ARC Postgraduate Research Scholarship

Project : Root effects on soil organic matter: a double-edged sword (Supervisor: Feike A DIJKSTRA) 

Summary: A paradox exists right below our feet: living plant roots are the main source of forming soil organic matter (SOM), but are also one of the main forces of SOM destruction. SOM destruction is needed to release the vast amount of nutrients stored in SOM for plant uptake, but paradoxically, formation of new SOM by plant roots removes nutrients for plant growth. While increasing SOM is an effective way to safeguard against global warming, nutrients will be required to make this happen. Largely because of methodological difficulties, little progress has been made in solving this paradox around plant root effects on SOM dynamics, which requires investigation of both formation and destruction mechanisms together. By using exciting new carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotope labelling methods, you will be investigating the vital role that live plant roots have on SOM formation and destruction under field and controlled environment conditions.

The project will make use of our long-term Clipping And Fertiliser Experiment (CAFÉ) in a grassland near the Centre for Carbon, Water and Food (CCWF) in Camden. For this project we will impose a drought treatment using portable rainout shelters. The project further includes controlled-environment glasshouse/growth chamber experiments manipulating drought, clipping and fertiliser application in mesocosm studies. We have access to world-class equipment including stable isotope lasers and liquid and gas chromatography mass spectrometers. The research community in Camden is very vibrant where research encompasses plant responses to the environment, C-cycling in ecosystems, water-use efficiency of crops, water movement in catchments, farming and land management, soil health, N fixation, nutrient cycling and plant-soil-microbe interactions. There is the opportunity for students to join the Sydney Institute of Agriculture, which has more than 200 members and a very active research portfolio.

1. Background

a. The Faculty of Science Australian Research Council (ARC) Scholarship is designed to support research candidates in conducting research that directly contributes to the Australian community. This scholarship is designed to fund high quality students undertaking research aligned with ARC funded research projects. These projects may relate to any field of ARC funded research in the Faculty of Science.

b. The scholarship may be co-funded by the Faculty of Science and external ARC research grants, or industry-funded projects such as but not limited to ARC Discovery Project (DP), ARC Fellowships (traditional and industry), ARC Linkage Project (LP), ARC Special Research Initiative (SRI) or occasionally, with approval from the Associate Dean (Research Education), may be fully funded by the Faculty of Science.

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 Masters by Research or PhD within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.

b. An 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 are required to conduct research related to the ARC projects for which they have applied.

d. Applicants must be willing to conduct research under the supervision of researchers that hold the ARC grant that funds the project for which they have applied.

e. Applicant must also hold at least one of the following degrees:
I. an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent, or
II. Masters degree or equivalent.

3. Selection Criteria

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

I. academic merit,
II. area of study and/or research proposal,
III. curriculum vitae with previous research experience in fields relevant to the project, and
IV. personal statement that demonstrates their interest in the ARC projects for which they have applied.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of Associate Dean of Research Education in consultation with 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 (indexed on 1 January each year) per annum, subject to satisfactory academic performance as per the below duration:

I. up to 1.5 years for a successful Master’s by Research recipient (full-time equivalent),
II. up to 3 years for a successful PhD recipient with a possible six-month extension (full-time equivalent).
b. The Scholarship will also provide academic tuition fees to successful international recipient, subject to satisfactory academic performance as per the below duration:

I. up to 6 research periods for a successful Master’s by Research recipient (full-time equivalent),
II. up to 12 research periods for a successful PhD recipient with a possible 2 research period extension (full-time equivalent).

*The Faculty of Science 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 extension of scholarship is subject to funding availability and with the approval of the Associate Dean (Research Education).

d. If the scholarship recipient converts from a Master’s by Research to a PhD or vice-versa, the maximum duration of the Scholarship becomes that of the new candidature.

e. 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.

f. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered. Recipients can defer the Scholarship subject to the approval from their Lead supervisor and the Associate Dean (Research Education), or their nominee.

g. Recipients cannot transfer the Scholarship to another area of research or change their Lead supervisor or change their degree without the prior approval of the Associate Dean (Research Education), or their nominee.

h. No other amount is payable.

i. 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.

c. 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). HDRAC will consult with Scholarship Office to confirm funding availability for the period of suspension. 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,
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. Other Conditions

a. Where the scholarship is co-funded by the Faculty of Science and external research grants, the successful recipient may be required to comply with other conditions related to the research grant such as intellectual property, confidentiality, publication and acknowledgement requirements. Where applicable it will be outlined in the scholarship offer letter and these requirements may be as follows:

I. Intellectual Property - Where indicated, the successful recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney to cover any jointly created Intellectual Property during the course of the project.

II. Confidentiality - Where indicated, the successful applicant is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by the funder organisation 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 the funder organisation as appropriate, or as required by law.

III. Publications and Acknowledgement - Where indicated, the successful scholarship recipient must acknowledge the support of their scholarship in any media, publications or presentations arising from the research. This must include where applicable, acknowledgement of funding source and comply with their guidelines.