PhD Scholarship to pursue research on China in the Pacific

Reply-To: Richard Eves <richard.eves@ANU.EDU.AU

The State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program (SSGM) is seeking
up to two highly motivated students to pursue doctoral research concerning
China in the Pacific from early 2014. The scholarships provides an
opportunity for outstanding scholars with a background in political
science, anthropology, human geography, law, gender studies or development
studies, whose research interests complement the existing expertise within
the Program. The appointees will be expected to work on Chinese
engagement in Melanesia in relation to one of the following areas: the
Agricultural sector, Fisheries sector, Extractive Industries and/or Social
Inclusion.

Chinese nationals and Pacific Islanders are particularly encouraged to apply.

The successful applicant(s) will be enrolled as a full-time PhD candidate
within the SSGM Program. The scholarship will be available for three years
beginning in 2014 and will carry a tax-exempt annual stipend of
approximately AUD $24,653 (2013 rate). The successful applicant will also
be eligible for up to $10,000 for fieldwork, $3000 for international
conference attendance and $1000 for professional development.

Top up scholarships to the value of AUD $10,000 are also potentially
available for Australian or New Zealand students who successfully secure
an Australian Postgraduate Award.

For overseas students, the scholarship also includes full tuition fees,
basic health insurance, establishment allowance and contribution to visa
expenses. These benefits are for the scholar only as SSGM is not able to
provide assistance for dependents.

State, Society and Governance in Melanesia
The State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program is a vibrant unit
in the School of International, Political and Strategic Studies in the ANU
College of Asia and the Pacific and is a leading centre for applied
research on contemporary Melanesia, Timor Leste and the wider Pacific.
SSGM offers the most significant concentration of scholars anywhere in the
world conducting policy-relevant research and advanced analysis of social
change, governance, development, politics and state-society relations in
our region. By 2014 our program will comprise 25 academic staff and a
similar number of doctoral students.

From its inception SSGM was envisaged as a dedicated group of scholars
with deep knowledge of countries in the region and a commitment to richly
textured long-term empirical research. In addition to its scholarly goals,
SSGM maintains a strong commitment to active engagement with policy
communities in the region and Australia. Our research and analysis is
cross disciplinary and is situated squarely at the intersection between
disciplinary and area studies. We see this as a major strength that adds
considerable depth to our work. SSGM's research program is oriented around
four thematic clusters:
Politics, Elections, Leadership & Governance Conflict, Justice & Peace
Building, Livelihoods, Rural Development & Extractive Industries Gender,
Health and Social Development

More information about the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia
Program can be found at: http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/ssgm/

Applications welcome
Applicants with a good honours degree and/or equivalent masters degree,
with a significant research component (or expected to complete by end of
2013) in social science or related disciplines, such as anthropology
background in political science, anthropology, human geography, law,
gender studies or development studies are encouraged to apply. The
applicant must be willing and able carry out extensive fieldwork in the
Pacific region. There are no citizenship requirements.

How to apply
In the first instance, you should submit an expression of interest,
including a curriculum vitae or a list of your academic qualifications and
work experience, two references from people qualified to judge your
academic work, and a 1-2 page proposal.

The proposal should outline the type of research you would seek to pursue
and why you believe you are suited to undertake research of this kind. You
should also detail your past research experience, your knowledge of the
broader socio-cultural conditions in Melanesia and why you believe that
your proposed research is critical. This can be sent by
email(SSGM@anu.edu.au) or fax:
+61 2 6125 9604. Closing date forexpressions of interest is 11 October,2013.

Award of the scholarship is dependent on satisfaction of ANU admission
requirements.
For more details contact:
Dr. Jack Corbett
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
State,Society and Governance in Melanesia Program
Email:jack.corbett@anu.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 6125 9923