PhD Scholarship in Philosophy

Job No.: 685195

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 $36,063AUD per annum 2025 full-time rate (tax-free stipend), indexed plus allowances as per RTP stipend scholarship conditions at: https://www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/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 The Moral Significance of Being Human, conducted by Suzy Killmister.

The project will explore three fundamental philosophical questions:

1. In what sense (if at all) is being human morally significant?
2. What explains that significance?
3. What follows, socially and politically, from that significance?

The project is committed to connecting such abstract philosophical questions to concrete social challenges, such as the failure to uphold the human rights of marginalised persons; dehumanisation; and the ‘(in)humanity’ of Artificial Intelligence.

The successful applicant will contribute to the wider project, but will also undertake their own distinct PhD project. The details of the thesis project are open to negotiation, but could be focused on a topic such as moral status, moral worth, moral equality, foundations of human rights, or dehumanisation (either in general or of particular demographics). Since capacity-based explanations of the moral significance of humanity have already been thoroughly explored in the philosophical literature, preference will be given to applicants developing alternative approaches.

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 travel and conference attendance. Second, the candidate will be embedded within an Early Career Researcher network connected to the grant project. This will enable them to build international relationships with other early career researchers working on similar topics; it will provide them with access to additional mentoring opportunities, over and above thesis supervision; and it will give them access to a series of workshops and conferences to enable them to present their research.

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. The Philosophy Department at Monash has a thriving research culture, and is ranked 33rd in the world in the latest QS rankings. 

Candidate Requirements

The successful applicant will have an excellent academic track record in Philosophy or a cognate discipline, and a thesis proposal that aligns with the goals of the project.

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 https://arts.monash.edu/graduate-research/application-process/.  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 March 2026. However, there may be some flexibility as to the date of commencement.

Enquiries

You are required to discuss your research proposal with Suzy Killmister, School of Philosophical, Historical, and Indigenous Studies, < suzy.killmister@monash.edu > before you submit an Expression of Interest.

Submit an Expression of Interest

EOIs shall comprise:

• A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant’s suitability
• A brief research proposal not exceeding 750 words in length 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
• Copy of your current passport (if available)

Once you have discussed your EOI with Suzy Killmister please submit your Expression of Interest Form and indicate that you are applying for a “Special Scholarship Scheme – PhD Scholarship in Philosophy”.

Application Close: Monday 27 October 2025, 11:55 pm AEST