Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Electrochemical Green Ammonia Synthesis

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney who is undertaking research in electrochemical green ammonia synthesis.

b. The scholarship is funded by industry partner Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie Srl (‘Baker Hughes’).

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 at the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must hold an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent in a relevant discipline.

c. Applicants must conduct research in electrochemical green ammonia synthesis.

d. Applicants must be willing to conduct research with Dr Fengwang Li.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. curriculum vitae, and
III. area of study and/or research proposal.

b. Applicants agree to share their application with the industry partner for the purpose of the scholarship selection.

c. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship by the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s) in consultation with the industry partner.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a total stipend allowance of $151,540 (goal amount) for up to 3.5 years, (approximately $43,297 per annum), subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. Academic course fees* are provided for an international scholarship recipient for up to fourteen research periods for a PhD recipient (full-time equivalent), subject to satisfactory academic performance. No possible extension.
*The Faculty of Engineering reserves the right to substitute the academic course fees from this Scholarship with another scholarship which provides equivalent value, as long as the recipient will not be financially disadvantaged.
c. The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is also provided for up to fourteen research periods for a PhD recipient (full-time equivalent), subject to satisfactory academic performance. No possible extension.

d. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot commence after 30 October 2025 unless approved by industry partner.

e. Recipients can defer the Scholarship within three research periods form the original scholarship start date, subject to the approval of their Lead Supervisor as confirmed by an approved deferral of admission provided the deferral is not after 30 October 2025. Otherwise, clause 4b prevails.

f. Recipients cannot transfer the Scholarship to another area of research outside electrochemical green ammonia synthesis. Recipients cannot change their lead supervisor unless agreed by the Faculty of Engineering and industry partner.

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

h. 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. Scholarship recipients commencing in Australia may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. Scholarship recipients commencing in Australia may conduct up to 12 months 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 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, industry partner, 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, industry partner 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.

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 from the research supervisor has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
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,
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 (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 Code of Conduct for Students 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. Intellectual Property

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

13. Privacy and Confidentiality

a. The successful applicant is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by the industry partner or the University of Sydney confidential and ensure it is not disclosed to a third party without the prior written consent of the University of Sydney or industry partner as appropriate, or as required by law.

b. All information or data provided to the successful recipient by the industry partner must remain confidential unless used for the purposes of the research outlined in these terms and conditions.

14. Publications

a. The recipient must provide industry partner and the University of Sydney with a copy of any proposed publications within 30 days in advance of submitting for publication. Comments and/or reasonable amendments to the publication can be made by industry partner and the University of Sydney to protect their Confidential Information and/or Intellectual Property.

15. Thesis Publication

a. If the student thesis contains industry partner Confidential Information, the thesis may be placed under restricted access for no more than 90 days to allow industry partner made appropriate arrangements related to IP and Confidential Information.