PhD Scholarship in Australia’s Climate Economy

Job No.: 685749

Location: Clayton campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3.5-year 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

Monash University is offering a fully paid PhD scholarship – with funding for fieldwork and conference travel – for a passionate social scientist to explore how climate change adaptation is a part of Australia’s emerging climate economy!

Join our thriving Geography community in Australia’s largest School of Social Sciences for a PhD project that will contribute to live policy debates in the wake of the National Climate Change Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan.

Possible PhD topics include but are not limited to:

• How to close the adaptation funding gap through sustainable and/or innovative financing (including with reference to the Australian Sustainable Finance Roadmap and Taxonomy)
• How to finance adaptation infrastructures (including material, technological and social infrastructures)
• How to transform insurance from an industry in crisis to a pillar of adaptation finance
• What is Australia’s role in catalysing adaptation finance and infrastructure in the Pacific (including through new financial and funding mechanisms such as the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific).

The final topic is subject to negotiation and alternative proposals are welcomed.

The scholarship is funded by a Discovery Project grant titled ‘The climate economy: Emerging strategies for Australia’ to work with an interdisciplinary team based at Monash, Macquarie and Sydney Universities.

The broader project explores Australia’s emerging climate economy, investigating how the pressures of climate change are reshaping climate governance, investment and policy strategies in unexpected ways. Our innovative approach highlights the hybrid nature of this new political economic configuration, where:

• public and private actors are taking on new roles
• financial instruments are being reimagined
• economic outcomes must be measured in novel ways

Focusing on three critical sectors – energy, transport and water – and three key processes – standardising climate information, underwriting climate income and providing climate capital – this research will map and evaluate Australia’s climate economy. By doing so, we aim to provide new frameworks for understanding and democratising the economic policies that will define a climate-changed future.

Candidate Requirements

The successful applicant will have an excellent academic track record in a relevant Social Science or Economics discipline.

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 Dr Svenja Keele, School of Social Sciences, <svenja.keele@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 Dr Keele, please submit your Expression of Interest Form and indicate that you are applying for a “Special Scholarship Scheme – PhD Scholarship in Australia’s Climate Economy”.

Application Close: Monday 3 November 2025, 11:55 pm AEDT