Announcing SEI’s 2023 Honours Research Fellowships

We are excited to announce our 2023 Honours Research Fellowship Program for University of Sydney students interested in multidisciplinary research around critical environmental issues. 

1. SEI Honours Research Fellowship Program

Applications are open to students in any discipline across the University of Sydney, and are particularly encouraged from those in science, engineering, architecture and agriculture.

Students who are interested in research aligned with SEI priorities for 2023, including climate disaster and adaptation, environmental justices, and the Pacific, are also particularly encouraged to apply.

The aim of the SEI Honours Research Fellowship Program is to provide a supportive environment and community for emerging researchers, and expose them to multidisciplinary thinking and methodologies in order to address critical environmental issues.

Applications for SEI Honours Research Fellowships close on 15 February 2023 (11.59pm AEDT).

2. Iain McCalman Honours Research Award

We are pleased to partner with the Chau Chak Wing Museum (CCWM) and its Macleay Collections and SEI founding member Professor Emeritus Iain McCalman to provide the Iain McCalman Honours Research Award.

This unique Award provides a chance for one adventurous student to access the oldest entomology collection in Australia, which is replete with unexplored wonders. They will have the chance to explore and use the Macleay Collections and to use the objects and specimens as a provocation for considering global and/or local environmental change. 

Along with the insect, mammal, bird, fish and shell specimens of natural history CCWM’s Macleay curators care for a wealth of material including the historically rich collections of Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Pacific Islanders’ cultural objects, historic photographic records, scientific instruments relating to the story of scientific practice in Australia, and other material reflecting on the museum’s history itself. The Award invites students to view these historical objects as a leaping-off point for thinking about the past and future in a warming world.

Applications are encouraged from students with a background in any of the following areas:

• humanities, art, visual culture and aesthetics;
• the history and philosophy of science and human cultures;
• architecture and design;
• bio and geosciences;
• oceanic and undersea marine sciences.

If you are applying for Iain McCalman Honours Research Award, please make this clear in your application email.

Applications for the Iain McCalman Research Award close on 22 February 2023 (11.59pm AEDT).

Benefits of Honours with SEI

Honours with SEI gives candidates unique access to the SEI’s global network of leading environmental scholars, as well as:

• mentoring from a senior academic outside but complementary to the candidate’s discipline to promote multidisciplinary thinking.

• a bursary of $2,000 towards research costs.

• the opportunity to collaborate on multidisciplinary projects with researchers across the University.

• the opportunity to contribute toward multi-authored articles and other outputs.

• a hot desk in the SEI office in the Quadrangle (for the duration of the Fellowship).

Requirements

• Applicants must be intending to undertake environmental research that is in line with at least one of SEI’s research themes.

• Have an overall mark of at least 70% across undergraduate units.

• Enrolled at the University of Sydney and applied for/been accepted into Honours for Semester 1, 2023.

How to apply

Please email sei.info@sydney.edu.au with the subject heading ‘Application for 2023 Honours Research Fellowship’ and the following documents attached:

• Proof that you have applied or been accepted to undertake Honours in Semester 1, 2023. This can include a copy of your acceptance letter, or evidence of your pending application.
• A copy of your most recent academic transcript (it does not need to be a certified copy).
• Your CV with details on your academic/non-academic achievements.
• Completed application form (see below).

Download the application form (doc, 84KB).

The application form includes: 

• Details of your current degree and status, your major(s) and department or school, and your Honours supervisor (if known).
• Proposed project description and how it aligns to SEI's research themes.
• Personal statement.

Applications for SEI Honours Research Fellowships close on 15 February 2023 (11.59pm AEDT).

Applications for the Iain McCalman Research Award close on 22 February 2023 (11.59pm AEDT).

Please note that SEI is not responsible for finding you a supervisor. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted once Honours positions have been awarded by University faculties. This Fellowship opportunity is only available to University of Sydney students.

Header image: University of Sydney by Andy Wang, via Unsplash.