Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Biomarkers of Parkinson’s Disease

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research in a project to understand the mechanisms, develop novel biomarkers and disease-modifying or symptomatic treatment modalities for patients suffering from Lewy body related diseases including Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies. The project involves working across a range of diverse datasets including clinical data, ambulatory and sleep electroencephalography (EEG), actigraphy, kinesiological measures, and neuroimaging variables.

b. This Scholarship is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – European Union Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research Grant*.

* This scholarship may have tax implications and student should seek tax advice from registered tax agents.

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 Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be a domestic student.

a. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in one of the following fields:

I. engineering,
II. physics,
III. bioinformatics,
IV. statistics,
V. machine learning,
VI. medical sciences,
VII. psychology,
VIII. neuroscience
IX. physiology,
X. science,
XI. biomedical engineering,
XII. allied health sciences, or
XIII. another related field.

c. Applicants must have good interpersonal skills and knowledge of basic statistics.

d. Applicants must have skills or a willingness to obtain skills in basic programming, and familiarity with R, MATLAB, and other similar software packages.

e. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency working with data.

f. Applicants must be willing to conduct research into a project to understand the mechanisms, develop novel biomarkers and disease-modifying or symptomatic treatment modalities for patients suffering from Lewy body related diseases including Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies. The project involves working across a range of diverse datasets including clinical data, ambulatory and sleep electroencephalography (EEG), actigraphy, kinesiological measures, and neuroimaging variables.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. cover letter detailing interest in subject area,
III. curriculum vitae, and
IV. two references from academic referees.

b. Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview.

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 of $35,000 per annum for up to three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. Extension of the Scholarship is not permitted.

c. The recipient must commence the Scholarship in Research Period 3, 2022 or later.

d. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered. The commencement of the Scholarship can be deferred if the recipient’s candidature is approved for deferral and approval is received from Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Medicine and Health to defer the Scholarship.

e. If the Scholarship duration is not completed by the 31 December 2024, the Scholarship will be automatically terminated.

f. No other amount is payable.

g. 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 from the Associate Dean (Research Education), Faculty of Medicine and Health 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, 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 (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.