PhD: Boeing & UniSQ - Sustainable Employment in Contemporary Manufacturing at the University of Southern Queensland 2025-26

PhD: Boeing & UniSQ – Sustainable Employment in Contemporary Manufacturing at the University of Southern Queensland

This PhD at the University of Southern Queensland focuses on psycho-social factors influencing the attraction and retention of essential staff in advanced manufacturing in regional Australia. The research, supported by ACCELL, the Institute for Resilient Regions, and Boeing Defence Australia, explores workforce development, career pathways, and community and workplace factors.

Eligibility Criteria:

1. The applicant must have completed an Honours Degree with First Class or 2A Honours, or equivalent level, or a Master's degree with a significant research component in a social science disciplinary field (e.g., psychology, sociology).
2. The applicant must have applied, or currently be enrolled at UniSQ, and must not be receiving equivalent support providing a benefit greater than 75% of the student’s stipend rate.
3. The applicant must be eligible to commence or continue full-time study for the PhD in 2024 and be able to conduct research on-site in Toowoomba and travel (driver licence required) to metropolitan and rural centres for project activities (e.g., data collection).
4. The applicant must be an Australian citizen or an international student eligible to complete a research degree in Australia and obtain an Australian security clearance (through Boeing) at a level appropriate to the scope of work.

Selection Criteria: Applicants will be assessed on the applicant’s academic merit, previous research outputs and experience, and the quality of their research proposal.

Application Process: 

1. To apply, use the UniSQ Scholarships Online Application Management System and ensure you have digital copies of the following: Curriculum vitae, including research presentations/publications, Preliminary Research Thesis Topic Proposal, Education qualifications (testamur and academic transcripts for all undergraduate and postgraduate awards).
2. Applicants may also review sample PhD theses from ACCELL projects on attracting and retaining essential workers in regional industries.

Award: Stipend of AUD 33,000 plus top-up of AUD 14,151

Deadline: Wednesday 31 July 2024 at 11:59pm (AEST).

Note: Maximum period of tenure of an award is 3 years. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree will be deducted from the period of tenure.