Research Scholarships at UWS

UWS offers a number of research scholarship opportunities, including:

Gender, Culture and Health Research: PsyHealth

School of Psychology

Discovery Postgraduate Research Award

Project title: Evaluation of the Efficacy and Mechanisms of a Couple-Based Intervention for Premenstrual Syndrome

Level: PhD

Stipend: $30 427 per annum tax-free

Summary: Forty percent of women are seriously affected by Premenstrual Symptoms (PMS), yet there is a dearth of research examining the prevention and treatment of this significant health problem. Previous ARC funded research by the project team has identified relationships as a significant factor in the aetiology and amelioration of PMS, leading to the recommendation of couple-based PMS interventions. Using a randomised control trial, and triangulation of methods, this study will examine the relative efficacy and mechanisms of a brief couple-based PMS therapy, in comparison to an existing one-to-one PMS therapy, and a wait-list control. The outcome will be improved understanding of PMS prevention and intervention.

This study is part of an ongoing program of research examining PMS in the context of relationships, a collaboration between PsyHealth and FPA Health. The project team has expertise in PMS and women’s reproductive health, from the perspectives of psychology, medicine and the sociology of health and illness, and will provide multidisciplinary support for the PhD candidates.

As part of the research team, you will be involved in all aspects of the research project, at the same time as developing a specific focus for your thesis, with the opportunity to use a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods: including questionnaires, interviews and observation.

Contact: Prof Jane Ussher, Phone +61 2 9772 6720

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 177Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application Form (PDF, 235Kb) and statement addressing the criteria by the closing date.

Applications Close 14 January 2009

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Centre for Complementary Medicine Research

Priority Postgraduate Research Award

Project Title: Molecular neuroprotective and anti-aging effects of herbal medicines.

Level: PhD

Stipend: $30,007 per annum

Summary: The Centre for Complementary Medicine Research (CompleMED) invites applications for a doctoral thesis project. Neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and vascular demential are the leding cause of long-term disability imposing a significant burden on individuals and society. To date there is a wide gap between progress in basic and preclinical neurological research and its translation into effective therapies.

A great need for novel preventative and therapeutic approaches exists. CompleMED aims to contribute to the development of neuroprotective therapies by bridging the gap between basic and clinical research as well as traditional herbal and scientific medicine.

The aim of the work for this thesis project is to elucidate molecular, receptor mediated mechanisms of action of herbal medicines.

Contact: Prof Nikolaus Sucher, Email: n.sucher@uws.edu.au, Phone: +61 2 4620 3345, Mobile: 0402 536 846

Further Information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 1024Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application Form (PDF, 320Kb).

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School of
Computing and Mathematics

Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry)

Project title: Intelligent Agents

Level: PhD

Stipend: $26 140 per annum tax-free

Summary: The Intelligent Systems Laboratory within the School of Computing and Mathematics is seeking an excellent candidate to undertake an Australian Research Council funded doctoral project in the area of eBusiness automation. With a significant increase in Internet based commercial applications, e-business automation has become a rapidly expanding area in Computing and IT. This project aims to develop new theories for e-market modelling and new technologies for eBusiness automation. The research will cover a variety of topics related to electronic market design and development, including market modelling and specification, automated negotiation, e-marketplaces and intelligent trading agents. Industry applications will be explored to develop highly efficient and secure e-trading systems and e-marketplaces.

Contacts: Prof Yan Zhang, Phone +61 2 4736 0746 or Dr Dongmo Zhang, Phone +61 2 4736 0009 

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 176Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application Form (PDF, 260Kb) by the closing date.

Applications Closed.

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School of Natural Sciences

The School of Natural Sciences is seeking enthusiastic Bachelor Honours candidates to undertake a variety of exciting projects.

Project 1: Gosford City Council Bachelor Honours Scholarships

Number available: 1

Project title: Evaluate the effect of the fox baiting program on distribution and abundance of native species in urban areas

Level: Bachelor Honours

Stipend: $2 000 per annum tax-free

Summary: The project will be conducted in the Gosford City Council Local Government Area. It will determine the effectiveness of the fox baiting program using methods such as spotlighting and other evidence of fox presence such as tracks and scats. The distribution and abundance of native fauna and flora in these areas will also be assessed to determine the possible impacts on native species in the area.

Contacts: Dr Julie Old, Phone: +61 2 4570 1283 

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 192Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application Form (PDF, 108Kb)  by the closing date.

Applications Closed.

Project 2: Gosford City Council Bachelor Honours Scholarships

Number available: 1

Project title: Assess the distribution and abundance of the feral Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and the native Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) as well as other avian species in relation to the level of disturbance of native vegetation, and their impact on native animal species

Level: Bachelor Honours

Stipend: $2 000 per annum tax-free

Summary: This project will determine the distribution and abundance of Indian Mynas and Noisy Miners in the Gosford City Council Local Government Area. The project will determine the quality of vegetation and habitat, in areas with and without these two avian species in residence. A native flora and fauna survey will be conducted as part of this project to assess the impact of these birds on the vegetation and native species in the area.

Contacts: Dr Julie Old, Phone: +61 2 4570 1283 

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 192Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application Form (PDF, 108Kb)  by the closing date.

Applications Closed.

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School of Biomedical and Health Sciences

The School of Biomedical and Health Sciences is seeking excellent candidates to undertake the following doctoral and Bachelor Honours projects:

Project 1: The PBF Postgraduate Research Award

Project title: Is there a common mechanism shared by distal axonal degenerations?

Level: PhD

Stipend: $22 000 per annum tax-free

Summary: Axonal degeneration is the final common path in many neurological disorders.  It is seen in its pure form in hereditary axonal neuropathies.  The hereditary neuropathies are the most common group of diseases presenting to counselling clinics with a prevalence of approximately 1 in 2500 population, thus affecting 8000 Australians and 108,000 Americans.  Although rarely fatal, they cause lifelong disability and have significant economic impact.  No specific treatment is available for distal axonal neuropathies and studies such as this may prove to be a treatable molecular mechanism and could provide drug targets for therapeutic regimes.

The initial aim of this study is to confirm mitochondrial morphological changes that have recently been and to determine there are ramifications in the neurones.

Contacts: Dr Simon Myers, Phone +61 2 4620 3383 

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 176Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application Form (PDF, 260Kb) by the closing date.

Applications Closed.

Project 2: The PBF Bachelor Honours Scholarship

Project title: Do mutations in serine palmitoyltransferase long chain sub unit 1 affect the neuronal cell cytoskeleton.

Level: Bachelor Honours

Stipend: Up to $5 000 project costs per annum

Summary: The aim of the study is to determine if mutations in SPTLC1 cause alterations to the actin cytoskeleton, to identify if the intracellular localisation of mutant SPTLC1 is the same as wild type and to determine if microtubule dynamics are altered by mutations in SPTLC1.

Contacts: Dr Simon Myers, Phone +61 2 4620 3383 

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 176Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application (PDF, 176Kb) by the closing date

Applications Closed.

Project 3: The PBF Bachelor Honours Scholarship

Project title: Determining cytoskeletal changes to cellular architecture due to PH domain dynamin 2 mutations

Level: Bachelor Honours

Stipend: Up to $5 000 project costs per annum

Summary: The aim of this study is to identify whether pleckstrin homology domain mutants of dynamin 2 effect the cell cytoskeleton; to determine whether these changes are cell type specific and to ascertain whether the changes observed in the PH domain mutants occur in other domains of dynamin 2.

Contacts: Dr Simon Myers, Phone +61 2 4620 3383 

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 176Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application (PDF, 176Kb) by the closing date

Applications Closed.

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Urban Research Centre

Urban Economy Scholarship

Summary: The Urban Research Centre invites applications from highly motivated graduates to undertake doctoral research in the study of cities.  The scholarship is open to domestic applicants with an interest in the economic development of large cities.  Specific topic fields relevant to the Centre’s research activity include urban infrastructure, developments in commercial office space, the operation of business parks, housing mortgage schemes, outer urban labour markets and the urban economies of large cities.

Level: PhD

Stipend: $30 007 per annum tax-free

Contact: Assoc Prof Cristina Martinez-Fernandez, Phone: +61 2 8833 5932

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 76Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application Form (PDF, 256Kb) and a short research proposal by the closing date.

The application closing date has been extended until 28 November 2008.

Scholarships for International Students

Summary: The Urban Research Centre invites applications from highly motivated international candidates to undertake doctoral research in the study of cities.  The scholarship is open to international applicants with an interest in the economic, social, cultural or environmental directions of large cities.

Level: PhD

Scholarship: The scholarship provides for the full cost of tuition fees for up to 3 years

Contact: Assoc Prof Cristina Martinez-Fernandez, Phone: +61 2 8833 5932

Further information: Project Information Sheet (PDF, 72Kb)

How to apply: Submit an Application Form (PDF, 160Kb) and a short research proposal by the closing date.

The application closing date has been extended until 28 November 2008.

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