Scholarships offer new opportunities for industry

A round of PhD Industry Research Scholarships, to begin at Deakin this year, marks an important innovation that will help both employers and students prepare for the future.

The university is seeking industry partners to engage PhD students to work directly on joint industry projects throughout their PhD candidacy. Up to 10 scholarships will be provided in the initial February round.

The scholarships are expected to be doubly beneficial. Not only will they allow top calibre PhD students to gain experience addressing “real world” projects, but they will bring to industry some of Australia’s brightest minds.

Helping to devise new methods, these students will be backed up by the resources of a global university - to the direct benefit of individual businesses that represent sectors covered by Deakin, whether these be in manufacturing, health, economics, transport or any other relevant sector.

In line with Deakin’s strategic plan, the move is the next step in Deakin making innovation and industry collaboration part of its core business.

According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Lee Astheimer, Deakin’s entrepreneurial capability is underpinned by a long history of innovation with industry - from its involvement in metal stamping and alkaloid chemistries, through to carbon fibre processing.

“We are seeking responsible business partners, who are aware of the power of innovation and who share our vision to make a difference to the communities we serve,” Professor Astheimer said.

“These scholarships will provide access to the cutting edge expertise, resources and infrastructure of a future-focused university - and help industry to prepare for the products, technologies and jobs of the future.”

Industry partners from either private or public sector enterprises, including government or business entities, are invited to jointly apply with Deakin Researchers. Proposed projects will need to be aligned with Deakin’s research areas.

The scholarships will involve collaboration between a principal supervisor at Deakin and the proposed industry partner, who will be required to support any on-site research costs needed to conduct the PhD project. Deakin will supply the annual PhD stipend over the three-year period.

• To learn more about Deakin's Industry Research Scholarships, please contact Rheanne Hogema, HDR Advisor (Research Scholarships). Applications close on Friday 20 February 2015.