GRDC Research Scholarship

A Grains Research Scholarship (GRS) supports PhD candidates in delivering innovative research that addresses constraints or builds opportunities for Australian grain growers to help improve their farm business sustainability and profitability.

The three-year scholarship, worth over $35,000 per year, provides high-achieving students with the financial and industry support to complete their PhD in an area aligned with our RD&E Plan 2023-28.

The GRS program is an important component of GRDC’s investment in developing researcher capacity and ability to ensure we have the best researchers with the skills and expertise working on problems or opportunities relevant to the grains industry.

A GRS is primarily a top-up scholarship for students already receiving a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or equivalent.

If you don't have an RTP or equivalent scholarship but excel at what you do and your PhD topic addresses grains industry problems or opportunities, we still encourage you to apply. GRDC will consider areas where research capacity is lacking and needs to be built.

However, you must demonstrate exceptional ability and potential to positively impact the Australian grains industry.

This year, we would love to see applications aligned with the following focus areas of our RD&E Plan 2023-28:

Optimise crop nutrition and improve soils (Harness existing potential)
Step-changes in soil and water productivity (Reach new frontiers)
Lower post farm gate costs (Grow markets and capture value)
Sustainable, responsible production systems (Thrive for future generations)
Support communities and social licence (Thrive for future generations).

Our research partners deliver world-class R&D for Australian grain growers and the broader Australian community. We’re looking for applicants whose contributions continue this legacy of innovation.

Applying

Please read all information before applying, we strongly recommend you have a good understanding of GRDC’s RD&E priorities and consider future trends affecting the Australian grains industry.

Applications must be submitted via the Grains Investment Portal by 5pm AEDT Monday 16 October 2023.

All applications must address the eligibility and evaluation criteria. Please attach documents e.g. referee reports, BEFORE submitting the application.

Applicants need to read the GRDC Research Scholarship Agreement prior to applying. We require applicants to identify in their application, any clauses they may not comply with. This should be done in consultation with an applicant's research institution and any concerns highlighted in the contract compliance statement of the application.

Please also identify in the contract compliance statement, any intellectual property (IP) that has been created from the research if you have started your PhD.

While GRDC will not own any IP created during the scholarship agreement, we do request a non-exclusive right to use IP for internal purposes. Please refer to Clause 6. of the scholarship agreement for details.

Key dates

Friday 1 September 2023 - Applications open
5pm AEDT Monday 9 October 2023 - Deadline for submission of enquiries
5pm AEDT Monday 16 October 2023 - Applications close.

Conditions for Participation

The applicant must be the student undertaking the PhD, a supervisor cannot apply on behalf of a student.

The applicant must be admitted into full-time PhD study. Please include the PhD start date, applicants who have already commenced their PhD may apply.
The applicant must submit at least two referee reports on the GRDC template, including from the proposed principal supervisor.
The applicant must identify their PhD topic's Pillar and Focus Area alignment from GRDC’s RD&E Plan 2023-28.
The applicant is awarded a Research Training Programs (RTP) scholarship or equivalent. International students must be awarded a university tuition fee waiver and living allowance.

Applicants need to show proof of scholarship. If the outcome of their RTP application or equivalent is unknown at the time of application, successful applicants will be asked to confirm they have been awarded an RTP or equivalent prior to contracting.

Applicants who do not currently meet this criterion must demonstrate exceptional ability in their chosen field and how their PhD topic addresses grains industry problems or opportunities.

Evaluation Criteria

Technical: The extent to which the application meets the Technical Requirements.
1. Proposed Research Topic: In 500 words or less, describe the research project that would be undertaken if this application was successful. We strongly urge applicants to consider our priority areas of research and indicate how the PhD research aligns with our RD&E Plan (weighting 35%).
2. Industry Impact: In 300 words or less, demonstrate how your PhD will impact the Australian grains industry and contribute to grower profitability. For example, define the path to market, or how the research outputs will be taken up by industry to progress research or technology (weighting 35%).
3. Student academic record and research ability: Attach a copy of your most recent academic record. In 250 words or less, explain why you should be awarded a GRDC Research Scholarship (weighting 30%).
Risk: Risks inherent in the application. For example, the degree of compliance with the Draft Contract (provide feedback from your research institution on the proposed contract), and any actual or perceived conflict of interest.

Scholarship value

The GRS is primarily a top-up scholarship.

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Stipend	$23,000	$23,750	$24,750
Operating	$11,000	$11,000	$11,000
Travel up to*	$1,850	$1,850	$1,850

*Scholars receive up to $5,550 for travel to attend conferences, workshops or skills development over life of scholarship.

Relevant documents

Enquiries

Please contact K’trie Coster - [email protected]

Questions and Answers

Part 1

Q1. I am interested in applying for this scholarship, but as PhD positions usually aren't announced until December, this means I could not apply for this scholarship until the end of next year if I were to be accepted into the PhD program. Is there some way around this overlap in timings to ensure the scholarship can be applied for?

A1. The deadline for submitting a GRS application is not flexible, GRDC will not accept applications after the closing date. However, you may apply if you can meet the Conditions for Participation, for example you:

1. will be admitted into full-time PhD study in 2024
2. attach two referee reports, including one from your proposed PhD supervisor
3. can identify the Pillar and Focus Area from GRDC's RD&E Plan 2023 - 28 your proposed PhD topic aligns with
4. have applied and can confirm the status of your (PhD application and therefore) RTP or equivalent scholarship prior to contracting should your application be successful.

demonstrate exceptional ability in your chosen field and how your PhD topic addresses grains industry problems or opportunities.

Q2. I am enrolled for a phD at the University of Queensland, but currently employed full time also. Does this preclude me from applying for this scholarship.

A2. GRDC accepts applications from all students who meet the Conditions for Participation and can address the Evaluation Criteria.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure they also comply with the conditions of their university for full-time PhD study and any additional scholarship terms and conditions, and associated policies that apply to them.

For example, a student receiving an RTP Scholarship must comply with their higher education provider's (HEP) RTP Scholarship Policy which sets out the provisions that identify the circumstances in which a HEP will approve a student awarded a RTP Scholarship undertaking work outside the HDR subject.

Q3. Should I still apply for the GRDC Research Scholarship, even though my focus area is not a preferred focus area for this year?

A3. Yes, your application will still be considered if your PhD topic is not from the highlighted focus areas. GRDC will be assessing applications against the evaluation criteria. In addition, GRDC also considers risk. In the context of the GRS we consider the risk of not having researchers with the skills to deliver research outcomes for Australian grain growers. We are highlighting focus areas where we will be increasing our investment from the current level over the next five years and will therefore need to build capacity. However, we will continue to need capacity in other focus areas as we are maintaining investment in these areas.

Q4. I am a PhD candidate at an Australian university under a joint partnership with an overseas university. Can you confirm if I am eligible to apply for this scholarship?

A4. GRDC will enter into a GRS contract with an Australian university. The applicant should confirm with their university that they agree to the terms of the scholarship agreement, which includes:

The Research Organisation has agreed to supervise the Recipient in conducting the Research and to administer the Scholarship Funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Contract.

It is an applicant's responsibility to ensure they comply with any other scholarship policies or terms, including those of a joint partnership under which they are conducting their PhD. An applicant's supervising university must also be comfortable with the terms of the GRDC scholarship agreement or identify non-compliance for the applicant to enter in the non-compliance statement of their application.

Q5. Do I need to include a comment about risk in my application? It is mentioned under the Evaluation criteria on GRDC Research Scholarship webpage but not the Grains Investment Portal.

A5. No, you do not need to respond to this criterion specifically in your application. GRDC considers risk inherent in an application as a whole during the evaluation process. Applicants may wish to address any real or perceived risks associated with their PhD topic, but this is not expected.

Part 2

Q6. Does an international student who has their University tuition and stipend covered by an international trust satisfy the fourth Condition for participation International students must be awarded a university tuition fee waiver and living allowance?

A6. Yes, GRDC will accept applications where an international student has their University tuition and stipend covered by an international trust as long as they are completing their PhD through an Australian university and meet the other eligibility requirements.

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