Shanghai Jiao Tong University – University of Melbourne: Joint PhD Projects with paired Seed Funding

Applications due: 29 January 2025, 3pm (AEDT)

Results released: End of February 2025

Melbourne and SJTU are calling for joint PhD proposals from all research areas to establish up to 10 joint graduate research projects, co-designed by pairs of Primary Investigators (PIs), expanding the SJTU – Melbourne IRTG.  Each of these supervisory teams will receive seed funding and access funding to support a joint PhD candidate, including tuition fee waivers, a full living allowance, health insurance and relocation support.

Joint PhD candidates are enrolled at both institutions under joint supervision, with one primary supervisor from Melbourne and one from SJTU; providing opportunities for PIs to expand their collaborative activities. The work will be judged according to the academic standards of both institutions. Upon successful completion, each candidate will be eligible to receive a PhD, recognised by two testamurs, one from Melbourne and one from SJTU. Both testamurs will state the joint nature of the award and the name of the partner institution.

All candidates must meet the minimum eligibility requirements to successfully enrol in the relevant PhD course at both Universities.

The joint PhD candidates recruited to the successful projects will join the SJTU – Melbourne IRTG, gaining:

• Access to expertise, resources and world-class training at Melbourne and SJTU, spending at least 12 months of their candidature at each institution;
• Complimentary skills from their respective hosts that will increase the impact of their research; and
• A global perspective via involvement in the SJTU – Melbourne research network.

These awards will also include seed funding for the PIs to provide initial support for development of high-quality research projects with other members of the research group in areas of mutual strength and shared interest. Funding is available at both institutions for PIs to undertake short-term visits to initiate, deepen and extend collaborative research links and enable investigators to make future joint external funding proposals that will support the next phase of their project.

Please review the guidelines before submission.

A single, jointly-prepared application in English must be submitted via SmartyGrants by Wednesday 29 January 2025  12:00 noon CST (Shanghai) 15:00 AEDT(Melbourne). Applications should be written in English and for an audience proficient, but not expert.

All Melbourne PIs must ensure that the Head of Department/School and Associate Dean (Graduate Research) endorsement is attached to the application using the approval forms available on the website