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HDR scholarships

HDR projects with RTP scholarships

Scholarship applications open now
HDR projects with RTP scholarship

Research Training Program scholarship opportunities are available for domestic students now.

 

Scholarship opportunities

We are currently inviting expressions of interest from students to undertake the exciting research projects listed below. If a project captures your interest, please get in touch with the listed supervisor for more information.

If you're considering applying for a scholarship, be sure to check out our Scholarships page for available options.

Don’t see a project that perfectly matches your interests? No problem—feel free to contact a supervisor from Find a supervisor and research project | Charles Darwin University who specialises in your area of interest to discuss potential opportunities.

The goldlined rabbitfish S.lineatus: farming down the food chain for resilient, low trophic, Indigenous aquaculture.

4 years full-time appointment

Darwin

CSIRO iPhD

$48K in 2026, increasing each year, all tax free

About the Opportunity:

CDU is seeking applicants for a unique opportunity to work with an Indigenous enterprise in a remote community that is developing a blue economy to safeguard the future of one of Australia’s largest islands. The project will develop production methods for a herbivorous marine fish – the goldlined rabbitfish - to enable a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for Australian finfish aquaculture. The enhanced capacity of a strong collaboration between Charles Darwin University, Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation and the CSIRO, working alongside Anindilyakwa Traditional Owners, will yield a better understanding of goldlined rabbitfish propagation techniques and nutritional requirements. This will ultimately improve Groote Aqua’s production efficiencies and consequently improve food security, revenues and employment prospects on Groote Eylandt, which are key milestones for the Aboriginal Corporation to prepare for and facilitate the transition from six-decades of mining to self-sufficiency. Visit: https://www.cdu.edu.au/rina/available-postgraduate-projects

About You:

  • First Class Honours, MSc or equivalent containing a substantial research component in a relevant field such as aquaculture, agriculture, animal science, economics/business or similar field
  • Have a research background in fish biology, aquaculture, agriculture, animal science, veterinary science or similar and bring a high level of academic merit consistent with CSIRO iPhD scholarship requirements
  • Hold an Australian driving license or have the capacity to obtain one
  • Based in or willing to relocate to Darwin (other locations possible by negotiation)
  • Enjoy the tropics, wilderness and remote island life
  • Must meet the RTP stipend requirements, including being either an Australian permanent resident or citizen, or a New Zealand citizen

Desirable Criteria:

  • Have marine tropical fish breeding and rearing skills
  • Fish handling skills and experience with aquaculture research facilities

How to Apply:

  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
  • A brief statement not exceeding 500-words in length that explains why you are interested in this research project/area
  • Names and contact details of two academic referees

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest and a CV to Professor Sunil Kadri at sunil.kadri@cdu.edu.au.

For more information, please contact Professor Kadri by email or on 08 8946 7752

Application closing date:

By midnight on 6 February 2026

Commencement date:

March 2026

Note: The supervisor will invite applicants who pass the expression of interest stage to submit scholarship applications before closing date. Please do not submit any applications unless you are invited by the supervisor.

CSIRO iPhD: Strategic silage use for productivity and sustainability

Project Title: PhD Opportunity: CSIRO iPhD Strategic silage use for productivity and sustainability and drought resilience for Northern Territory beef systems

4 years, Full-time appointment

Multiple locations including Darwin/ Brisbane/ Alice Springs/ Sydney

CSIRO RTP + Industry top up

$47,000/year

About the Opportunity:

Beef producers in the NT primarily rely on rainfed native pastures for the nutritional needs of their cattle. During extended periods of low rainfall, producers frequently do not have enough feed to provide adequate nutrition for all their animals and often must sell their livestock into a saturated market, receiving low returns that sometimes fail to even cover transportation costs. Increasingly, NT beef producers are seeking improved feedbase opportunities to maintain better production, but silage production and forage conservation has remained low compared to the potential across the region. Little information exists to support these northern producers to make decisions around optimising silage use on-farm; when the dry season begins and pasture availability declines, which class of cattle should be prioritised for silage feeding to maximise economic and herd viability outcomes? This project will work with CSIRO, Lallemand Australia and CDU to combine feeding trials on commercial properties in the NT with economic and sustainability modelling to develop economically- and sustainability-optimised silage feeding strategies to improve beef production and climate resilience. The outcomes will provide Northern Territory cattle producers with clear, evidence-based guidance on how to best utilise silage to survive and recover from drought. The successful candidate will influence decisions affecting millions of cattle across Northern Australia.

About You:

  • Honours, MSc or equivalent containing a substantial research component in a relevant field such as agriculture, animal science, economics/business or similar field
  • Livestock handling skills
  • Must meet the RTP stipend requirements, including being either an Australian permanent resident or citizen, or a New Zealand citizen, with intention to be a domestic student
  • Understanding of nutritional requirements of beef cattle

Desirable Criteria:

  • Experience in livestock and/or sustainability modelling
  • Experience with animal trials

How to Apply:

  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
  • A brief statement not exceeding 500-words in length that explains why you are interested in this research project/area

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest and a CV to Professor Beth Penrose at beth.penrose@cdu.edu.au. For more information, please contact Beth on 0436 839 662.

PhD Scholarship: Insects as recorders of biodiversity and reservoirs of disease

Project Title: PhD scholarship opportunity in Insects as Recorders of Biodiversity and Reservoirs of Disease: Using metagenomics to study wildlife and disease risk on northern Australian islands

3 years full-time appointment

Darwin

Domestic Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend

$34,190 per year - 44,190 per year

About the Opportunity:

Charles Darwin University has a scholarship available for an exciting PhD project aligned with two distinctive research programs on the biosecurity of northern Australia and the biodiversity of offshore islands. The PhD will use cutting-edge genetic tools to analyse insect blood meals as a novel way to uncover hidden patterns of biodiversity and track potential disease risks in northern Australia. By identifying the animals that insects feed on, you will gain unique insights into the presence and movements of wildlife across diverse landscapes, while also monitoring vectors that may carry pathogens affecting people, livestock, and ecosystems. The project offers the opportunity to develop advanced skills in molecular ecology, bioinformatics, and field ecology, while contributing directly to biodiversity conservation and biosecurity. This PhD project is based at Charles Darwin University and will work closely with partners on an ARC-funded project on the biodiversity of the Northern Territory's offshore island estate, including remote communities, ranger groups and Land Councils. You will help pioneer approaches that integrate biodiversity discovery with disease surveillance, building knowledge critical for safeguarding northern Australia’s unique environment and communities.

About You:

  • First-Class Honours or equivalent in Molecular Biology, Ecology, Genetics, or a related field
  • Strong skills in molecular laboratory methods (e.g. DNA/RNA extraction, PCR/qPCR, sequencing library preparation)
  • Willingness to participate in extended periods of remote fieldwork
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team

Desirable Criteria:

  • At least one publication in a recognised peer-reviewed journal
  • Background in entomology, wildlife ecology, or vector biology
  • Experience with bioinformatics or willingness to learn (metabarcoding, sequence analysis, data management)
  • Experience with remote fieldwork

How to Apply:

  • A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability (max two pages)
  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest and a CV to Professor Maxine Piggott at maxine.piggott@cdu.edu.au. For more information, please contact Maxine on 08 8946 6763.

PhD - Elucidating diet composition of northern Australia rangeland cattle

Project Title: PhD scholarship in elucidating diet composition to improve greenhouse gas emission estimates for cattle in the northern Australia rangelands

3 years full-time appointment

Multiple locations including Darwin/ Brisbane/ Alice Springs/ Sydney

Domestic Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend

$34,190 - $44,190 per year

About the Opportunity:

Native pastures of northern Australia are botanically diverse, supporting hundreds of species of grasses, forbs, trees and shrubs. Species have different nutritive value, digestibility and some have anti-methanogenic properties. Current carrying capacity methodology assumes cattle eat only the herbaceous layer of vegetation including grasses and forbs, but in many environments, such as in Central Australia and the Victoria River District, trees and shrubs are known to contribute a significant component of the diet through browse. However, which species they are eating and under what conditions is not well known. Current methods used to assess non-grass dietary components are of limited use in detecting browse in northern Australia. This PhD is part of a larger Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC project -Low Methane Feedbase Program- which aims to quantify the anti-methanogenic properties of northern Australian vegetation, but this information will be of limited applicability without knowing how these species currently contribute to cattle diets across northern Australia. Greenhouse gas emission estimates cannot be truly representative for the system without this. This PhD will use field collected data, including faecal environmental DNA, to understand the contribution of different plant species in the diets of cattle in northern Australia. The student will then use these data along with anti-methanogenic compound concentrations and nutritional value data to test current greenhouse gas estimates for Australia’s north. This PhD is an excellent opportunity to work closely with government and Industry partners including researchers from the Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The student will ideally be based in Darwin or Alice Springs, but there is some flexibility in their location.

Visit: Sustainable pastoral systems | Charles Darwin University

For more information, please email beth.penrose@cdu.edu.au or phone 0436 839 662.

About You:

  • Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident
  • First Class Honours or Masters degree containing a substantial research component in a relevant field such as agriculture, environmental science or similar
  • Australian driving license or the capacity to easily get one
  • Experience collecting field samples
  • Ability and willingness to travel to regional and remote locations

Desirable Criteria:

  • Experience with molecular techniques and/or environmental DNA analysis
  • Modelling experience using greenhouse gas, crop or animal models
  • Publications, e.g. research reports, journal publications

How to Apply:

  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
  • A brief statement not exceeding 500-words in length that explains why you are interested in this research project/area

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest (500 word maximum) and a CV to Associate Professor Beth Penrose (beth.penrose@cdu.edu.au) by 11 September. 

For more information, please email Beth or contact her on 0436 839 662

Application Deadline: 11 September 2025

Note: The supervisor will invite applicants who pass the expression of interest stage to submit scholarship applications before closing date. Please do not submit any applications unless you are invited by the supervisor.

First Nations PhD scholarship opportunity in Creative Writing in the medium of the writer's preference. Attached to ARC Discovery Project entitled 'Re-Mapping the Lost Literary Capital: Darwin/Larrakia Nation’

3 years full-time appointment

Darwin connection preferred, but writer can conceivably be located anywhere

Attached to ARC Discovery Project grant

‘Up to’ $76,402 per year

About the opportunity:

This is an exciting opportunity to join an ARC Discovery Project, ‘Re-Mapping the Lost Literary Capital: Darwin/Larrakia Nation’, to produce a new creative work that utilises Darwin/Larrakia Nation as a location. The broader project to which this PhD is attached yokes together the scores of novels, plays, short stories, poems, and genre fiction titles that have portrayed Darwin from Federation to the present. In so doing, it aims to pull Darwin from the literary void it has sat in for much of the twentieth century and restore it to the national imaginary. 

The attached PhD creative writing project provides the opportunity for an experienced First Nations writer or storyteller to add contemporary content to the archive by contributing a new full length creative work – e.g. novella, full length play, short story or poetry collection, or an alternative form of the candidate’s experience in storytelling – that takes Darwin/Larrakia Nation as its setting in whole or in part. There will be opportunities to become actively involved in the other range of community activities associated with the Discovery Project. These might include presenting at relevant conferences, contributing short fiction to Borderlands magazine, guest lectures and/or yarning circles at CDU and major NT arts festivals, and online exhibitions at NT Library and Archives.

About you:

  • First-Class Honours or equivalent - The First-Class Honours equivalent criterion can include published critical writing and/or an industry experience.
  • The applicant should have an established track record in the chosen literary form of their project and be able to demonstrate publications or professional performances in that field.
  • Being willing to live and work in Darwin is not essential but would be an advantage.
  • At least one publication in a recognised peer-reviewed journal. Publication in recognised industry literary journals and/or literary/theatrical publishing houses

How to apply 

  • A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability (max two pages)
  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
  • A brief statement not exceeding 500-words in length that explains why you are interested in this research project/area

To assist with the cover letter and brief statement, the folllowing information may be of assistance:

The student will be encouraged to explore strategies for activating location and culture in the creative text in a form, genre and style of their own choosing. This could involve speaking back to existing and/or archival works already written about Darwin/Larrakia Nation, or generating new texts that reflect the author’s cultural experience and relationship with the northern capital. The student would be welcomed to consult with local Larrakia elders to incorporate translations of Larrakia language into the storytelling project if this was appropriate to its realisation, but is also free to work imaginatively from within their own areas of interest and expertise. The student is also welcome to adapt or reinvent genre – for instance, crime fiction, historical fiction – into their own contemporary First Nations voice.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest and a CV to Associate Professor Adelle Sefton-Rowston (adelle.sefton-rowston@cdu.edu.au) or contact her at: (08)89466753.

PhD project opportunity: NT Food Provenance Brand Typology and Customer Segmentation study

3 years full-time 

A minimum of $44,190 per annum up to $50,000 per annum

Darwin

About the project:

This project will improve NT food security and agribusiness stability, addressing key knowledge gaps. It will reveal value-add opportunities for NT food producers and encourage localised manufacturing.

NT agribusinesses are predominantly commodity producers vulnerable to fluctuating market conditions. Producers across NT food categories demand value-add opportunity, but Australia’s centralised food system and localised production barriers mean the NT has limited local food processing capability. Many regions, e.g. Tasmania and New Zealand, achieve commercial success for locally manufactured food products with place of origin at the heart of brand strategy. A prior scoping study revealed @30 location specific characteristics/values associated with NT foods that could be leveraged in marketing. This PhD provides the more robust, systematic investigation required to inform NT provenance/geographic brand strategies to impart the critical NT selling propositions to justify the premium prices needed for covering the higher cost of localised manufacture.

Aims

This PhD aims to address longstanding barriers to sustainable localised NT food manufacture and support NT agribusiness by informing brand strategies for horticulture, seafood, meat, and bushfoods. Despite several prior market studies demonstrating the economic viability of local processing (e.g. 2020 KPMG seafood study), attempts to support local production have failed (e.g. $100+ million NT abattoir opened in 2014, mothballed after four years). The prior NAFTI project (CDU-DITT- CSIRO collaboration) revealed these prior studies had failed to identify effective commercialisation roadmaps for the locally manufactured products. Hence, this PhD.

Specifically, this project will:

  • Produce a typology of NT food provenance/geographic branding dimensions,
  • Evaluate the importance of the brand dimensions to different food categories and market segments
  • Develop brand strategy and marketing plans for a product from each NT food category. These plans will serve as examples in competitive advantage and positioning for local producers/manufacturers.

Design

Phase 1 – Literature review to Inform PhD knowledge contribution, objectives, method

  • Localised production barriers, brand strategy, food provenance, geographic branding, etc.

Phase 2 – Stakeholder interviews

  • Evaluating barriers to NT food / manufacture, food provenance and geographic branding dimensions, and the importance of dimensions across NT food types and market segments
  • Key NT food industry experts – primary producers, advisors, retailers, etc. Depth interviews n=@50 (group/individual, face-to-face/online) – thematic analysis
  • Consumer key segments domestic and international. Online survey n=@600 – multivariate analysis

Phase 3 – Food category analyses and retail audit

  • To inform marketing and brand positioning strategies used in specific product categories and the brand strategy/marketing mix development for a range NT food products.
  • Analysing trade figures and commercial market research food category reports (Euromonitor, IBIS).
  • Supermarket website and other channel audits (Brand SKU price, pack size, promotion).

Scholarship Details 

The successful applicant will receive a Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship of a minimum $44,190 per annum up to $50,000 per annum and a 3-month industry internship opportunity. For further information on the RTP Scholarship conditions, please visit Higher Degree by Research Scholarships at CDU. 

Eligibility

 The successful applicant must: 

  • be an Australian Citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident; or a New Zealand Citizen
  • meet the PhD course entry requirements at CDU outlined here

Benefits to you:

  • Generous stipend and support for project costs.
  • Innovative Research: Explore cutting-edge methods
  • Collaborative Environment: Work alongside experienced researchers and professionals, in local government and industry.
  • Impactful Outcomes: Your findings will directly influence business and sectors practices.
  • Professional Growth: Develop a comprehensive understanding of business, branding and marketing practice and related research methodologies.
  • Gain valuable experience and contribute to meaningful advancements in Australia's important food industry in the Northern Territory.
  • Access to Student Support Services and Wellbeing Support Program.
  • Work with a University committed to changing people's lives for the better through training, education and research.

About you:

  • You’ll be excited to live and work in Darwin
  • Analytical Skills: Ability to work with qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Attention to Detail: Precision in observing and recording animal behaviours.
  • Technical Skills: Familiarity with how market and customer information inform business and marketing strategy.
  • Problem-Solving: Capability to troubleshoot and adapt research design.
  • Communication: Clear reporting and teamwork skills for effective collaboration coupled with an ability to work independently when needed.
  • Passion for Research: Enthusiasm for contributing to business practices through research.

Essential selection criteria:

  • An Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen (*International applicants may be eligible under certain circumstances - please contact Professor Steven Greenland for more details)
  • Relevant academic qualification, e.g. in Business, Marketing, or Management, such as:

    - First-class Honours degree (or international equivalent*) with a substantial research component (at least one semester        full-time equivalent*), such as a thesis, and a result of second-class honours division A (2A) or above.

    - A Master by Research (100% research)

    - An Australian coursework Master’s (or international equivalent*) with a substantial research component (at least one          semester full-time equivalent*), such as a thesis, and a result of distinction or above

  • Publications, e.g. research outputs, journal publications

How to Apply 

Interested applicants should contact CDU Professor in Marketing and Dean of Graduate Studies by email at steven.greenland@cdu.edu.au and submit a one-page expression of interest outlining your research experience and interest in the research project and attaching a CV that includes details of 2 academic referees.

NHMRC Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) - National Research Network Application ID: 2008937

3 years full-time appointment

Darwin

Domestic Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend

Up to $44,190 for a First Nations PhD Candidate, $34,190 otherwise

About the Opportunity:

We are looking for 2 Indigenous PhD candidates to join our team working on ‘Healthy Environments and Lives’ (HEAL) projects in the NT. I’d be really grateful if you could spread the word through your networks and socials. We can offer a scholarship package which is competitive with a professional salary for someone who can bring existing experience in the sector with them to this role. There are a range of on - ground projects which the candidate could consider, and all elements of our work focus on delivering on the research priorities identified by our HEAL partner organisations. The overarching theme across this work is to support Indigenous people of the NT and their governance arrangements which recognise Indigenous leadership, knowledge authority and decision making. 

See the below links for more information, or drop me a line at CDU HEAL Network to tackle impacts of environmental change

https://healnetwork.org.au/; Contact - HEAL Network

We acknowledge and celebrate the First Australians on whose traditional lands we meet.

About You:

Qualifications equivalent to Masters (in Indigenous Studies and Knowledges; in any health field, in environment, in land care, in climate, etc...).

How to Apply 

  • A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability (max two pages)
  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
  • A brief statement not exceeding 500-words in length that explains why you are interested in this research project/area

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest to Professor Linda Payi Ford, Senior Research Fellow, Northern Institute, CDU (linda.ford@cdu.edu.au) or contact her at: 08 8946 7203

Exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can participate in safe communications about ‘living with weather’ for First Nations communities in northern Australia

3 years full-time appointment

$32,192 per year

Darwin and remote communities in the Northern Territory

About the Opportunity

We are an ARC-funded project at Charles Darwin University, First Nations AI: Country, Climate, Communication. Together, our team of Indigenous and Western scholars aims to develop a systematic account of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its possibilities in climate change communication in remote First Nations communities in northern Australia. Working under Indigenous governance, we are establishing spaces for Indigenous landowners and scientists to come together to probe diverse AI techniques for making sense of climate predictions and risks. We will build the capacity of Indigenous people to conceive and design AI, accounting for divergent languages and knowledge systems. This is expected to lead to more effective and trustworthy communications about extreme weather and climate change, improving the preparedness and responses of remote First Nations communities. 

Our research proceeds under First Nations’ governance facilitated by Ian Gumbula (https://iri.cdu.edu.au/blog/2016/11/21/ian-gumbula) and the PhD supervisory team includes: 

Your project will explore if and how AI can 'participate' in safe communications about ‘living with weather’, expressed by members of remote First Nations communities in northern Australia. Your PhD candidature will be located in CDU's Faculty of Science and Technology. However, you can expect strong support from the Northern Institute in the Faculty of Arts and Society, and you will be expected to connect the work in both faculties. Website details for the project: 

https://researchers.cdu.edu.au/en/projects/dp240101952-first-nations-ai-country-climate-communication

About You 

To be considered for this opportunity you should have: 

  • Interests and training in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Science and Technology Studies (STS), Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW) or Human centred AI (HCAI).
  • Strong commitments to both community-based, participatory research and interdisciplinary scholarship.
  • Interest in learning ethnographic methods.
  • Be able to undertake extensive fieldwork in the Northern Territory. Sound research experience to at least Honours level.

Desirable Criteria

At least one publication in a recognised peer-reviewed journal or conference proceedings.

How to Apply 

To submit an expression of interest please send the following to Nicola Bidwell at nicola.bidwell@cdu.edu.au  or contact her at 0434460715

  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
  • A brief written discussion (500-800 words) that considers both:
  1. The tensions that arise at the intersection of AI and traditional knowledge in the context of First Nations communities in Australia.
  2. What aspiring to a 'non-extractivist inquiry' might look and feel like.
The effect of agricultural practices on nutritional yield of Timor Leste smallholder production systems

3 years full-time appointment

Multiple locations including Darwin/ Brisbane/ Alice Springs/ Sydney

Domestic Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend

$34,190 - $44,190 per year

About the Opportunity:

This project will work with smallholder farmers and local researchers to assess the impact of changing agricultural practices (e.g. mechanization of seeding and harvesting, growing newer varieties, increasing livestock production) on the nutritional yield of smallholdings in Timor Leste. There is potential to extend this to understand the effect of these interventions on human nutrition and/or public health. This project is in conjunction with a larger ACIAR funded project (https://www.aciar.gov.au/project/slam-2020-141) and will require travel to rural Timor Leste for field work. Website details for the project: https://www.cdu.edu.au/rina/sustainable-pastoral-systems

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest (1 page maximum) and a CV to Associate Professor Beth Penrose (beth.penrose@cdu.edu.au). Please note that this opportunity is only open to Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

About You:

  • An Honours, Masters or equivalent experience in human nutrition, agricultural science, environmental science or any other relevant Honours or Masters degree
  • Capacity to travel to Timor Leste

How to Apply 

  • A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience
  • An expression of interest (maximum 1 page) that indicates your interests and suitability for the project

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an expression of interest (1 page maximum) and a CV to Associate Professor Beth Penrose (beth.penrose@cdu.edu.au) or contact her at: 0436 839 662

Exploring the potential of short-form qualifications: An inquiry into the design and delivery of new ‘dual academy’ qualifications in NT Aboriginal contexts

3 years full-time appointment

$32,192pa + top-up

Casuarina Campus

About the project: Aboriginal elders and other knowledge authorities have always practiced their own forms of training and qualification, raising skilled new generations of young people under appropriate authority.

In recent years, new kinds of short-form qualification, such as micro-credentials and digital badges, have created new opportunities for universities and Aboriginal knowledge authorities to work together in designing forms of teaching, learning and credentialisation which are suitable for Aboriginal learners, which connect with and maintain both Aboriginal and other knowledge traditions, and which activate new opportunities for business and enterprise development.

The purpose of this PhD will be to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders (e.g. Aboriginal knowledge authorities, Aboriginal organisations and government and university staff) to explore the potential of new forms of micro-qualification to recognise place-based teaching and learning under Aboriginal authority. This would include a review of existing offerings, and inquiry into the potential design and delivery of new forms of credentials and qualification processes relevant in NT contexts. This project will include advisory input from NTG Dept of Education and Training, and Aboriginal stakeholder groups already engaged in this area (e.g. ranger organisations and Bush universities).

The candidate will be expected to have a commitment to collaborative community-based research and ideally be able to undertake remote fieldwork. The initial design of the project may include the formalisation of an Indigenous supervisory group and/or stakeholder advisory group, working in collaboration with CDU supervisors.

About you: This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified position.

To be considered for this opportunity you should have:

• First Class Honors (or equivalent) in a social science or humanities field such as science and technology studies, anthropology, human geography, sociology, public policy, Indigenous studies, or another aligned discipline

• A commitment to collaborative research work under First Nations authority

• Capacity to work in remote Northern Territory locations. Dual-Academy entry: If you are a senior Aboriginal person qualified for this role though your own cultural authority, please contact Michaela Spencer michaela.spencer@cdu.edu.au to discuss options for a ‘dual academy’ enrolment.

Scholarship Details:

Thesuccessful applicant will receive a Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship which will include a $32,192 (tax exempt and indexed annually) and a RTP Fee Offset for the tuition fees. A taxable scholarship top-up valued at $10,000 per annum will also be available. For further information on the RTP Scholarship conditions, please visit Higher Degree by Research Scholarships at CDU.

Eligibility:

The successful applicant must

• be an Australian Citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident; or a New Zealand Citizen

• meet the PhD course entry requirements at CDU outlined here.

How to Apply:

To submit an expression of interest please send the following to Dr Michaela Spencer at michaela.spencer@cdu.edu.au.

• A CV

• one page cover letter outlining your research interests and experience

• relevant statements and academic transcripts

• publications

For further enquiries, please contact Michaela Spencer on 08 8946 7251 or email michaela.spencer@cdu.edu.au.

Domestic RTP Stipend scholarships associated with projects - see closing dates below

Scholarship information

CDU offers Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships associated with established projects or research teams (listed below) to support high-quality domestic research higher degree candidates awarded on academic merit, relevant research experience and/or potential.

Candidates who receive a RTP Stipend scholarship will automatically receive an RTP Fee Offset for the tuition fees.  Please see above for further information on the Domestic RTP Fee Offset. All Scholarship awards are governed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) and the CDU Higher Degree by Research – Research Training Scholarship Policy and Procedure.

Stipend information

Australian Government RTP Stipend Scholarships are awarded to students of exceptional research potential to undertake a HDR at an Australian university and are not automatically granted to all students. The scholarships are provided to assist with general living costs.

  • AU$34,190 (2025 rate) per annum tax-free for full-time students, paid in fortnightly instalments.
  • AU$17,095(2025 rate) per annum, taxable, for part-time students, paid in fortnightly instalments.

Three years full-time for a doctoral degree, two years for a research Master's degree. 

You must be enrolled in an accredited HDR course of study at an Australian Higher Education Provider (HEP) and demonstrate exceptional research potential to undertake a HDR.

You must not be receiving income from another source to support your general living costs while enrolled in a course of study if that income is greater than 75% of the RTP stipend rate.

Please note: income unrelated to your course of study or income received for your course of study but not for the purpose of supporting general living costs is not considered.

Additional benefits include:

  • paid sick leave
  • maternity leave
  • relocation allowance. The relocation allowance for RTP stipend recipients is up to $2,000 for domestic students.

This scholarship is available only for domestic students, please refer to the scholarships for international students.

Need more information?
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