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MPhil / PhD Scholarship for Sheep Industry Pivot: Diversifying Market Pathways to Enhance Demand for Australian Sheep Products

In this MPhil/PhD, a candidate will investigate how global market intelligence, value-chain coordination, and targeted sheep products can lead to commercially viable pivots within the Australian sheep industry. Working within the Sheep Industry Pivot Project, you will identify internationally validated sheep-derived products suitable for replication in Australia and support their structured integration into existing producer and processor operations. The project is embedded in active partnerships with WA sheep producers, processors, and distributors, and is designed to deliver both academic insight and real-world industry impact.

Important dates

Opens: 16-03-2026 Closes: 13-04-2026

Applies to

Domestic International Postgraduate Research

At a glance

As a valued member of the project team, you will:

  • Conduct a global competitive analysis of sheep by-products across applicable markets (e.g. Middle Eastern, African, European, and Asian markets).
  • Identify up to five internationally proven products suitable for the Australian context.
  • Engage in research activities, such as interviews, with producers, processors, and distributors to assess feasibility and adoption interest.
  • Support the development commercial business cases for 1–3 shortlisted product pivots.
  • Support the design, delivery and evaluation of the Pilot Pivot Incubator to test integration pathways with producers, processors and distributors.
  • Analyse economic, organisational, and market barriers to agricultural industry transition.
  • Publish rigorous, applied research contributing to innovation, agricultural economics, product development and/or regional development scholarship.

Selection criteria

Essential

  • Hold an Honours or Masters (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g., agricultural economics, agribusiness, innovation and entrepreneurship, regional development, food systems, economics, business strategy, business ecosystems, value-chain and/or supply chain management, systems thinking).
  • Strong analytical and research skills (qualitative and/or quantitative).
  • Ability to engage confidently with industry stakeholders.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated interest in agricultural systems or regional industry development.

Desirable

  • Familiarity with agricultural value chains or primary production industries.
  • Experience with market analysis, feasibility assessment, or business case development.
  • Experience in stakeholder engagement, particularly within the Australian Sheep Industry or applied industry research.

Please email Geremy Farr-Wharton (g.farrwharton@ecu.edu.au) to register your interest.

Further information

Questions about this scholarship can be directed to g.farrwharton@ecu.edu.au.

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