SOLVE-CHD PhD Scholarship

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student to undertake research in the cardiovascular rehabilitation and secondary prevention fields as part of a NHMRC Synergy Grant.

b. The aim of SOLVE-CHD is to transform post-discharge secondary prevention and reduce the burden of heart disease by decreasing deaths, hospitalisations and costs via a program of work that integrates data, technology, partnerships and capacity building.

c. This Scholarship is funded by a NHMRC Synergy Grant entitled Solving the long-standing evidence-practice gap associated with cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (SOLVE-CHD).

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must have applied for an admission or be currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. Applicants who have an unconditional offer of admission to study part-time or are currently enrolled to study part-time and will change to full-time enrolment prior to the scholarship commencement date will also be eligible.

b. Applicants must be willing to conduct research into cardiovascular rehabilitation and secondary prevention fields.

c. Applicants must be willing to conduct research closely in line with one of the aims of SOLVE-CHD Synergy Grant (a list of potential PhD topics are provided below as a guide):

I. Practice change amongst cardiac rehabilitation providers – barriers, enablers and learnings aiming to support patient level electronic record collection,
II. Potential and evaluation of data-driven quality improvement in sustained management of CHD and cardiac rehabilitation,
III. Evaluation of service and patient level data to improve reach and equity in sustained managed of CHD,
IV. Virtual reality advice from future self in secondary prevention, and
V. Expanding peer support in secondary prevention.

d. Applicants must be primarily supervised by one of Chief Investigators from SOLVE-CHD Team member at the University of Sydney.

3. Selection Criteria

a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:

I. academic merit,
II. cover letter detailing interest in subject area,
III. curriculum vitae,
IV. alignment of research proposal or research idea with the SOLVE-CHD aims, and
V. references from two academic referees.

b. Preference will be given to applicants who hold at least one of the following:

I. an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper),
II. a Masters degree in a relevant field in Cardiology or related field with a substantial research component, or
III. relevant research experience

c. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the SOLVE-CHD Chief Investigators’ committee.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to $32,000 per annum for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
b. No extension is allowed.

c. The latest end date of the scholarship is 28 February 2025 unless approved by the Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Medicine and Health. The NHMRC Synergy Grant funding this scholarship must be approved by NHMRC for an extension past the current end date for the scholarship to be considered to continue beyond this date.

d. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum duration of the Scholarship.

e. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred without prior approval from the Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Medicine and Health.

f. The scholarship can not be transferred to another area of research.

g. No other amount is payable.

h. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.

6. Leave Arrangements

a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.

b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

7. Research Overseas

a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.

8. Suspension

a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.

b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

9. Changes in Enrolment

a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis from the Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Medicine and Health,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).

b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:

I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,
II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or
III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.

c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.

d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.

11. Misconduct

a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Code of Conduct for Students and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.

b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.