:
A background in protein biochemistry is essential.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Stephanie Gras
Email: S.Gras@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
While pollinators are critical for plant reproduction, they are very rarely considered when establishing new populations of endangered species. Our innovative approach to conservation translocation involves using pollinators in site selection, developing strategies to mitigate risks of hybridisation, and optimising plant reproduction through planting design. Our main focal genus will be Caladenia, the spider orchids, a primarily southern Australian genus famed for its intricate flowers, and high prevalence of sexually deceptive pollination strategies.
Supervisors:
Dr Ryan Phillips, Professor Rod Peakall (ANU) and Dr Noushka Reiter (Royal Botanic Gardens Vic)
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Ryan Phillips
Email: R.Phillips@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
This project is part of a recently funded ARC Linkage Project examining the escalating threats to coastal freshwater fish from drought, fire and other disturbances. The project expects to generate new knowledge on contemporary distributions of NSW. A top-up scholarship to the value of $15,000 pa may be available for a very strong applicant.
Supervisors:
Professor Nick Bond, Dr Michael Shackleton and Dr Luke McPhan
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Nick Bond
Email: N.Bond@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
This project is funded under a broader National Environmental Science Program (NESP) project looking at management options to conserve threatened freshwater fish species across Victoria under a changing climate. Under this broad umbrella there are opportunities for a motivated and capable student to explore a range of questions pertaining to native freshwater fish conservation. Areas of particular interest include understanding the efficacy of novel detection methods, such as eDNA, understanding the effects of hydro-climatic drivers on species distributions and abundance, and, how to adapt existing strategies such as in-situ vs ex-situ conservation under a changing climate.
A top-up scholarship to the value of $15,000 pa may be available for a very strong applicant.
Supervisors:
Professor Nick Bond and Dr Michael Shackleton
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Nick Bond
Email: N.Bond@latrobe.edu.au
School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Science
Description:
This project aims to demonstrate an atomically-precise fabrication technique for the production of diamond quantum microprocessors, using scanning tunnelling microscopy to develop a novel bottom-up engineering approach. The PhD student will make use of advanced ultra-high vacuum STM facilities based at La Trobe University and will work as part of a large team of engineers and scientists in collaboration with Quantum Brilliance, an Australian-based quantum computing start-up company, and RMIT University.
Supervisor:
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Chris Pakes
Email: C.Pakes@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
Proactive defensive mechanisms such as Moving Target Defence (MTD) systems have been proven as effective and affordable techniques to improve the overall security posture of the networks by changing the attack surface, and consequently making cyber-attacks more sophisticated for attackers. MTD has already been adopted in different contexts such as cloud, IoT, Cyber-physical systems (CPS). The goal of this project is to develop an AI-based MTD system for a given networked system that leverages AI capabilities to collect data, detect the threats, evaluate the MTD techniques, and deploy the most effective MTD scenarios to the given networked system.
Supervisor:
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Hooman Alavizadeh
Email: H.Alavizadeh@latrobe.edu.au
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Description:
This scholarship offers the opportunity be involved in an ARC-funded project that will produce a unique Routledge-commissioned, four-volume collection of rare, inaccessible and key published or archival primary sources. The collection will be accessible to academic and general audiences, including Indigenous communities. It will educate non-Indigenous Australians about our settler past and also inform Indigenous people and communities, empowering them with knowledge about past policies, activism and events. It will use methodologies that break new ground in the practice of collecting and reproducing documents. The project is co-led by Associate Professor Kat Ellinghaus (La Trobe), Professor Barry Judd (University of Melbourne) and Emeritus Professor Richard Broome (La Trobe). This scholarship offers a postgraduate student the exciting opportunity to work with this team on a project of their own design, which broadly focuses on a particular document, set of records or archive and making connections with communities described therein. We also welcome applicants to suggest their own area of focus provided it falls within the parameters of the project. Applicants must identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Supervisors:
Dr Katherine Ellinghaus, Dr Richard Broome and Professor Barry Judd
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Katherine Ellinghaus
Email: K.Ellinghaus@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
The La Trobe Climate Change Adaptation Lab is offering two (2) PhD scholarships to investigate what climate change impacts are on different types of work, and what adaptation is needed in response. Proposals are sought from people from human geography or other social science disciplinary backgrounds that address adaptation and work. For example, climate impacts on specific occupations or sectors, how types of impacts affect workers, or how workers in particular locations or regions are impacted.
Supervisors:
Professor Lauren Rickards, Dr Todd Denham and Dr Lisa de Kleyn
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Lauren Rickards
Email: L.Rickards@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
This project aims to improve our understanding of the nature, timing and climatic context of early human expansion into SW Asia, from a new extensive archaeological complex with associated palaeoenvironmental sequences on the Arabian Peninsula – a strategic out-of-Africa migratory corridor. It will combine innovative approaches in archaeology, geochronology and palaeoenvironmental research to evaluate the environmental and
cultural adaptability of early desert settlement, providing critical new insights into globally significant human dispersal debates spanning multiple continents, including Australia. The aim is a fundamental new perspective on long-term human occupation dynamics of deserts and new understanding of regional dispersals.
Supervisor:
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents and International applicants.
Special Conditions:
Preference given to someone with a background in archaeology.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Matthew Meredith-Williams
Email: M.Meredith-Williams@latrobe.edu.au
School of Nursing and Midwifery
Description:
Midwife-led group antenatal care and education (Group Care) is a new model of care that is becoming more common. It integrates antenatal care, childbirth preparation and early parenting education into group sessions for pregnant women. The sessions occur at regular intervals in the second half of pregnancy, facilitated by two midwives. A Cochrane review shows the model is acceptable to women, with no obvious adverse outcomes, but despite its increasing popularity, there is inadequate evidence to recommend widespread implementation. We are conducting a multi-site randomised controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of midwife-led group antenatal care and education versus individual-based care on 1) labour and birth, physiological and psychological outcomes for women and their babies; 2) care provider satisfaction; 3) health service use and cost effectiveness. not admitted to neonatal intensive care (88% vs 83%).
Supervisors:
Dr Della Forster and Dr Touran Shafiei
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents.
Special Conditions:
Preference given to someone with midwifery background
For more information, please contact:
Dr Della Forster
Email: D.Forster@latrobe.edu.au
School of Psychology and Public Health
Description:
This PhD scholarship is related to a new qualitative project funded by the Australian Research Council. We are seeking a candidate with a background in sociology, education, gender studies or other relevant discipline (for example, youth studies). The PhD project will complement the broader study which investigates young people’s drug consumption. The successful applicant will collaborate with the Project Lead to develop a project that reflects the interests and aspirations of the individual. The scholarship is based at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society – one of the Australia leading research centres investigating the social dimensions of health, gender, sexuality and consumption.
Supervisors:
Dr Adrian Farrugia and Dr Kate Seear
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Adrian Farrugia
Email: A.Farrugia@latrobe.edu.au
Description:
This PhD program provides an opportunity to learn from Australian families involved in the Lighthouse Project, an innovative triage approach being taken by the Family Courts to screen litigants for family violence risk, to improve outcomes for families involved in the family law system. This PhD seeks to produce and test an online psychoeducation prevention resource that is co-designed with parents and Court practitioners.
Supervisors:
Professor Jennifer McIntosh, Dr Anna Booth and Mr Jason (Heng) Jiang
Eligibility:
Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents.
For more information, please contact:
Professor Jennifer McIntosh
Email: Jenn.McIntosh@latrobe.edu.au