NCEA & GISERA PhD Scholarship
USQ’s National Centre for Engineering and Agriculture (NCEA) in conjunction with the Gas Industry Social & Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA) Land Research Program is offering two PHD scholarships to carry out research in the preservation of agricultural productivity and policies for the development and protection of strategic cropping land.
Land is often categorised according to local-scale attributes. Considerations for widespread land use needs to consider preservation of productivity at a large scale. Detailed spatial planning, incorporating evaluation of risks and opportunities (e.g. impacts on greenhouse gases, energy production, agricultural production, regional economics, ecosystem services, environmental risks) across the landscape is required to ensure ongoing regional productivity.
The aim of project one is to assist in the preservation of agricultural productivity during land use change. It will consider costs and benefits associated with change, and responding to change, at a range of scales - thereby making it possible to identify potential trade-offs between private and public interests. This, in turn, may help to identify the methods by which it is possible to most equitably and/or cost-effectively preserve agricultural productivity.
The aim of project two is to develop design principles that can be used in planning a mixed gas-farm enterprise. This will include issues of layout within the mixed farm system and may also recommend changes to the ways both farm and gas components have been designed in the past.
The methods employed will incorporate spatial analysis of benefits (e.g. overall economic, agricultural production) and risks/costs (e.g. soil loss, increased engineering costs). Key elements in both projects will include; development of modelling capability, spatial analyses using available models and evaluation of scenarios at multiple scales, spatial analyses of farm design and optimisation, development of general methods and design principles as a set of guidelines for landholders.
Value
The NCEA GISERA Land Research Program: Preserving Agricultural Productivity PhD Scholarships carries a yearly stipend of $30000 per annum to the successful applicant. Payments are made on a fortnightly basis over the year. The period of tenure of an award is three years. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree will be deducted from the period of tenure.
Eligible domestic students will benefit from a Research Training Scheme place and will have their tuition fees paid for by the Australian Government. The Office of Research and Higher Degrees will automatically allocate this on enrolment. International students will be liable for tuition fees and these must be paid in full on 26 July for semester 2 2013. Students should review the cost of fees prior to applying by referring to the Course Fee Finder web site (students will be required to enrol in RES9503 each semester).
Eligibility
To be eligible applicants must:
- be enrolled or be eligible to enrol full-time on campus in a Higher Degree by Research at the University of Southern Queensland
- not previously have held an Australian Government-funding postgraduate research scholarship unless it was terminated within six months of the commencement of benefits
- not be in receipt of similar funding from the Australian Government
- commence the degree by the date set by the University or the scholarship may be withdrawn and reallocated to another applicant
- be able to commence their PhD by 15 July 2013 (start of semester 2).
Conditions
- Applications are open to both domestic and international students
- Applications including all supporting documentation must be received by the clsoing date and in writing on the USQ application forms provided
- Scholarships are not transferable to other students in any circumstances
- The scholarship will be forfeited if the recipient cancels enrolment in the program or fails to ernol at the University of Southern Queensland
- The scholarship will be forfeited should the student transfer to another institution
- The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, research capacity and relevance of proposed research.
How to apply
To apply for this scholarship, applicants must complete and forward the following documentation by email to orhd@usq.edu.au:
The Office of Research and Higher Degrees (ORHD) also recommend applicants supply a copy of their USQ enrolment application (copy only - original application must be forwarded to Admissions). For enrolment instructions, please refer to the how to apply site.
To ensure your scholarship application is assessed, scanned copies of the above documentation (excluding the Academic Referee Reports which should be forwarded separately by the referee) must be forwarded as one attachment to ORHD, orhd@usq.edu.au and no other office.
Closing date
Applications have closed.
Applications close 5pm Friday 15 March 2013.
Further information
Further information about this scholarship can be obtained from the Office of Research and Higher Degrees at orhd@usq.edu.au.
