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1. Background

a. This Scholarship aims to support a student undertaking a Master’s by research within the School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science. The focus of their research is on testing the effectiveness of associational plant refuges, formed by unpalatable plants or their odours, on protecting tree seedlings from browsing damage by mammalian herbivores. The research will form part of a larger project working with the forestry industry, aimed at developing ways to reducing browsing damage and so increase productivity on forestry plantations.

b. This Scholarship is co-funded by the bequest funds from Patrick Desmond Fitzgerald Murray and research funds from Commonwealth of Australia represented by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Federal) for the project ‘Odour misinformation: a new way to reduce vertebrate pest damage to plantation seedlings’ between Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) and The University of Sydney.

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study in a full-time master’s by research within the School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicant 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 substantial field research in applied animal behavioural ecology and plant-herbivore interactions in and around forestry plantations in Tasmania, Australia.

d. Applicant must hold an Honours degree (First Class or Second-Class Upper) or equivalent in Biology, Ecology &/or Evolution.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. curriculum vitae,
III. area of study and/or research proposal, and
IV. a personal statement which demonstrates understanding of the project topic on animal behavioural ecology, and plant-herbivore interactions in and around forestry plantations.

b. Preference will be given to applicants who hold a valid driver's licence (either international or Australian).
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 $31,333 per annum (fixed amount) for up to 1.5 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 any potential extension period.

c. The Scholarship is for RP2 2026 (1 March) commencement, which can only be deferred with prior approval from the research supervisor.

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

e. No other amount is payable.

f. 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. Publication and Acknowledgements

a. Prior to the publication or disclosure of any material or information, the scholarship recipient must consider the research’s confidentiality of the information, and the potential prejudice to its subsistence or commercialisation, including the possibility that publication or disclosure might preclude the grant of a patent or cause the loss of Intellectual Property.

b. The scholarship recipient must acknowledge the financial support received from the Commonwealth in the form of AFWI funding by reference to any acknowledgement as otherwise notified by AFWI from time to time for the below:

I. publications, presentations, or public-facing materials (including reprints, and despite whether published by AFWI or other persons) that are in connection to AFWI;
II. products (in the documentation, not the product), processes or inventions produced as a direct result of the research related to this scholarship; and
III. promotional and advertising materials, public announcements, events and activities in relation to the research related to this scholarship.

c. The scholarship recipient agrees that all public announcements and media releases, in connection with the awarding of the grant, the research project or this scholarship agreement must be made with AFWI’s prior approval and in accordance with any media/publication guidelines specified by AFWI from time to time. This may include the publication of details associated with the project on the AFWI website and any government database for the purposes of communicating AFWI’s research.

d. The successful scholarship recipient must acknowledge the support of the Patrick Desmond Fitzgerald Murray bequest funds gifted to the University of Sydney to support research in biological sciences in research outputs and presentations arising from the research. The form and position will be approved by the relevant research supervisor.

13. Intellectual Property

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

14. Use of Name and Trademarks

a. The recipient of this Scholarship must not use another party’s name or trademarks without the express permission of that other party.

15. Student Thesis

a. The recipient of this Scholarship acknowledges that their thesis will be examined in accordance with any applicable scholarship agreement and the policy and procedures of The University of Sydney.

16. Confidentiality

a. The recipient of this Scholarship acknowledges that without the prior written consent of the other party, the recipient must not disclose any confidential information to a third party.