PhD Scholarship Opportunity: Pathways for Indigenous and Western knowledge into Environmental Policy

The University of Adelaide is offering two PhD scholarships to support two full-time PhD students who, upon commencing will undertake research in the field of Indigenous and other knowledge and how this affects the science-policy interface and how to address climate change impacts and biodiversity loss. The two scholarships are an integral part of a wider 4 year Future Fellowship project funded by the Australian Research Council, beginning in July 2022.

PhD Project 1: This project is centred around an exploration of knowledge interfaces within the co-managed parks in South Australia including Lake Gairdner, Witjira and Wabma Kadarbu Mound Spring National Parks. The project will seek to identify whether co-management facilities knowledge integration/co-production and how Indigenous sovereignty can/is embedded within it.

PhD Project 2: This project will entail writing the history of Indigenous Rangers groups within the Kathi-Thanda Lake Eyre region, to understand and analyse how the Indigenous -science- policy interface in action: and the ways in which this interface could be used to build policy to address climate change impacts and biodiversity loss.

All applicants are welcome and individuals of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander descent are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be acceptable as candidates for a PhD degree at the University of Adelaide (view PhD eligibility criteria), and able to commence study in late January 2023.

Stipend:

The scholarship will be for up to 3.5 years (no extension) and has a stipend of $28,854 (2022 rate, indexed annually) per annum. Details of any terms and/or benefits can be found in the attached Conditions of Award . 

It is likely to be tax exempt, subject to Taxation Office approval. 

Enquiries:

Professor Melissa Nursey-Bray

School of Social Sciences / Discipline of Geography, Environment and Population

0437 738 635

[email protected]

Applying:

Expression of interest

Expressions of interest should be submitted to Melissa Nursey-Bray via email to [email protected] by no later than 9 December 2022 with the name of scholarship in the subject heading. Please ensure you include all of the following documents:

• Evidence of Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or Australian permanent resident status (if applicable)
• Degree certificates (testamurs)
• Academic transcripts
• Translations of non-English documentation
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Curriculum vitae

Please also write a statement, as part of your application that summarises the following: -

1. Confirmation you can commence your study in late January 2023

2. Experience of undertaking qualitative research

3. Any experience with working with Indigenous groups/peoples

4. Reflection on either (or both) or the scholarship topics as below, including your preference of topic