Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Digital Technology, Sexuality, and Disability

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to research students who are undertaking research focused on sex technology to support sexuality for people with physical disability within the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning.

b. The Scholarship is co-funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) scheme (DE260100240) and will be supplemented by funding from the University of Sydney for the project.

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 School of Architecture, Design and Planning at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must have Honours degree (first class or second upper) or equivalent, or a Master’s degree in areas such as human-computer interaction, design, disability studies, sexuality research, or a related social or health discipline.

c. Applicants must be willing to undertake research on sex technology to support sexuality for people with physical disability in care and support settings, including co-design with people with lived experience, under the supervision of Dr Adam Poulsen as part of an ARC DECRA project.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit, and
II. area of study and/or research proposal, and
III. a personal statement which demonstrates the applicant's interest in the research project and relevant disciplinary background.

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 equivalent to the University of Sydney’s Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate per annum (indexed on 1 January each year) for up to 12 research periods, subject to satisfactory academic performance. No possible extension.

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 commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and can only be deferred with approval from the relevant research supervisor.

d. The Scholarship recipient cannot transfer the Scholarship to another area of research or change their supervisor without prior approval.

e. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.

f. No other amount is payable.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. The recipient must attend and pass the annual progress evaluation meeting.

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 lead 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 carers leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their lead 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 recipient may conduct up to 4 research periods of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's lead supervisor, Head of School and 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 4 research periods of suspension for any reason during the tenure of their Scholarship. Periods of suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval to suspend must be given by both HDRAC and the School of Architecture, Design and Planning Associate Dean (Research Education). 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 lead 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, academic tuition fees and SSAF.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the student from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the student ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
IV. upon the student 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 equal or higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the student 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 successful recipient of this Scholarship may be requested to contribute to progress and final reports to ARC.

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

14. Publications
a. All ARC-funded research projects must comply with the ARC Open Access Policy on the dissemination of research findings, which is on the ARC website.

b. Any Research Outputs arising from ARC-funded research must be made openly accessible within a 12-month period from the publication date. Where this requirement cannot be met, reasons must be discussed with the relevant research supervisor and reported to ARC.

15. Acknowledgements

a. The recipient of this Scholarship must acknowledge the ARC’s support in all publications and any other promotional or advertising materials published in connection with this research in the form and manner advised by ARC and the relevant research supervisor.

16. Confidentiality

The successful recipient agrees to not to disclose confidential information without prior written consent unless required or authorised by law or Parliament to disclose.