- Expression of interest closure: December 31, 2025
- February 2026: interviews with shortlisted candidates
- Mid-March 2026: candidate selected
- Candidature commencement date: is flexible, ideally by the end of May 2026.
- Questions? Please contact Assoc. Prof. Natalia Radywyl (natalia.radywyl@rmit.edu.au)
Designing for regeneration requires moving towards more sustainable systemic conditions, mindsets and behaviours that support ecological, cultural, economic, and social renewal. Yet, as regenerative design is an emerging area of scholarship and practice, there is a need for deep exploration through practice-led academic research.
The candidate will be advancing regenerative design knowledge by exploring the practical application of regenerative principles and/or theories through creative, reflective practice, and evaluating their own processes and outcomes. For this practice-led research PhD, the successful candidate will explore how regenerative design principles can be applied in a specific place-based context.
They will co-develop and evaluate a design intervention that has regenerative outcomes, using proof-of-concept studies and prototype development and testing. The candidate can choose their specific project context, ideally one that they are already very familiar with through their own previous studies and/or have a relationship with (e.g., with a community organisation, local council or ecology).
The successful candidate will join the first generation of Regenerative Futures PhDs at RMIT and participate in the Regenerative Futures Institute's scholarly community and events. The candidate will also participate in RMIT's Practice Based Research symposia to achieve their PhD milestones and engage with a thriving, creative community of higher education students and academics. Additionally, given the project's focus on regenerative principles, the candidate will be supported by a cross-disciplinary supervision team that represents diverse but relevant forms of knowledge and practice.
We welcome candidates with the following: familiarity with design practice (particularly co-design, prototyping, systems thinking, and strategic design); exposure to regenerative principles or sustainability frameworks; interest in research translation, collaboration models or knowledge mobilisation; ability to engage and develop healthy partnerships with multiple disciplines and stakeholder groups; and skill using applied primary research and facilitation methods.
