PhD and MPhil top-up scholarships: round two open for applications

Two scientists - black woman and Caucasian man - examine a dish while wearing safety goggles and lab coats.

Are you a research student looking to collaborate and enhance your project with top-up scholarships?

Following the resounding success of our first round, CSIRO’s Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform (AEB FSP) is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from a second cohort of PhD and Masters/MPhil students. 

Guidelines for applicants

We are seeking EOIs from excellent, motivated research students where their capabilities (and/or those of their university research group) complement our research themes, extend CSIRO’s capabilities, and develop transformational engineering biology research. 

High achieving research students should be within their first year of study (for PhD), first 6 months (for MPhil) or accepted to start before 1 July 2024. Students will receive a scholarship top-up of $10,000 per annum and up to $15,000 per annum of operational funding. 

The opportunity

Engineering biology has the potential to deliver transformative benefits for society, industry, and the environment.  

There have been major advances in recent times around the large-scale generation of biological data and its interpretation using advanced computational methods, as well as the increased speed and precision of organism engineering and testing. 

As a result, there are many exciting research opportunities to transform how biology is understood, engineered, and used for the benefit of all.  

Our focus at the AEB FSP is improving the way we collect and interpret data so engineering biology is faster and more predictive. It is transforming the productivity of engineered biological systems at the protein, organism and process levels, as well researching the potential impacts and benefits across society and environments. 

How to apply

To be considered for this opportunity, please discuss your project with the relevant theme leader and potential CSIRO supervisor. Then provide the following information in a Word or PDF document: 

  • Project title 
  • Student name and academic institution 
  • Supervisory team including university principal supervisor and CSIRO supervisor 
  • Studentship start date 
  • Name of one or more AEB FSP themes with which the project aligns 
  • Details of the rationale for support (500 words max) – including alignment to the AEB FSP, project details (research questions, impact), quality of the student, research environment, and the CSIRO research capability that will be complemented. 

Prospective students should submit their EOI by email to Joel Spotswood by 1 March 2024. Joel is also your best contact for any queries relating to the application process.