Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Q fever

1. Background

a. Two scholarships that have been established to provide financial assistance to Masters by Research or PhD students who are undertaking research on the impact of Coxiella burnetii on the sheep and cattle industries.

b. The first project will focus on the detection of C. burnetii infection and its impacts along the production cycle. The second project will involve the design and implementation of epidemiological observational studies and the development of simulation models, to assess transmission and/or impacts of Coxiella burnetii in ruminant production systems in Australia.

c. The research is to be based at the at the Camden campus of the University of Sydney where laboratory components of the projects will be conducted however the field sampling associated with the project may require travel and animal handling.

d. This Scholarship is funded by Meat & Livestock Australia Donor Company Limited (MDC) and follows the Collaborative head agreement for the funding and conduct of R&D projects between MDC and Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (MLA) and University of Sydney.

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

b. Applicants must be willing to conduct research in the impact of Coxiella burnetii (the causative agent of Q fever) on the sheep and cattle industries.

a. Applicants must be a domestic student.

e. Applicants must also hold at least one of the following degrees:
I. an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent in a related field,
II. Masters degree with a substantial research component.

f. Applicants must have a background in veterinary and/or animal sciences.

g. Applicants must hold a driver’s license valid in New South Wales and be willing to travel.

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,
IV. previous research experience and
V. personal statement which demonstrates an interest in production animal species

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 Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate (indexed on 1 January each year) for up to three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

b. 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.

c. 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.

d. No other amount is payable.

e. 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 recipient is required to follow official advice from the University and Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel in light of travel restrictions due to Covid-19.

c. 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.

d. In addition, further approval may be required as outlined in the University of Sydney’s Covid-19 Response Plan.

e. 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.

f. If the recipient is conducting research outside of Australia, the recipient acknowledges that the University of Sydney is not liable for any costs incurred. This includes but is not limited to: cost of travel and transfers (unless stated under section 4 (Value) of this scholarship to amount listed), delays due to travel restrictions or State and/or Federal quarantine requirements on their return to Australia.

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 (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, Confidentiality, Publications and Acknowledgement

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

b. The Student must provide a report outlining any research conducting using the Project IP (intellectual property) at the request of MLA.

c. The Student must ensure that they do not compromise MLA or MDC rights to Project IP in any research or publication using the Project IP.

d. The Student must ensure that Project IP and any other confidential information is kept confidential unless required to be disclosed by law.

e. The Student must ensure that permission is sought from MLA to publish any confidential information or Project IP at least 30 days prior to the proposed submission date for publication.

f. The Student’s Thesis may contain Confidential Information and Project IP, but there may be a restriction on the publication of the thesis where its reasonably necessary to protect Confidential Information or Project IP.

g. The Student may be required to have any examiner of their Thesis sign a confidential agreement to protect any Confidential Information used in Thesis.

13. Disclosure of Personal Details

a. The Student in accepting this scholarship acknowledges that their name, project title, start and finish dates of the project and any funds consumed arising from this project may be disclosed by MDC or MLA.