Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Ecological Assessment of Motivational Disturbances in Dementia

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to research students who are undertaking research in the development of ecological assessment of motivation and its disturbances in dementia.

b. This Scholarship is co-funded by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) through the Investigator Grant Leadership scheme and the School of Psychology, Faculty of Science.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission to study full-time in a PhD within the School of Psychology, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants without an unconditional offer of admission may apply and be selected, however, no scholarship offer will be sent until the applicant has an unconditional offer of admission.

c. Applicants must undertake research in the cognitive neuroscience of younger-onset dementia, focusing on development of novel tools to assess motivational disturbances in dementia. Applicants must have a desire to apply novel approaches to better characterise motivational impairments in an ecologically valid manner.

d. Applicants must also hold at least one of the following in psychology, neuroscience or cognate discipline including computer science:
a. an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent or
b. a Master’s degree.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. area of study and/or research proposal,
III. curriculum vitae with previous research experience, and
IV. a personal statement which demonstrates ability to develop novel tasks, gamified approaches to assessment, strong coding and programming skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.

b. Preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated expertise in programming, task development, gamified approaches, and interest in the cognitive neuroscience of dementia.

c. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to $41,753 per annum (fixed value) for up to 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. The Scholarship will also cover overseas student health cover (OSHC) for an international scholarship recipient (single cover only) for the normal full-time duration of their higher degree studies at the University of Sydney.

c. 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 excluding any potential extension period.

d. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred without prior approval from the research supervisor.

e. The Scholarship cannot be transferred to another area of research.

f. No other amount is payable.

g. 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 research supervisor,
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 2023 (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 Student Charter 2020 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.

12. Reports

a. The recipient of this Scholarship may be requested to contribute to the reports to NHMRC.

13. Intellectual Property

a. The recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.

14. Acknowledgements and NHMRC Logo

a. The recipient of this Scholarship must properly acknowledge in any correspondence, public announcement, advertising material, research report or other material produced by the recipient that relates to this scholarship.

b. Any material published related to this scholarship must:

I. include the unique NHMRC Grant Identification Number (2025228); and
II. specify that the contents of the published material are solely the responsibility of the recipient and do not reflect the views of NHMRC.

c. NHMRC logo must not be used without NHMRC’s prior written consent to that specific use of the logo, which NHMRC may give, refuse or revoke in its absolute discretion. NHMRC may give consent subject to any terms or conditions that it considers reasonable.

15. Personal Information

a. The recipient agrees to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

b. The recipient must not transfer personal information held in connection with this scholarship outside Australia, or to allow parties outside Australia to have access to it, without the prior approval of NHMRC.

c. The recipient must comply with any policy guidelines laid down by the Commonwealth or issued by the Information Commissioner from time to time relating to the handling of personal information.

16. Confidentiality

a. The recipient must not, without the prior written consent of NHMRC and The University of Sydney, disclose any confidential information of the other party to a third party.