Industry and project-specific scholarships

Federation University is pleased to partner with Silverchain, a large national aged care provider, with a strong focus on mental health and wellbeing, to offer an industry co-funded PhD scholarship in “Addressing Loneliness Among In-home Aged Care Clients”.

The PhD student will work with an expert team of researchers and the project will be co-supervised by researchers at Silverchain, and embedded into the organisation, to ensure solutions are feasible for implementation.

Scholarship details

Stipend: $ 35,000 per annum
Top-Up: $ 10,000 per annum
Project support: $3000 per annum for three years
Conference support: $ 2,000
RTP Fee-offset Scholarship / Tuition Fee Scholarship: $ 32,040 per annum
Funding length: 3.5 years
Location: Mt Helen and Berwick

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be eligible to undertake a PhD. Verify you can meet eligibility requirements outlined on the Graduate Research School website. If you are applying for ‘Honours equivalence,’ please ensure that you provide detailed information to support your case.

• Students are expected to commit to full-time study for the duration of their candidature.
• Scholarships are for a period of three- and one-half years and extension to scholarships will not be granted.
• Successful scholarship applicants must study on campus or on location with the industry partner.
• Successful scholarship applicants must participate in an internship period.
• Successful scholarship applicants must complete and agree to a Student Deed Poll.

View the general conditions for Federation University HDR scholarships on the Graduate Research School website. Where these conditions differ to those on this form, the conditions outlined for this specific scholarship take precedence.

Applications will be accepted from Australian residents, permanent residents, and international applicants.

Prior to submitting an application Applicants should contact Professor Colette Browning c.browning@federation.edu.au.

Application closing date: 8 February 2025

How to apply: Applicants must submit their application with all necessary documents by completing the HDR Candidature application

Commencement date: March 2025

Research project details

Older people in the community commonly experience loneliness, as well as mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety. There has been a rapid growth in the number of Australians who receive aged care funding to enable them to remain living independently at home. Many of these older people are living with multiple medical conditions, as well as functional and cognitive decline. Their complex needs and social isolation mean this population is at a high risk of loneliness. While there is increasing awareness of the problem of loneliness in general, the specific needs of the in-home aged care population have received little attention from researchers and policy makers to date.

This project will address the significant gap in knowledge about loneliness among older people who receive aged care at home through a series of studies. The overall aim of the project will be to find innovative solutions to improve the quality of life of older Australians that can be implemented widely across the aged care system.

Industry Partner and Student Host: This industry PhD will be based jointly at Federation University and Silverchain – one of Australia’s largest in-home aged care providers. Silverchain is a not-for-profit organisation, which provides health and aged care services to more than 140,000 clients in their own homes each year. Silverchain invests directly in research and innovation, with findings from research rapidly translated to improved care outcomes. The PhD candidate will be embedded into an existing research program focusing on innovative approaches to improve the mental health and wellbeing of older people receiving care at home.

For more information about Silverchain, refer to the website: Silverchain - The best care, home delivered.

Supervisors:

Principal Supervisor: Distinguished Professor Colette Browning is a recognised leader in psychology and health, having held leadership positions within the academy and Australian and international health systems. Colette holds an Honorary Professorships at Peking University and is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society. She has international research and policy expertise in ageing, primary care, behaviour change and implementation research. Her research focuses on healthy ageing, chronic disease management, mental health and consumer involvement in health care decision-making. Colette has over 275 publications and has held research grants to the value of $30 million and is ranked in the top 0.1% globally of all psychology researchers.

Colette leads the FedUni Health Innovation and Transformation Centre’s Population Health research stream.

See Professor Colette Browning’s profile page for more information.

Associate and Co-Supervisors: Adjunct Professor Tanya Davison, Dr Marissa Dickins

Adjunct Professor Tanya Davison is Director, Research Discovery at Silverchain, and holds an honorary appointment at Federation University. Tanya is a clinical psychologist with a long track record in aged mental health research. She has a particular interest in designing interventions for the aged care sector to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of older adults. Tanya has over 125 publications and has received over $11 million to support her research.

Dr Marissa Dickins is Senior Research Fellow at Silverchain, and holds an honorary appointment at Federation University. Marissa has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and a strong interest in the mental health of older adults. Marissa has worked embedded within in-home aged care providers for the last 9 years, and has extensive experience designing and implementing interventions in this context. Marissa has over 35 publications and has received over $3 million to support her research.

Federation University is pleased to partner with St John of God Berwick Hospital to offer PhD scholarships for nurses, midwives and other allied healthcare professionals who have an interest in conducting research relevant to their field.

Scholarship details

Stipend: $40,000 per annum
Project support: between $6,000-$ 9,000 depending on project
RTP Fee-offset Scholarship / Tuition Fee Scholarship: up to $26,800 per annum
Funding length: 3 years (only, no extensions permitted)
Location: Berwick, Victoria
Program Code: NU0 - Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing)

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be eligible to undertake a PhD. Verify you can meet eligibility requirements outlined on the Graduate Research School website. If you are applying for ‘Honours equivalence,’ please ensure that you provide detailed information to support your case.

Applicants must be an Australian resident or permanent resident.

Preference will be given to applicants with a registered nursing or midwifery background.

Applicants should contact Associate Professor Mimmie Watts Phone: 03 5327 9750 or email: mc.watts@federation.edu.au prior to submitting an application.

Application closing date:  Open until scholarship is filled

Previous applicants do not need to apply again.

How to apply: Applicants must submit their application with all necessary documents by completing the HDR Candidature application form.

Commencement date: as soon as possible

Research Fields:

• Midwifery & Maternity Care
• Workforce Models of Care
• Digital and Mental Health Care
• Public Health and Allied Health Care

Federation University is pleased to partner with the Ararat City Council to offer a PhD scholarship in Engineering.

Scholarship details

Stipend: $32,212 tax free, per annum (paid fortnightly)
Top-Up (if applicable): $5,000 tax free, per annum (paid fortnightly)
Project support: $3,000 per annum
RTP Fee-offset Scholarship / Tuition Fee Scholarship: $33,300 covered per annum
Funding length: 3 years (only, no extensions permitted)
Location: Mount Helen, Ballarat
Internship: Ararat City Council

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be eligible to undertake a PhD. Verify you can meet eligibility requirements outlined on the Graduate Research School website. If you are applying for ‘Honours equivalence,’ please ensure that you provide detailed information to support your case.

Selection Criteria

1. A Master degree or Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degree in civil or mechanical engineering, or equivalent
2. Experience in developing or applying numerical methods in engineering analysis, e.g., finite element method
3. Experience in using engineering software such as Matlab for programming (essential), Ansys or Abaqus

Applications are open both domestically and internationally to those meeting the selection criteria.

Applicants should contact Professor Ooi Ean Tat (e.ooi@federation.edu.au) prior to submitting an application.

Application closing date: Until position is filled

How to apply: Applicants must submit their application with all necessary documents by completing the HDR Candidature application

Commencement date: As soon as possible

Research project details

Project title: A scaled boundary framework for nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures

Infrastructure development is a major contributor to Australia’s GDP. Critical infrastructure such as bridges, buildings and dams are essential to maintain the community’s access to services, communication, and trade. Despite being designed to support loads throughout their lifespan, instances of structural failure are frequently reported. Many of these were caused by dynamic loads such as severe storms and earthquakes and led to substantial economic losses as well as to loss of life. Other types of dynamic loads, such as ground vibrations caused by traffic (cars, trucks, trains) and construction equipment may also cause damage to structures and compromise their serviceability. Therefore, considering dynamic loading actions in design simulation is essential for the safe and cost-effective design of new structures and the management of ageing ones. Australia’s substantial commitment to infrastructure, totalling A$256.6b in government expenditure over 4 years to the 2026-27 financial year, further underscores its significance.

The overarching goal of this project is to develop an innovative computational framework that overcomes current technological limitations in nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures. This framework will also leverage the opportunities offered by recent advancements in modern computer systems and digital technologies for geometry acquisition and modelling. The specific aims of the project are to:

• Develop an innovative numerical technique suited to modern digital technologies and computer systems.
• Develop a versatile technique for fully-automated generation of computer analysis models from both traditional and modern digital technologies for geometry modelling.
• Design a family of highly efficient algorithms compatible with modern computer architecture for reliable time history analyses of structures under dynamic loads.

The research outcomes will empower structural engineers to undertake reliable large-scale simulations in a timely manner to design and retrofit civil infrastructure, contributing to safer and more resilient built environments.

This project is funded by the Australian Research Council, Discovery Projects: DP250100955

Industry Partner and Student Host: Ararat City Council

Supervisors:

Principal Supervisor: Ooi Ean Tat

Ooi Ean Tat is a Professor in Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability in Federation University Australia. He obtained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Nanyang Technological University in 2006 and completed postdoctoral research training at prestigious institutions including Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, the University of Liverpool, and the University of New South Wales.

His research in computational mechanics focuses on advancing the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM), transforming it into a versatile tool for engineering and scientific applications. Key innovations include polygonal- and quadtree-scaled boundary methods and a generalized SBFEM formulation for nonlinear and multi-physics problems. He has published more than 100 research papers in peer-eminent journals and is an editorial board member for Finite Elements in Analysis and Design.

Associate and Co-Supervisors: To be confirmed

Federation University is pleased to partner with Sikh Volunteers Australia Inc. to offer a PhD scholarship in the business discipline.

Scholarship details

Stipend: $35,000 tax free per annum for three years (paid fortnightly)
Project support: $9,000 
RTP Fee-offset Scholarship / Tuition Fee Scholarship: $24,780 per annum
Funding length: 3 years (only, no extensions permitted)
Location: Mt Helen/Ararat
Internship: TBA
Program Code: BU0 - Doctor of Philosophy (Business)

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be eligible to undertake a PhD. Verify you can meet eligibility requirements outlined on the Graduate Research School website. If you are applying for ‘Honours equivalence,’ please ensure that you provide detailed information to support your case.

Candidates must have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in social sciences, business, or a related discipline. Equivalent experience working in a relevant industry can also be considered.

Applications will be accepted from Aus/NZ residents, permanent residents and international students.

Applicants should contact Prof Harpinder Sandhu prior to submitting an application.

Application closing date: Open until filled

How to apply: Applicants must submit their application with all necessary documents by completing the HDR Candidature application

Commencement date: TBA

Research project details

Project title: Enhancing social capital in community by examining dynamics of voluntarism: implications for practice and policy in Australia

Well-established scientific literature shows that volunteer organisations are embedded and entrenched in the community. For example, the country women’s association, volunteers for the country fire authority (CFA), soup kitchens and many more are grassroots volunteer organisations run by local volunteers who are part of these communities. Similarly, there are immigrant volunteer groups who help other immigrants in a newly settled country. In these cases, local people often reach out to new immigrants through voluntarism efforts, if required.

However, there are few examples in the literature of immigrant communities starting volunteer organisations to help the wider community in their new country of choice. Such a phenomenon, its dynamics, structure, etc., are less studied in the literature.

This PhD study aims to examine this novel phenomenon: a voluntary group formed mainly of new immigrants to Australia, known as the Sikh Volunteers Australia, is helping the wider community in Victoria and other parts of the country in times of disaster and need.

The project will examine this phenomenon and contribute to the social capital theory. It will help improve the practice and contribute to the national and local policy to integrate migrants into diverse and multicultural aspects of Australia.

Industry Partner and Student Host: Sikh Volunteers Australia is a nonprofit volunteer organisation focusing on reducing distress in the community by providing free food and help during disasters to disadvantaged families. SVA is based and informed by the Sikh philosophy and promotes secularism and social equality in the community. The project will likely address the gaps or barriers between immigrants and the local community.

Supervisors:

Principal Supervisor: Prof Harpinder Sandhu

Associate and Co-Supervisors: Dr Jasvinder Sidhu

Federation University is pleased to partner with Datellite Pty Ltd to offer a PhD scholarship in Information Technology

Scholarship details

Stipend: $42,483.00 per annum for 3 years (with 2% annual indexation), with the possibility of a 6 month extension
Training allowance: $5,000.00 per year for 3 years
Travel allowance (total): $5,000.00
Funding length: 3.5 years
Location: Berwick/Mt Helen
Industry internship: 6 Months

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be eligible to undertake a PhD. Verify you can meet eligibility requirements outlined on the Graduate Research School website. If you are applying for ‘Honours equivalence,’ please ensure that you provide detailed information to support your case.

Please note that only Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents (PRs) can apply.

Applicants should contact Dr. Muhammad Imran prior to submitting an application.

Application closing date: 30/04/2025

How to apply: Applicants must submit their application with all necessary documents by completing the HDR Candidature application

Commencement date: 01/06/2025

Research project details

Project title: Satellite-based Internet of Things (Sat-IoT) for Remote Sensing and Smart Monitoring

This PhD project explores the development and optimization of Satellite-based Internet of Things (Sat-IoT) systems to enable intelligent, large-scale monitoring across remote and infrastructure-poor regions in Australia. The research will focus on real-world applications including smart agriculture and livestock tracking, environmental monitoring (bushfires, floods, droughts), national security, mining and resource management, and disaster response.

Key areas of investigation will include:

• Network planning and satellite coverage optimization for low-power IoT devices;
• Latency and throughput trade-offs in satellite communications;
• Security and privacy solutions tailored to resource-constrained Sat-IoT environments;
• Integration of machine and deep learning models to derive actionable insights from large-scale sensor data.

The candidate will work with cutting-edge satellite and IoT technologies, and contribute to advancing sustainable, secure, and scalable solutions for Australia's critical sectors.

Note that the project is one of the many projects under the Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Graduate Program 2023 titled “Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Secure Signal Processing and Connectivity for Autonomous Sensors”.

Industry Partner and Student Host: DATELLITE PTY LTD

Supervisors:

Principal Supervisor:

Dr. Muhammad Imran. Senior Lecturer in Information Technology

T +61387805764

m.imran@federation.edu.au

Associate and Co-Supervisors:

Professor Joarder Kamruzzaman, PhD

Joarder.Kamruzzaman@federation.edu.au

Professor Gour Karmakar, PhD

Gour.Kamakar@federation.edu.au

Federation University is pleased to offer two PhD scholarships in power and energy engineering through a prestigious Australia Research Council (ARC) funded project.

Scholarship details

Stipend: $32,212 AUD tax free per annum (paid fortnightly)
Project support: $3,000 per annum
RTP Fee-offset Scholarship / Tuition Fee Scholarship: $30,240 per annum
Funding length: Position #1: 3 years (only, no extensions permitted), Position #2: 3.5 years (only, no extensions permitted)
Location: Mt Helen, Ballarat

Eligibility

Scholarship applicants must be eligible to undertake a PhD. Verify you can meet eligibility requirements outlined on the Graduate Research School website. If you are applying for ‘Honours equivalence,’ please ensure that you provide detailed information to support your case.

Applications will be accepted from Australian residents, permanent residents, and international students.

Applicants should contact Professor Jiefeng Hu via email: j.hu@federation.edu.au prior to submitting an application.

Application closing date: Open until filled

How to apply: Applicants must submit their application with all necessary documents by completing the HDR Candidature application

Commencement date: As soon as possible

Research project details

Project title: Control and optimization of Community Microgrids

This project aims to develop advanced control and optimization strategies for energy management in microgrids with distributed renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, energy storage, etc. This is your chance to be at the forefront of innovation, working on cutting-edge technologies in electrical engineering with world-renowned experts.

Supervisors:

Principal Supervisor: Prof. Jiefeng Hu

Associate and Co-Supervisors: Prof. Syed Islam