Postgraduate Research Scholarship Early Broiler Nutrition

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research in broiler nutrition, with a particular focus on amino acid requirements in broiler chickens.

b. This Scholarship is funded by the University of Sydney through an Australian Research Council (ARC) supported project for the research Early bird gets the feed: better nutrition and management in poultry. The project is in collaboration with Industry partners Complete Feed Solutions Pty Ltd and Aviagen Australia Pty Limited.

c. The project is designed to facilitate collaboration between industry and academia. Priority will be given to candidates currently employed in an industry setting, as this strengthens the integration of applied knowledge and research innovation.

2. Eligibility

a. Applicants must have an unconditional or a conditional offer of admission to study full-time in a PhD within the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must conduct research in broiler nutrition, with a particular focus on amino acid requirements in broiler chicken.

c. Applicants must have a background in animal science.

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 including details of industry working experience,
IV. a personal statement which addresses their willingness to undertake research in poultry production and industry working experience, and
previous research experience through a list of publications.

b. Preference will be given to applicants who have worked or are currently working in an animal science industry setting.

c. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s) from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science.

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $30,000 per annum for up to 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. The recipient may not apply for an extension.

c. 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.

d. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval from the relevant research supervisor.

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 from the relevant research supervisor 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. Intellectual Property

a. The recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney to assign any Intellectual Property (IP) created under the project other than scholarly works or a thesis to The University of Sydney and the Industry partners.

13. Reports

a. The recipient of this Scholarship may be requested to contribute to the progress and final reports to ARC and/or Industry Partners.

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. The scholarship recipient may publish material relating to the conduct and conclusions of the Research, including the Project IPRs, provided that, prior to publishing any such material the recipient, through their research supervisor, will provide a copy of all proposed publication material, together with details of how, when and to whom it is proposed to be published, for the approval of the Industry Partner Organisations at least 30 days prior to the proposed submission date for publication.

c. The Industry Partners may reasonably request that the material not be published or submitted for publication until is amended to remove any of Confidential Information, and the scholarship recipient should use all reasonable efforts to amend the proposed publication.

15. Acknowledgements

a. The recipient agrees to acknowledge the ARC’s support in all material, publications and promotional and advertising materials published in connection with this scholarship. The ARC will make available, on the ARC website, the form of acknowledgement that recipient is to use.

b. ARC’s contribution and support of the project should be acknowledged in a prominent place and an appropriate form acceptable to the ARC when, at any time during or after completion of the project.

16. Privacy

a. The recipient agrees to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

b. The recipient agrees not to send any Personal Information related to the research project outside of Australia without the Commonwealth’s (represented by ARC) prior written approval.

17. Confidentiality

a. The recipient agrees to not to disclose confidential information related to this research project without prior written consent unless required or authorised by law or Parliament to disclose.

18. Student Thesis

a. The recipient may include material relating to the conduct and conclusion of the research in a thesis authored by the recipient, which will be made publicly available in accordance with the University’s statutes and regulations.

b. In the event a recipient’s thesis contains other party’s confidential information, recipient may submit such thesis on the basis that any such confidential information is included in an appendix to the thesis which is restricted from public access for a reasonable period of time agreed by the other party but not exceeding 5 years, and that such course of action will be in full satisfaction of any obligations of confidentiality under this agreement in respect of such confidential information.

19. Other requirements

a. The recipient agrees not to use any other party’s name or the name of any other party’s employee, including any specified personnel, or make any announcement in connection with the research, in any public manner whatsoever including in any capital raising, business, advertising, social media or other promotional material without the written permission of the University and any named other party, which may be granted subject to conditions.