PhD Scholarship in Social Science – Sustainability transformation pathways for small to medium enterprises

 

Job No.: 618461 

Location: Clayton campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3 year and 3 month fixed-term appointment

Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a Faculty of Arts Research Living Allowance, at current value of $29,500 per annum 2021 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. Faculty will provide the tuition fee scholarship and Single Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) for a successful international awardee.

The Opportunity

This PhD scholarship is funded as an important part of an ARC funded project Sustainability transformation pathways for small to medium enterprises conducted by A/Prof Wendy Stubbs and A/Prof Megan Farrelly in the School of Social Sciences.

The project will examine how small to medium enterprises’ (SMEs) capacity for experimentation and innovation enables their adoption of sustainable business models to drive sustainable transformations. The research outcomes are critical for understanding and supporting innovative strategies for organising and governing SMEs’ pathways to a sustainable society. The knowledge developed will support business sustainability transformations in Australia and internationally. The successful applicant will join the research team and contribute to the wider project but will also undertake their own distinct PhD project. The details of the PhD project are open to negotiation, but it may involve a comparative sectoral analysis of SMEs adopting sustainable business models and practices.

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 human geography and sustainability, 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, Sustainability and/or Social Science. Competence in both quantitative and qualitative research methods is desirable.

Applicants will be considered provided that they fulfil the criteria for PhD admission at Monash University which includes English language Proficiency skills. Details of eligibility requirements to undertake a PhD in the Faculty of Arts are available at https://arts.monash.edu/graduate-research/application-process/.

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 July 2021. However, there may be some flexibility as to the date of commencement.

Applicants who applied in the first round are not eligible to apply in this round.

Enquiries

A/ Prof Wendy Stubbs, School of Social Sciences, wendy.stubbs@monash.edu

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 record, supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
• Contact details of two academic referees

It is important that you contact A/Prof Wendy Stubbs, School of Social Sciences, wendy.stubbs@monash.edu prior to submission of the EOI to discuss the project.

Once you have discussed your EOI with A/Prof Wendy Stubbs, EOIs should be sent, preferably in the form of a single attachment to an email, to Ms Kinda Say, Senior Graduate Research Administrator, Faculty of Arts, at the following email address arts-agr-apply@monash.edu.  State “EOI [your name] - PhD Scholarship in Social Science – Sustainability transformation pathways for small to medium enterprises” in the subject heading of the email.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (over Skype if necessary). The interviews will be conducted in English.

Closing Date

Friday 30 April 2021, 11:55pm AEST