PhD scholarship in the Global, Urban and Social Studies (GUSS) school

$34,841 for 3 years with possibility of extension to 3.5 years

Applications are now open.

29 November 2024

1 (One).

To be considered for the PhD Scholarship, applicants must meet the Eligibility criteria and English requirements as described on the How to Apply page, and should ideally meet the selection criteria below: 

1. Hold a degree (Honours or Masters) with a demonstrated research component. HD or Distinction level grades are desirable. Relevant disciplines include but are not limited to psychology, sociology, criminology, health sciences, epidemiology.
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to explain technical detail to non-technical audiences.
3. Previous demonstrated experience conducting quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods research with humans on health or social topics (please describe what kinds of research you have experience with, what roles you played in these projects, and analysis techniques, approaches and software you have used)
4. Previous interest in, or knowledge of, the drugs and harm reduction fields. While demonstration of existing knowledge of the drugs field is desirable, candidates with demonstrated research expertise in other fields are still welcome to apply.  
5. People with living or lived experience of substance use and/or who have worked with people who use drugs are encouraged to apply.

If you do not hold one of the qualifications detailed under the Eligibility criteria on the How to Apply page, you will only be considered for scholarship if you have previous publications or significant research experience at the discretion of the project lead.

Before applying for the Scholarship, contact Dr Lucy Gunn (lucy.gunn@rmit.edu.au) and establish if your research interests are aligned. 

Further details on RMIT University’s research strategy can be found on the Our Research web page.

All applicants should email the following to Dr Lucy Gunn, lucy.gunn@rmit.edu.au:

• a cover letter, this should detail alignment with research areas at RMIT and directly address each of the key selection criteria,
  
• your Curriculum Vitae, including a section on research skills and their application, and
• a 1-2 page research proposal focusing on responding to unregulated drug markets with drug checking services. The research proposal is a key part of the application process where applicants must demonstrate the value of their research and their suitability for scholarship selection. 

Your proposal should be developed under the following headings:

• Title
• Research questions you plan to investigate in the context of existing research/literature
• Methodology/research tasks required to undertake the research
• Significance and impact of the research

Potential candidates should consult Dr Barratt's publications to consider how their proposal and their skillset fit.

This scholarship will be governed by RMIT University's Research Scholarship Terms and Conditions.