Research Scholarship in Motivational Disturbances in Younger Onset Dementia

1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to research students who are undertaking research in understanding the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying motivational disturbances in younger-onset dementia.

b. This Scholarship is co-funded by a grant from the Department of Health Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and an Investigator Grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) to Prof Muireann Irish.

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 Psychology at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be willing to undertake research in the cognitive neuroscience of younger-onset dementia, focusing on the cognitive and neural mechanisms of motivational disturbances.

c. Applicants must have a desire to learn and apply cutting-edge statistical and neuroimaging techniques, including machine learning approaches, to develop improved diagnostics for younger-onset dementia.

d. Applicants must an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent in a psychology and/or neuroscience (or cognate discipline).

e. Applicants must have a background in psychology and/or neuroscience (or cognate discipline), with demonstrated expertise in statistical modelling and/or neuroimaging analyses, and interest in the cognitive neuroscience of dementia.

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 and
III. curriculum vitae,
IV. previous research experience, and
V. a personal statement which demonstrates ability to work with large datasets (clinical and/or neuroimaging), strong interpersonal skills, and ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.

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 (indexed on 1 January each year) for up to 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. The Scholarship will also cover overseas health cover for the recipient (single cover only) for the normal full-time duration of their higher degree studies.

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 excluding any potential extension period.

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.

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 during the tenure of this Scholarship.

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 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. Reports

a. The successful recipient may be requested to contribute to progress and final report to the Commonwealth when requested by the supervisor.

13. Intellectual Property

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

14. Publication

a. The successful recipient must provide The Commonwealth and the University of Sydney with a copy of any proposed publications within 28 days in advance of submitting for publication. Comments and/or reasonable amendments to the publication can be made by The Commonwealth and the University of Sydney to protect their Confidential Information and/or Intellectual Property provided they are given to the publishing Party in writing no later than 14 days before the publication is made. Where The Commonwealth and the University of Sydney requests that the material be amended, the publishing Party will use all reasonable efforts to amend the proposed publication accordingly and, if requested, delay submission of the publication for a period not exceeding 6 months to allow appropriate registration of any registrable Intellectual Property.

15. Privacy and Confidentiality

a. The successful applicant is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by The Commonwealth 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 Commonwealth, as appropriate, or as required by law.

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