The State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program (SSGM) is seeking a highly motivated student to pursue doctoral research from early 2014. The scholarship provides an opportunity for an outstanding scholar with a background in political science, anthropology, human geography, law, gender studies or development studies, whose research interests complement the existing expertise within the Program, to work on a topic that fits within one of the four thematic research clusters around which SSGM’s work is organised.
The successful applicant will be enrolled as a full-time PhD candidate within the SSGM Program. The scholarship will be available for three years beginning in 2014 and will carry a tax-exempt annual stipend of approximately AUD $24,653 (2013 rate). The successful applicant will also be eligible for up to $10,000 for fieldwork, $3000 for international conference attendance and $1000 for professional development.
Top up scholarships to the value of AUD $10,000 are also available for Australian or New Zealand students who successfully secure an Australian Postgraduate Award.
For overseas students, the scholarship also includes full tuition fees, basic health insurance, establishment allowance and contribution to visa expenses. These benefits are for the scholar only as SSGM is not able to provide assistance for dependents.
State, Society and Governance in Melanesia
The State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program is a vibrant unit in the School of International, Political and Strategic Studies in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific and is a leading centre for applied research on contemporary Melanesia, Timor Leste and the wider Pacific. SSGM offers the most significant concentration of scholars anywhere in the world conducting policy-relevant research and advanced analysis of social change, governance, development, politics and state-society relations in our region. By 2014 our program will comprise 27 academic staff and close to 20 doctoral students.
From its inception SSGM was envisaged as a dedicated group of scholars with deep knowledge of countries in the region and a commitment to richly textured long-term empirical research. In addition to its scholarly goals, SSGM maintains a strong commitment to active engagement with policy communities in the region and Australia. Our research and analysis is cross disciplinary and is situated squarely at the intersection between disciplinary and area studies. We see this as a major strength that adds considerable depth to our work. SSGM’s research program is oriented around four thematic clusters:
Politics, Elections, Leadership & Governance
Conflict, Justice & Peace Building
Livelihoods, Rural Development & Extractive Industries
Gender, Health and Social Development
More information about the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program can be found at: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/ssgm/
Applications welcome
Applicants with a good honours degree and/or equivalent masters degree, with a significant research component (or expected to complete by end of 2013) in social science or related disciplines, such as anthropology background in political science, anthropology, human geography, law, gender studies or development studies are encouraged to apply. The applicant must be willing and able carry out extensive fieldwork in the Pacific region. There are no citizenship requirements.
How to apply
In the first instance, you should submit an expression of interest, including a curriculum vitae or a list of your academic qualifications and work experience, two references from people qualified to judge your academic work, and a 1-2 page proposal. The proposal should outline the type of research you would seek to pursue and why you believe you are suited to undertake research of this kind. You should also detail your past research experience, your knowledge of the broader socio-cultural conditions in Melanesia and why you believe that your proposed research is critical. This can be sent by email (SSGM@anu.edu.au) or fax: +61 2 6125 9604. Closing date for expressions of interest is 31 July, 2013. Award of the scholarship is dependent on satisfaction of ANU admission requirements.
For more details contact:
Dr. Jack Corbett
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program
Email: jack.corbett@anu.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 6125 9923
