The Gulbali Institute will be offering PhD scholarships for outstanding research scholarships commencing in Session 2 2025.
We are offering up to three teams of PhD students to be recruited into “Challenge” projects, which are addressing key elements of the Gulbali mission.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the respective “Challenge Program Lead” for specific information on each project.
Expressions of Interest are to be submitted initially using the online form.
International applications have now closed.
Domestic Students Expressions of Interest open now! Shortlisted candidates will be contacted in June 2025, with enrolments starting in August 2025.
Challenge project 1:
Program Lead: Dr Ariful Islam aislam@csu.edu.au
Supervisor panel members: Dr Glenn Marsh, Dr Vincent Muster, Dr Justin Roby, Dr Dr Shubo Das, Prof Jade Forwwod, Prof Marta Hernandez Jover, Dr Suman Gupta, Dr Crystall Swarbrick, Dr Camilla Donnelly, Dr Babu Nath, Dr Nischay Mishra, Columbia University, NYC, US, Dr. Sarah Edwards ACDP, CSIRO, Geelong.
This project is aligned with Gulbali grand challenges on biosecurity to combat invasive species and viruses so that we can produce the highest quality farm produce and enable healthy communities. Central to BEZVA is its focus on the One Health approach, which emphasises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. By integrating this multidisciplinary perspective, the project will provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and preventing the transmission of zoonotic diseases at their source.
PhD Project 1: What factors drive spillover risk of coronaviruses and henipaviruses to Australians?
Principal Supervisor Dr Ariful Islam
This project will focus on epidemiology and virology of emerging zoonotic viruses circulating in bats and rodents across Australia. This research will explore the hypothesis that environmental changes drive the emergence of zoonotic diseases by altering viral diversity in wildlife populations.
PhD Project 2: What are serological patterns and spillover factors for henipaviruses, coronaviruses, and filoviruses?
Principal Supervisor Dr Ariful Islam
Using advanced serological techniques, we will screen for serological evidence of viruses carried by bats and rodents, focusing on their potential to spill over into livestock, humans, and peri-domestic animals in Australia. We will assess whether bats and rodents exhibit co-immunity – immune responses to one viral family that may affect susceptibility or immunity to others – thereby improving our understanding of the dynamics of viral infections within and between species.
PhD Project 3: How do molecular differences in zoonotic strains of coronaviruses, and lyssaviruses affect host-virus interactions and the potential for cross-species transmission in the context of bio-surveillance and disease spillover risk?
Principal Supervisor Dr Crystall SwarbrickThis project will utilise structural biology to investigate the molecular differences between zoonotic strains of coronaviruses, betacoronaviruses, henipaviruses and lyssaviruses. Utilising a One Health approach, the project will explore how these molecular variations influence host-virus interactions, providing insights into viral evolution, host adaptation, and potential risks to both animal and human health, particularly in high-risk Australian ecosystems.
Challenge Project 2
Program Lead: Dr Andrew Hall ahall@csu.edu.au
Supervisor Panel Members: Prof Skye Wassens, Dr Gordon O'Brien, Prof Troy Meston, Dr Ana Horta, Dr Liz Znidersic, Dr Fleur Stelling
Freshwater environments are under significant threat. Over 70% of freshwater turtles, 30% of freshwater fishes, and 70% of migratory waterbirds are threatened with extinction. The protection of ecological values within shared water landscapes presents significant challenges. It demands holistic, integrated knowledge frameworks capable of conceptualising the diverse ways of knowing and understanding ecosystems, along with concurrent threats and opportunities.
PhD Project 1: Applied acoustic ecology to protect freshwater ecosystems
Principal Supervisor Prof Skye Wassens
Wetland ecosystems are dynamic in space and time, yet our understanding of these dynamic systems is often limited to discrete survey events. The project employs novel approaches in acoustic monitoring to gain insights into biodiversity and ecosystem health, showcasing an advanced, interdisciplinary method to address environmental challenges.
PhD Project 2: Can environmental water prevent a fish extinction crisis?
Principal Supervisor Dr Gordon O'Brien
This project will focus on developing evidence-based risk frameworks to represent the middle and lower Murrumbidgee Basin ecosystems and their fish. The models will be used to determine environmental water needs and the socio-ecological consequences of alternative water resource management scenarios including, alternative water availability scenarios, non-flow stressor conditions such as barriers and climate-related ecological shocks
PhD Project 3: What is the role of environmental water in human wellbeing?
Principal Supervisor Prof Troy Meston
This a First Nations identified opportunity
This PhD project invites a First Nations scholar to lead important social research on the cultural impacts of environmental water management, particularly focusing on the Murrumbidgee catchment. This research will explore how water management influence the physical, mental, social, cultural, and spiritual wellbeing of communities.
Challenge Project 3:
Program Lead: Prof Michael Walsh michwalsh@csu.edu.au
Supervisor Panel Members: Prof Leslie Weston, Dr John Broster, Dr Guy Coleman, Dr Asad Asaduzzaman, Dr Remy Dehaan and Dr Shawn McGrath
Opportunities and requirements that ensure effective and ongoing use of novel weed control technologies in grain production systems.
PhD project: Defining the cropping system context for the development and introduction of site-specific weed control technologies
Background
The need for novel and innovative weed control techniques along with weed recognition capability is creating the opportunity for in-crop site specific control of weeds with alternative technologies. Sophisticated weed recognition capabilities are being rapidly developed enabling the detection of whole plants and plant parts (e.g. growing points) for subsequent targeting with weed control treatments. This capability is supporting research efforts on the development of novel weed control technologies, chemical and non-chemical, that are aimed at utilising site-specific weed targeting opportunities. The development of weed recognition and novel weed control technologies is currently occurring mostly without specific consideration of the weed control opportunities and needs of Australian large-scale cropping systems. To ensure the effective use of these technologies there is a need to identify and define the cropping system contexts in which novel weed control technologies can be effectively delivered for in-crop site-specific weed control.
PhD research:
- Identify opportunities for the use of site-specific novel weed control in specific crops and cropping situations of large-scale cropping.
- Evaluate alternative weed control techniques for their potential use in Australian large-scale cropping
- Define how best to incorporate novel weed control techniques into weed management programs
Campus location and place of work:
Wagga Wagga primarily with opportunities for extended visits to campuses at University of Western Australia, University of Copenhagen and Texas A&M
For more details:
Michael Walsh, E: michwalsh@csu.edu.au, M:0448847272
Challenge Project 4
Program Leader: Professor Dale Nimmo dnimmo@csu.edu.au
Supervisor panel members: A/Prof Jodi Price, Dr Damian Michael, Dr Leanne Greenwood, Dr Simon Watson, Dr Jed Brown, Dr Andrew Denman, Dr Renee Woodward
Fire-prone landscapes face growing challenges under the pressures of climate change and land-use intensification. In southeastern Australia, inappropriate fire regimes threaten biodiversity, impacting critical habitats and pushing vulnerable species toward extinction. These projects aim to develop evidence-based, wildlife-friendly fire management strategies that support both species survival and habitat recovery.
PhD project 1: Incorporating behavioural responses of animals into fire management
Principal Supervisor Prof Dale Nimmo
This project will explore the behavioural responses of terrestrial animals to varied fire types. Using methods such as camera trapping, GPS tracking, and behavioural observations, the research will identify how species adjust their movements, foraging behaviours, and habitat use in response to fire.
PhD project 2: Testing the validity of tolerable fire intervals using field data
Principal Supervisor A/Prof Jodi Price
The development of tolerable fire intervals aims to balance ecological burning with the life cycles of fire-prone plant communities. This project aims to critically evaluate the theoretical underpinnings of current fire management practices by identifying species at risk of local extinction in areas experiencing 'interval squeeze'—where fire intervals are too short for species recovery.
PhD project 3: Identifying desirable fire regimes of threatened plants and animals
Principal Supervisor Dale Nimmo
This project will synthesise extensive datasets on animal and plant distributions within fire-prone regions and apply advanced modelling techniques—potentially integrating artificial intelligence—to identify optimal combinations of fire regime variables that support the persistence of threatened species.
To be eligible to receive the scholarship, applicants must:
The scholarship provides the following benefits:
Stipend: This scholarship is valued at $35,000 annually, payable in fortnightly instalments. First Nations applicants will have a stipend valued at $50,000 per annum.
Tuition Fees: Domestic candidates: Fee exemption for a period equivalent to four years (eight sessions) for PhD at full-time study.
International candidates: Fee exemption for a period equivalent to three years (six sessions) for PhD at full-time study.
Operating Funds: Scholarship candidates are allocated an allowance to assist with reimbursing costs associated with a candidate’s research. The annual amount reflects CSU policy on whether the project is linked to specific fields or education codes, lab-based, non-lab-based, and/or First-Nations-focused.
Domestic candidates:
The scholarship is tenable for four years for Research Doctorate studies (4 years FTE tuition fee coverage, 3.5 years FTE for the stipend, and 3 years for operating funds allowances) subject to satisfactory progress.
An extension of up to six months may be granted (stipend and operating funds components only) where the candidate is making satisfactory progress and the grounds for the extension relate to the study and are beyond the candidate's control.
International candidates:
The scholarship is tenable for three years for Research Doctorate studies subject to satisfactory progress.
An extension of up to six months may be granted where the candidate is making satisfactory progress, and the grounds for the extension relate to the study and are beyond the candidate's control.
Scholarship candidates are entitled to 20 paid annual leave working days per year and 10 paid personal leave days per year; however, they are not eligible for paid primary parental care leave or additional personal leave.
A two-stage process will be undertaken. Initial Expressions of Interest where candidates will either respond to a specific project “pitch” or nominate their own project. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to apply for enrolment.
Shortlisted applicants will need to apply for enrolment.
Prospective Higher Degree by Research candidates can apply for a Gulbali Institute Scholarship when completing their Charles Sturt course admission application. When given the option to apply for a scholarship select 'Yes'; 'Full-time AGRTP' and 'Other'. Under 'Other' enter Gulbali Institute Scholarship Project <Name>.
Expressions of interest close July 2025.
Email gulbali@csu.edu.au for general questions or directly contact challenge project leads.
