The Gulbali Institute will be offering PhD scholarships for outstanding research scholars 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.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted in February 2025.
Successful candidates will need to commence admissions/enrolment applications by March 2025.
Challenge project 1:
Dr Ariful Islam aislam@csu.edu.au
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? 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? 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? This 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
Dr Andrew Hall ahall@csu.edu.au
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 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?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? 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:
Prof Michael Walsh michwalsh@csu.edu.au
What are the opportunities and requirements that ensure the effective and ongoing use of novel weed control technologies in grain production systems that provide sustainable crop protection and food security.
PhD project 1: Development of novel weed control technologies suited for use in grain production. Research activities will identify novel weed control treatments that control major weed species (e.g. annual ryegrass, brome grass, wild oats and wild radish) of cropping systems. The influence of environmental factors (e.g. soil moisture, temperature, humidity) and treatment application
methods (e.g. growing point vs whole plant) on efficacy will also be determined.
PhD project 2: Identify the period available for the deployment of novel weed control technologies. Research will identify the effective weed control period as influenced by varying production environments. Collected information will allow the development of predictive decision support tools that identify weed control opportunities according to expected environmental conditions.
PhD project 3: Characterising and mitigating the threat of weed adaptation to weed recognition systems. The potential adaptation in weed plants/species to avoid weed recognition and therefore, control with site-specific treatments will be determined. Evidence will be collected on variations in morphological traits that occur in weed plants exposed to weed recognition selection. Changes in weed recognition algorithm detection accuracy on successive generations of selected weed populations will identify any progression towards adaptation (resistance) to weed recognition.
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 8 February 2025.
Email gulbali@csu.edu.au for general questions or directly contact challenge project leads.
