Research PhD Scholarships in Nutrition at the University of Queensland in Australia 2020

The University of Queensland in Australia invites highly motivated Ph.D. students to join the team within the Training Center aiming to develop the Australian native food industry. The outcomes of the Training Centre will include the testing of market opportunities, the development of appropriate social and business models, and the identification of future opportunities for Uniquely Australian Foods.  Economic and quality of life benefits through job creation and benefit-sharing arrangements will be secured for Indigenous communities through sustainable business models which will help to Close the Gap, and the development of supply chain partnerships to reduce the risks involved in taking products to market. This Ph.D. project –focused on wattle seeds as nutritional foods – will form part of the Training Centre as a collaboration between The University of Queensland and Karen Sheldon Catering.

Research Area:

This Ph.D. project will explore wattle seeds in terms of composition and properties of seeds related to potential nutritional value. This will include analysis of composition and bioaccessibility/digestion/fermentation of phytonutrient, starch, and dietary fiber components.  Different cultivars of wattle seeds will be compared in terms of nutritional properties using gut models to identify product-specific market opportunities.  Knowledge from this project will be used to develop foods with enhanced nutritional value. Students will work directly with indigenous and non-indigenous enterprises and be involved in the various activities of the center.  The position will interact with the project collaborators in Australia and may visit collaborating scientists in Canada and Germany. This scholarship may last for three years with the possibility of two 6-month extensions in approved circumstances

Eligibility criteria:

1. A bachelor’s degree with at least honors class IIA or equivalent from approved universities, which includes a relevant research component; or
2. A research master’s degree; or
3. A coursework master’s degree and an overall GPA (grade point average) equivalent to 5.65 on the 7-point UQ scale, which includes a relevant research component; or
4. A postgraduate degree of at least one year full-time equivalent with an overall GPA (grade point average) equivalent to 5.0 on the 7-point UQ scale, together with demonstrated research experience equivalent to honors IIA will be considered for Ph.D. entry on a case by case basis; or
5. A bachelor’s degree plus at least two years of documented relevant research experience, including research publications.
6. The completed degree must be in an area that is relevant to the intended Ph.D., including sufficient specialization. 
7. English language requirements: IELTS (6.5), TOEFL (570) or TOEFL Internet-Based (87). 
8. Both domestic and international students are welcome to apply.

Funding:

There will be a living stipend for each student and a scholarship of $27,596 per annum tax-free (2019 rate). The Ph.D. student will gain hands-on experience working with indigenous communities and developing commercial food products and will develop strong skills in food chemistry, sensory science, human digestion, microbiology, and statistical evaluation.  The project seeks to develop a strong and capable future leader for indigenous foods.

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