PhD Scholarship in climate displacement in Australia
Job No.: 695916
Location: Clayton campus
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 3.5 years fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a Research Living Allowance, at current value of $37,145AUD per annum 2026 full-time rate (tax-free stipend), indexed plus allowances as per RTP stipend scholarship conditions at: www.monash.edu/graduate-research/study/scholarships/fees-scholarships/scholarship-policy-and-procedures. A tuition fee scholarship and Single Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) will be provided for a successful international awardee.
The Opportunity
This PhD scholarship is funded as an important part of an ARC funded project, “Addressing long-term climate displacement in Australia”, conducted by Dr Colette Mortreux from the School of Social Sciences.
The project will focus on the lived experience and impacts of displacement linked to a community impacted by climate-related disaster. Using primarily qualitative methods, the project will explore how displacement has impacted the wellbeing, financial security, and social participation of affected populations. It will involve a comprehensive analysis of how these impacts intersect with policy and institutional practices with the view to identifying opportunities to improve how Australia manages climate displacement into the future. The details of the PhD project are open to negotiation, noting that the successful applicant will contribute to the wider project but also undertake their own distinct PhD project.
Undertaking this PhD as part of a larger project has several advantages. First, the successful candidate will be integrated into an already successful research agenda that has been funded by the Australian Research Council, and will have access to funding to support fieldwork, transcription, travel, and conference attendance. Second, the candidate will benefit from expert supervision from research leaders in social science, and from entering a PhD with a pre-existing structure. Finally, the candidate will benefit from being part of outcomes from the research, which may include co-authored publications (where the candidate’s contributions will be recognised through co-authorship), funded symposia, school-engagement exercises, and future grant applications.
Monash University is the largest university in Australia and regularly ranks in the top 100 universities worldwide. Monash has six globally networked campuses and international alliances in Europe and Asia. The applicant will be based at the Clayton campus in Melbourne. Social Science at Monash is diverse and vibrant, including research expertise in geography, sociology, politics and sustainability transitions. We have a strong and supportive research culture, led by internationally recognised scholars successful in attracting national and international competitive funding.
Candidate Requirements
The successful applicant will have an excellent academic track record in Human Geography or cognate discipline within the social sciences.
In its assessment, the selection committee will prioritise applicants who hold an Australian (or equivalent international) Honour’s or Master’s degree (both in a relevant field), with a significant research component and with first-class honours/H1 awarded.
Details of eligibility requirements, including English-language proficiency skills, to undertake a PhD in the Faculty of Arts are available at www.monash.edu/arts/graduate_research/how-to-apply. Applicants should ensure they familiarise themselves with these requirements before deciding whether they should apply.
Scholarship holders must be enrolled full-time and on campus. Please note: applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered.
The successful applicant will be expected to enrol by 29 January 2027. However, there may be some flexibility as to the date of commencement.
Enquiries
You are required to discuss your research proposal with Dr Colette Mortreux, School of Social Sciences, Email: colette.mortreux@monash.edu before you submit an application.
How to Apply
Applications shall comprise:
- A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability
- A brief Research Proposal that fits within the broad project aims and objectives, and demonstrates some understanding of the area of research
- A curriculum vitae, including a list of any published works, conference presentations and relevant work experience
- A full statement of academic records, degree certificates and official grading system (if available), supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
- English language proficiency test results (if applicable)
- Names and contact details of 2 academic referees
Once you have discussed your proposal with Dr Colette Mortreux, please submit your application via My.App:
- Select Admission Only as the Application Type
- Select ‘Yes’ to indicate that you are applying for a scholarship for this research and enter “PhD Scholarship in climate displacement in Australia” as the scholarship you are applying for under Research Program Funding of the application.
Application Close: Sunday 2nd August 2026, 11:55 pm AEST
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