Honours Scholarship in Indigenous Genomics
Highlights
| Value | Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,500 p.a. |
|
TBC | TBC |
How to apply
Apply here.
Benefits
This scholarship is valued at $3,500 per annum and is tenable for one year.
The scholarship will also provide additional interstate travel and bioinformatics conference registration for up to $1,000.
Who's eligible
You must:
- identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island person as Defined in the University of Sydney’s Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015
- be currently enrolled or having an unconditional offer of admission and commencing full-time in the Data Science or Statistics Honours Program within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney
- have achieved a WAM of 65 and above, or equivalent in previous tertiary studies
- be supervised by the Jean Yang Professor of the University of Sydney, Professor Alex Brown and Associate Professor Jimmy Breen at Black Ochre Data Labs
Background
This honours scholarship was established to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are interested in using genomics to help communities tackle a Type-2 Diabetes and related Cardiometabolic diseases within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is at epidemic proportions in Indigenous Australians, affecting up to 50% of adults over the age of 50. T2D significantly impairs the quality and length of life and contributes to wide life expectancy differentials. Much of this inequality is a consequence of the rapid development of renal, cardiovascular, and ophthalmological complications.
Through a collaboration between the Sydney Precision Data Science Centre and Black Ochre Data Labs, an Indigenous-led public health and Indigenous Genomics research group based in South Australia, we are offering honours scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students interested in using genomics to help communities tackle a Type-2 Diabetes and related Cardiometabolic diseases.
Projects will be focused on the analysis of multi-omics data produced from The Aboriginal Diabetes Study PROPHECY (Predicting Renal, Ophthalmic and Heart Events in the Aboriginal Community). This large multifaceted study involves 1385 Indigenous South Australian participants from metropolitan, regional and remote settings, of whom we have collected unique data on clinical, psychosocial, pathological and genomic outcomes, exposures and traits.
The fundamental objective is to better understand the burden, natural history and propensity for complication development in Aboriginal people with or at risk of T2D, outlining the social, psychological, environmental, clinical and genomic predictors of disease and disease progression.
1. Background
a. This honours scholarship was established to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are interested in using genomics to help communities tackle a Type-2 Diabetes and related Cardiometabolic diseases within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.
2. Eligibility
a. Applicants must identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island person as Defined in the University of Sydney’s Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015.
b. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the applicant being currently enrolled or having an unconditional offer of admission and commencing full-time in the Data Science or Statistics Honours Program within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.
c. Applicants must have achieved a WAM of 65 and above, or equivalent in previous tertiary studies.
d. Applicants must be supervised by the Jean Yang Professor of University of Sydney, Professor Alex Brown and Associate Professor Jimmy Breen at Black Ochre Data Labs.
3. Selection Criteria
a. The Scholarship will be awarded on the basis of:
i. academic merit,
ii. evidence of identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island person as defined in the University of Sydney’s Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy 2015, and
iii. a personal statement demonstrating interest in using genomics to help communities tackle a Type-2 Diabetes and related Cardiometabolic diseases.
b. Preference would be given to female - identifying students, to ensure gender diversity.
c. The Scholarship will be awarded on the nomination of the Head of School of the School of Mathematics and Statistics, Professor Jean Yang, Professor Alex Brown and Associate Professor Jimmy Breen.
4. Value
a. The Scholarship is valued at $3,500 per annum and is tenable for one year.
b. The scholarship will also provide additional interstate travel and bioinformatics conference registration up to $1,000.
c. The Scholarship annual value will be paid in two equal instalments after the census date of each semester.
d. Deferral and suspension of the Scholarship is not permitted without the prior permission of Head of School of the School of Mathematics and Statistics or nominated delegate(s), and it is not transferable to another University school, faculty or university without prior approval.
e. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funds.
f. No other amount is payable.
5. Ongoing eligibility
a. To continue receipt of the Scholarship, for the Honours degree the recipient must meet the requirements of their Honours program and the recipient must maintain a minimum Semester Average Mark (SAM) of 75 each semester for normal stream and 65 each semester for advance stream.
b. Recipients must remain enrolled in the eligible degree and honours program full-time unless prior approval is sought to study part-time due to extenuating circumstances.
c. Recipients must obtain prior approval of the Head of School of the School of Mathematics and Statistics or nominated delegate(s) to suspend this scholarship up to one semester due to extenuating or exceptional circumstances.
6. Termination
a. The Scholarship will be terminated if the recipient:
I. withdraws from an eligible degree and honours program or fails to enrol,
II. commences part-time study without prior approval,
III. does not maintain satisfactory academic performance,
IV. is determined by the University to be guilty of serious misconduct, including, but not limited to, having provided false or misleading information as part of their Scholarship application,
V. does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VI. any other provision as indicated in these terms that would lead to termination.
b. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.
c. Where a student is found guilty of serious misconduct or the Scholarship is terminated under any instance in the Termination Clause of these terms and conditions, the University reserves the right to request that any Scholarship funds paid to the Scholarship recipient be reimbursed.