1. Background
a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a research student where the focus of their research is on using DNA nanotechnology to develop new reconfigurable nanostructures with tunable optical and magnetic properties.
b. This Scholarship is funded by the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the Australia-US International Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative.
c. The Terms and Conditions of this scholarship follow the Commonwealth Standard Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Industry, Science and Resources and the University of Sydney; and Research Collaboration Agreement between The University of Sydney, The University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology (the Parties).
2. Eligibility
a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a Master’s by research or PhD within the School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.
b. Applicant must be willing to conduct research into DNA nanotechnology and nanofabrication.
c. Applicant must also hold at least one of the following:
I. an Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Upper) or equivalent in a relevant discipline, or
II. Master’s degree with a substantial research component.
d. Applicant must have a background in chemistry, physics, biochemistry or biomedical engineering.
e. The Applicant must have applied for the Research Training Program.
f. The Scholarship recipient working on this project must be willing to undertake any security checks, clearances or accreditation if required by the Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence.
3. Selection Criteria
a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:
I. academic merit,
II. area of study and/or research proposal,
III. curriculum vitae,
IV. feedback from two academic referees,
V. previous research experience and list of publications if applicable
VI. personal statement which demonstrates their interest in DNA, nanotechnology and/or nanofabrication
b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).
4. Value
a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate (indexed on 1 January each year), subject to satisfactory academic performance:
I. up to 1.75 years for a successful Master’s by research recipient
II. up to 3 years for a successful PhD recipient
b. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum duration of the Scholarship excluding any potential extension period.
c. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval.
d. No other amount is payable.
e. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.
5. Eligibility for Progression
a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.
6. Leave Arrangements
a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor’s agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.
b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.
7. Research Overseas
a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.
b. The recipient is required to follow official advice from the University and Department of Foreign Affairs and Travel in light of travel restrictions due to Covid-19.
c. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student’s supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC) and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree.
d. In addition, further approval may be required as outlined in the University of Sydney’s Covid-19 Response Plan.
e. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student’s candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.
f. If the recipient is conducting research outside of Australia, the recipient acknowledges that the University of Sydney is not liable for any costs incurred. This includes but is not limited to: cost of travel and transfers (unless stated under section 4 (Value) of this scholarship to amount listed), delays due to travel restrictions or State and/or Federal quarantine requirements on their return to Australia.
8. Suspension
a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.
b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student’s supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), HDRAC will consult with Scholarship Office to confirm funding availability for the period of suspension. Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.
9. Changes in Enrolment
a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC, and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.
10. Termination
a. The Scholarship will be terminated:
I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).
b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:
I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,
II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or
III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.
c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.
d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.
11. Misconduct
a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Code of Conduct for Students and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.
b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.
12. Intellectual Property
a. The successful recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.
13. Confidentiality
a. The Scholarship recipient is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by a project participant or the University of Sydney confidential and ensure it is not disclosed to a third party without the prior written consent of the University of Sydney or project participant as appropriate or authorised by law to disclose.
14. Student Thesis and Publications
a. Where the Scholarship recipient’s thesis may contain Confidential Information and/or Intellectual Property will be prejudiced if it is published, The Parties may reasonably request that the thesis be submitted to examiners in confidence and that the thesis be held in restricted confidential storage in accordance with the enrolling institution’s applicable regulations, by-laws and procedures. Each Party will endeavour to keep any period of restriction for a PhD thesis to a minimum.
b. The Scholarship recipient will provide a copy of the proposed publication to other Parties at least 28 days in advance of submitting for publication. The other Parties may provide comments and/or reasonable amendments to the publication to protect their Confidential Information and/or Intellectual Property, including requesting removal or delay to the inclusion of information which may pre-empt the other Party’s publication of its Project IP which is not jointly owned with the publishing Party, provided the comments and/or amendments are given to the publishing Party in writing no later than 14 days before the publication is proposed to be submitted. If no such comments or amendments are provided within the 14 day period, the scholarship recipient can submit the proposed publication, subject to any applicable requirements under the Funding Agreement. Where a Party requests that the material be amended, the scholarship recipient will use all reasonable efforts to amend the proposed publication accordingly and, if requested, delay submission of the publication for a period not exceeding 6 months to allow appropriate registration of any registrable Intellectual Property.
15. Acknowledgements
a. The scholarship recipient agrees not to make any public announcement, including by social media, in connection with the awarding of the Grant without the Commonwealth’s prior written approval.
b. The scholarship recipient agrees to acknowledge the Commonwealth’s support in all Material, publications and promotional and advertising materials published in connection with this Agreement. The Commonwealth may notify the University of Sydney of the form of acknowledgement that the scholarship recipient is to use.