Postgraduate Research Supplementary Scholarships on Strategies to Mitigate Jetlag
Highlights
| Value | Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|---|---|---|---|
| $7,500 p.a. (up to 3 years) |
|
Ongoing | Ongoing |
How to apply
Apply here.
Applicants will receive outcome within 2-3 weeks after submission. Scholarship will be open until suitable candidates are selected.
Benefits
The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $7,500 per annum for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
Who's eligible
You must:
- have an unconditional offer of admission or currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney
- conduct research in the area of the InSync Project to develop and test strategies to mitigate jetlag, founded on biophysical modelling of circadian rhythms
- hold at least one of the following in the field of the project, including but not limited to nutrition, physical activity, biology, neuroscience, physics, engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, psychology, physiology, and medicine:
- an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent, or
- a Master’s degree
- be a recipient of a primary stipend and tuition fee scholarship from the University of Sydney
- have lead supervisor as one of the InSync Chief Investigators from the Faculty of Science (Professor Steven Simpson from the School of Life Sciences or Associate Professor Svetlana Postnova from the School of Physics).
Background
This scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to students undertaking research as part of the ARC Linkage project "Paving the way for ultra-long-haul flights: strategies to mitigate jetlag" (InSync); A University of Sydney - Qantas partnership.
InSync project aims to develop and test strategies to mitigate jetlag, founded on biophysical modelling of circadian rhythms. It sets out to quantify the speed of circadian adaptation of sleep, alertness, and metabolism after transmeridian travel and to maximise it via optimised timing of in-flight and on-the-ground interventions. As such, it combines a field trial across multiple long-haul flights, computational modelling of jetlag and behaviours, jetlag interventions, and data fusion to understand the interactions within the complex system governing human circadian rhythms and their disturbances.
The project is interdisciplinary, with top-up scholarships available in
- Physics and Engineering (quantitative modelling of Jetlag and Circadian Rhythms, sensors, data fusion, optimisation, machine learning),
- Behavioural Psychology or Neuroscience (dynamics and interplay of sleep, alertness, physical activity; effects of timing of behaviours and environmental inputs on circadian rhythms),
- Nutrition and Metabolism (nutrition, effects of jetlag on glucose and temperature regulation, effects of meal times on metabolic rhythms).
Successful candidates will work on a project within one or across multiple, topics of the InSync Linkage project. All PhD projects will be adjusted in collaboration with the successful candidates based on their background, interests, and alignment with the main project aims. All students will gain experience in interdisciplinary collaboration and collaboration with industry, as well as solving real-life problems and implementing solutions.
This Scholarship is funded by Qantas Airways Ltd.
1. Background
a. This scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to students undertaking research as part of the ARC Linkage project "Paving the way for ultra-long-haul flights: strategies to mitigate jetlag" (InSync); A University of Sydney - Qantas partnership.
b. InSync project aims to develop and test strategies to mitigate jetlag, founded on biophysical modelling of circadian rhythms. It sets out to quantify the speed of circadian adaptation of sleep, alertness, and metabolism after transmeridian travel and to maximise it via optimised timing of in-flight and on-the-ground interventions.
c. This Scholarship is funded by Qantas Airways Ltd.
2. Eligibility
a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.
b. Applicants must conduct research in the area of the InSync Project to develop and test strategies to mitigate jetlag, founded on biophysical modelling of circadian rhythms.
c. Applicant must also hold at least one of the following in the field of the project, including but not limited to nutrition, physical activity, biology, neuroscience, physics, engineering, computer science, applied mathematics, psychology, physiology, and medicine:
I. an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent, or
II. a Master’s degree.
d. Applicants must be a recipient of a primary stipend and tuition fee scholarship from the University of Sydney.
e. Applicant’s lead supervisor must be one of the InSync Chief Investigators from the Faculty of Science (Professor Steven Simpson from the School of Life Sciences or Associate Professor Svetlana Postnova from the School of Physics).
3. Selection Criteria
a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:
I. academic merit,
II. curriculum vitae with previous research experience, and
III. area of study and/or research proposal.
b. 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 of $7,500 per annum for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
b. 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 the potential extension period.
c. The Scholarship is for commencement in relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval from the lead research supervisor.
d. No other amount is payable.
e. 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 same conditions as indicated in the terms and conditions of the primary stipend scholarship, excluding any additional sick leave and parental leave.
7. Research Overseas
b. The same conditions as indicated in the terms and conditions of the primary stipend scholarship.
8. Suspension
a. The same conditions as indicated in the terms and conditions of the primary stipend 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 lead 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. on receipt of another supplementary stipend scholarship(s) that increases the overall supplementary amount paid to a student to more than 75% of the primary amount. In such circumstances, the supplementary stipend scholarship of the higher value prevails,
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. Recipient of this scholarship is expected to submit an annual progress report to the InSync Chief Investigator (CI) team.
13. Intellectual Property
a. The recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.