Hebrew University of Jerusalem – University of Melbourne: Call for Joint PhD Projects

Overview

The University of Melbourne (UoM) and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2008, renewed in 2018, to foster exchange and research collaborations. Both Universities affirmed this partnership in November 2012 with an agreement to establish the Joint Research Workshop Grants Program.

The partnership was further expanded with the development of a joint PhD agreement and the launch of the Jerusalem-Melbourne Joint PhD program (JM-JPhD) in 2019. Eight research teams have been awarded funding supporting fourteen joint PhD candidates in total, with projects spanning biomedicine, veterinary science, psychology, chemistry, and computer science.

In 2023, UoM and HUJI are calling for proposals across all research areas for new joint PhD projects. This call for proposals will award up to four joint PhD projects across two separate pairs of Primary Investigators (PIs). Each of these pairs will receive funding to support two joint PhD candidates, as well as funding to support collaborative activities.

This call for joint PhD project proposals is open to applications from academic supervisors only. If you are a prospective candidate interested in applying for a joint PhD, please refer to the information available here.

Funding

Up to two proposals will be funded, with each proposal supporting two joint PhD projects. UoM will fund up to 2 PhD scholarships and HUJI will fund up to 2 PhD scholarships. Funding also includes support for additional collaborative activities, including supervisor and home candidate travel.

See Guidelines (under 'Supporting Documents') for a summary of the funding provided for each proposal.

Eligibility

See Guidelines (under 'Supporting Documents') for full eligibility requirements.

The supervisory team must consist of at least two Principal Investigators (PIs), one from UoM and one from HUJI. The two PIs must have capacity to be the primary supervisor for two jointly enrolled PhD candidates, one who will have UoM as their Home institution, and the second who will have HUJI as their Home institution.

UoM Academics

Melbourne academics must be registered to supervise as per the Supervisor Eligibility and Registration Policy. The primary supervisors should be employed at Melbourne beyond the envisaged submission date of their PhD candidates (2028). If their employment contract does not extend beyond the submission date, then alternative arrangements must be in place, by either having:

• A named co-supervisor at Melbourne beyond the envisaged submission date of their PhD candidates (2028); or
• A letter of support from the respective Head of Department/Head of School detailing the arrangements in place to ensure continuity of supervision.

For more information, including the forms for supervisor registration, please consult the information for supervisors section on the Graduate Research Hub.

Honorary employees whose primary academic affiliation is with the University of Melbourne are eligible to lead an application as a PI if they are a registered Principal Supervisor at Melbourne, and either:

• Their primary employer has entered into a written agreement for this call, using the provided approval form under 'Supporting Documents', to fund the Melbourne cash component of the collaborative activity; or
• They participate at their own expense if they are otherwise unaffiliated (for example, they hold an emeritus position).

Melbourne academics must not have outstanding Progress Reports or Final Reports from any other University of Melbourne Researcher Development Scheme.

HUJI Academics

HUJI academics must be eligible to supervise PhD candidates as per the relevant HUJI regulations for research students.

How to apply

1. Review the guidelines

   Please review the guidelines under 'Supporting Documents'.

2. Submit the application

   PIs from UoM and HUJI should submit one joint application, in English, via SmartyGrants by Wednesday 27 September 2023 3PM AEDT (Melbourne). Applications should be written in English and for an audience proficient, but not expert.

   All Melbourne PIs must ensure that the Head of Department/School and Associate Dean (Graduate Research) endorsement is attached to the application using the approval forms provided in the 'Supporting Documents'. Melbourne applicants who hold an Honorary position must also complete the Honorary declaration form.

   If the application involves a PI from Melbourne's Faculty of Arts, the approval forms must be provided in addition to the supporting statement on how the candidates will be the Faculty’s PhD coursework requirement.

Supporting documents

• UoM-HUJI Open call Joint PhD Guidelines
• Melbourne -HUJI PhD SmartyGrants Application form
• HoD and Associate Dean (Graduate Research) approval forms
• Honorary declaration form

Contacts