Shanghai Jiao Tong University – University of Melbourne: Joint PhD Projects with paired Seed Funding

Overview

In 2024, Melbourne and SJTU are calling for joint PhD proposals from all research areas to establish up to 10 joint graduate research projects, co-designed by pairs of Primary Investigators (PIs), expanding the SJTU – Melbourne IRTG.  Each of these supervisory teams will receive seed funding and access funding to support a joint PhD candidate, including tuition fee waivers, a full living allowance, health insurance and relocation support.

Joint PhD candidates are enrolled at both institutions under joint supervision, with one primary supervisor from Melbourne and one from SJTU; providing opportunities for PIs to expand their collaborative activities. The work will be judged according to the academic standards of both institutions. Upon successful completion, each candidate will be eligible to receive a PhD, recognised by two testamurs, one from Melbourne and one from SJTU. Both testamurs will state the joint nature of the award and the name of the partner institution.

All candidates must meet the minimum eligibility requirements to successfully enrol in the relevant PhD course at both Universities.

The joint PhD candidates recruited to the successful projects will join the SJTU – Melbourne IRTG, gaining:

• Access to expertise, resources and world-class training at Melbourne and SJTU, spending at least 12 months of their candidature at each institution;
• Complimentary skills from their respective hosts that will increase the impact of their research; and
• A global perspective via involvement in the SJTU - Melbourne research network.

These awards will also include seed funding for the PIs to provide initial support for development of high-quality research projects with other members of the research group in areas of mutual strength and shared interest. Funding is available at both institutions for PIs to undertake short-term visits to initiate, deepen and extend collaborative research links and enable investigators to make future joint external funding proposals that will support the next phase of their project.

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.

Eligibility

The supervisory team must comprise of at least two Principal Investigators (PIs), one who must be employed by SJTU and one who must be employed by Melbourne.  The PIs must have the capacity to be the principal supervisor for a jointly enrolled PhD candidate.

Melbourne academics must be registered to supervise as per the Supervisor Eligibility and Registration Policy. Primary supervisors should be employed at Melbourne beyond the envisaged submission date of their PhD candidates (2029). If their employment contract does not extend beyond the candidates’ submission date, then alternative arrangements must be in place, by either having:

1. a named co-supervisor employed at Melbourne beyond the envisaged submission date of their PhD candidates (2029); or
2. 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 forms for supervisor registration, please consult the information for supervisors on the Graduate Research Hub.

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

1. Their primary employer has entered into a written agreement for this call, using the provided approval form to fund the Melbourne cash component (AUD$10,000) of the collaborative activity; or
2. 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.

SJTU academics must be eligible for supervising Ph.D. candidates and follow the university and relevant school/college’s policy of graduate student recruitment. For more information, please consult the Graduate School.

PIs must be able to demonstrate existing research relationships and must provide evidence of such collaborative relationships as part of their proposal.

Additional colleagues (including other partners in Australia, China or internationally) are not eligible to apply as PIs or primary supervisors, although they can participate in co-supervision of joint PhD candidates. However, involvement of shared external partners that benefit the project, for example through translation support or providing internship opportunities, is encouraged.

Applications that do not satisfy these criteria will not be eligible.

How to apply

1. Review the guidelines

   Please review the guidelines before submission.

2. Complete and submit the application

   A single, jointly-prepared application in English must be submitted via SmartyGrants by Wednesday 29 January 2025  12:00 noon CST (Shanghai) 15:00 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 available under 'Supporting Documents' below. (Please note that ADGR sign-off is not required for MDHS applicants.)

   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 a supporting statement on how the candidate will meet the Faculty’s PhD coursework requirement.

Supporting documents

- SJTU-Melbourne Joint Call Guidelines 2024

- SJTU-Melbourne SmartyGrants Application Form 2024

- HoD and Associate Dean (Graduate Research) approval form

- Honorary declaration form

- List of Previous Awardees, 2020-24

Contacts