PhD Program

Develop world-leading skills in helping communities tackle climate change and accelerate rural innovation through training from internationally renowned experts, while working with our industry partners in the iconic Murray-Darling Basin on real-world problems.

Our PhD graduates will be the future leaders in basin research and application. The One Basin CRC offers attractive PhD packages in a broad range of disciplinary fields and across multiple universities in Australia including:

• Australian National University
• Charles Sturt University
• Flinders University
• The University of Adelaide
• The University of Melbourne
• The University of Sydney
• University of Southern Queensland.

Our PhD program will give you the professional skills and networks to accelerate your career in research or practice across the water, agriculture or environmental sectors.

Key features of the One Basin CRC PhD program include:

• A 3.5 year scholarship with an additional 6-month funded internship with an industry partner or equivalent part-time employment.
• A flexible funding package including a stipend of as much as $56,000 pa* and generous travel and operational support. Additional income from working part-time with industry partners and further scholarships may be available.
• The PhD program seeks to achieve gender balance and attract candidates from all walks of life, with Australians of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander heritage particularly encouraged to apply.
• Opportunities for travel (including the possibility of international conferences), development and engagement with a strong research network that is being developed through the 10-year CRC.
• Each candidate will be based for the majority of their time in one of the following research hubs: Loxton (South Australia), Mildura (Victoria), Griffith (NSW) and Goondiwindi (Queensland) in order to facilitate place-based research and interactions with industry partners.

Potential PhD candidates can submit a general Expression of Interest by sending a letter of introduction and CV to educationandtraining@onebasin.com.au

*This is dependent on the host university policies, other available co-funding, and candidature experience and background. Candidates will receive a minimum stipend of $35,840 pa and a further minimum $20,000 (total) in operational funding. The exact allocation of the funding package between the stipend and support activities (such as conferences, travel to and from regional hubs) will be agreed to by the host university, PhD student and the 1BCRC. Applicants must be intending to apply for, and be highly competitive for, a Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend (or an equivalent scholarship). The student will enter the PhD program in 2025 and enrol on a full-time basis.