Transitioning towards sustainable food systems
The PestREADI project supports farmers in their transition towards more sustainable pest and disease management systems that are less reliant on pesticides.
This scholarship supports outstanding social science researchers who are passionate about working with farming communities to reduce pesticide use and co-shape more sustainable food and agricultural systems.
Key details
- 20257450
- PhD
- Applications close on 30 April 2025
- Domestic
- Arts and social sciences
- $38,500 per annum (2025 rate)
About the scholarship
The successful candidate will join as established group of multidisciplinary researchers working on the PestREADI project that is helping farmers reduce their use of pesticides in the context of a chemically limited future.
The CSIRO-led project is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers with co-investment from CSIRO's 'Catalysing Australia's Biosecurity' initiative, Macquarie University, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, GrowCom, Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation and contributions from the Australian Government.
The broader project is working with horticultural farmers in the Northern Rivers area of NSW (Bundjalung Country) to develop tools and knowledge that will assist in their transition towards more sustainable forms of pest management.
The PhD will be based in the School of Communication, Society and Culture at MQ, and work with a small team of sociologists and geographers. The role of the PhD will be examine the social and cultural factors that enable and constrain farmers in transitioning away from a heavy reliance on pesticides towards more sustainable alternatives like integrated pest management. The focus will be on what sort of interventions work in helping farmers reduce their pesticide use, and learning from farmers who are transitioning successfully.
The PhD student will be required to undertake fieldwork in the Northern Rivers area and regularly engage in MQ and broader team meeetings. They will have access to outstanding supervision and support, including access to other PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and more senior staff involved in the project at MQ and CSIRO. MQ will provide training opportunities in social capital and social network data collection and analysis, both of which are essential components of the project.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in generating new knowledge and contributing to a project oriented at more sustainable food systems, while building skills and networks for a career focused upon under-researched social dimensions of food and agricultural transitions.
Availability
The scholarship is available to eligible candidates to undertake a direct entry three-year PhD program.
Awards will only be available to applicants who, at the time of the application qualify as domestic students (ie are Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents).
Candidates should have a background in the social sciences, such as sociology or human geography, or a closely related discipline and be willing to learn and work with both qualitative and quantitative data.
Components
The scholarship comprises:
- a tuition fee offset/scholarship
- a living allowance stipend.
The value of each stipend scholarship is $38,500 per annum (full time, indexed) for three years.