Collaborative Research Networks (CRN) Program

Interested students would need to undertake postgraduate research in one of the following project areas (also listed are some possible PhD topics in the Applicants Information section below):

• Advanced technologies for leading teaching and education practice
• Promotion of mental health and wellbeing in young people
• Exercise medicine for the prevention and management of chronic disease
• Integrated health services to enhance community health care
• Nano-photonics and nano-electronics to support national frontier technologies
• Protection of coastal ecosystems and marine resource management

Application opening date: 1 April 2013
Application closing date: 31 May 2013
Method of application: Download forms

Payments

Amount: $30,000 per annum, tax free
Frequency: Fortnightly
Method: Electronic funds transfer

Eligibility requirements

Eligibility criteria:

• Academic Merit , qualifications equivalent to an Australian first class honours degree or a Master by Research
• Research, significant professional and research experience combined with lesser academic qualifications may also be considered if deemed to be equivalent to first class honours

Nationality:

• Australian citizen
• Australian permanent resident visa
• New Zealand citizen

Level of study:

• HDR - Higher Degree Research (PhD)

Year of study:

• 1st Year

Faculty:

• Education and Arts
• Computing and Health Sciences

School:

• School of Education
• School of Engineering
• School of Exercise and Health Sciences
• School of Natural Sciences

Study mode:

• Full-time on-campus

Applicant information:

• Intending students need to apply for a PhD scholarship (ECUPRS) and course admission by 31 October 2012. For further information on research areas please contact the CRN Manager Dr Darren Gibson d.gibson@ecu.edu.au
• Applicants must tick the CRN box on the scholarship application form
• Applicants must provide copies of academic documentation, including academic transcripts and proof of completion from any tertiary qualification, except for qualifications completed at Edith Cowan University
• An applicant's research experience will be taken into consideration in the assessment of applications for scholarship. Applicants are required to provide evidence of any research grants received or research that has been published or the extent of research team member
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all documentation is presented

Also available to successful CRN candidates will be:

• access to partner university facilities
• access to visiting fellows
• experience in working with collaborative teams
• potential for co-supervision of PhD by researchers in partner universities

Project areas including some possible PhD topics:

• Advanced technologies for leading teaching and education practice
• • video-based classroom research
• Promotion of mental health and wellbeing in young people
• • Promoting mental health and wellbeing in schools
  • Exploring the social and emotional determinants of adolescent wellbeing
• Exercise medicine for the prevention and management of chronic disease
• • Integration of exercise and nutritional strategies for chronic disease management
  • Basic and applied research in exercise science for health and rehabilitation
  • Translational research in exercise as medicine
• Integrated health services to enhance community health care
• • What is the impact and cost-effectiveness of health consumer groups on health outcomes?
  • Role of anxiety and depression in chronic disease behaviors
  • Exploring the motivations of patients dropping out of health programs and methods to re-engage them
  • Are some professions better at working in inter-professional practices than others? Is it a factor of different training methods or is it simply a factor of individual differences?
  • Can simulated training for patients to become self advocates lead to improved health outcomes and patient satisfaction?
  • Does inter-professional practices (IPP) improve client outcomes and is cost-effective compared to more traditional care? Are there differences in staff satisfaction and retention with IPP? Does IPP equate with better team work and communication and if so, is there an impact on clinical outcomes?
• Nano-photonics and nano-electronics to support national frontier technologies
  • Nano-photonic devices and systems
  • Nano-bio materials and sensors
• Protection of coastal ecosystems and marine resource management
  • The physical characteristics of seagrass particles
  • The role of wave motion in seagrass canopies
  • The role of microbial communities in the recycling of kelp and seagrass detritus
  • The population genetics of seagrass meadows

Selection:

• Selection is based on academic merit and research capability within the CRN project areas. Each application will be assessed against the Scholarship Ranking Scheme

More information:

For further information please contact scholarships@ecu.edu.au.

For further information about the CRN program and specific details regarding the individual projects, please contact the CRN Manager Dr Darren Gibson d.gibson@ecu.edu.au.

Further PhD scholarships will be available later this year and notes of interest can be expressed by email to Dr Darren Gibson.