• Are you passionate about a career in science?
• Want to access CSIRO's world-class facilities and staff?
• Apply for a CSIRO PhD Scholarship now!

CSIRO Health and Biosecurity is offering a PhD Scholarship to conduct research into the wellbeing of employees at CSIRO worksites. Workplace wellbeing is of increasing importance and has been recognised as requiring strategic initiatives within CSIRO. Wellbeing initiatives are currently being considered for roll-out across CSIRO which will be led by the Health Safety and Environment (HSE) team.

You will be supported to conduct original investigations into employee wellbeing needs and perceptions of planned wellbeing initiatives to be provided by CSIRO to its employees.  Preliminary qualitative investigations of employees' needs and perceptions have recently been undertaken, and these data have been approved by an ethics committee for research use.

One possible avenue of exploration is to investigate Seligman's conceptualisations of wellbeing with a particular focus upon 'meaningful life' (Authentic Happiness, 2002), 'engagement' and 'accomplishment' (Flourish, 2011) across occupations in the CSIRO workplace. The successful candidate could seek to test barriers and facilitators at a personal and institutional level. Information could be used to tailor initiatives towards particular needs.

Location:             Adelaide, South Australia
Scholarship:       Top-up scholarship of $7,000 per annum, plus a generous operating budget of $10,000 per annum (a full scholarship may be available in certain circumstances)
Duration:             Up to 3 years
Reference:          58179

Contact: For more information please contact David Cox by phone on 08 8303 8811 or email David.Cox@csiro.au

Pre-Requisites/Eligibility:

To be eligible to apply you must have (or expect to gain):

• first class honours or equivalent in Psychology with particular interests in organisational or health psychology (or related disciplines);
• admission to an Australian University as a PhD student;
• a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or university equivalent; and
• an university supervisor who is willing and able to supervise you.

Recipients of CSIRO Postgraduate Studentships are generally required to be Australian citizens or have permanent residency status. However, in fields in which there is a national skill shortage, studentships may be awarded to overseas candidates provided they are prepared to seek permanent residency as soon as possible within Australian Government policy guidelines.  International students must be able to show evidence of admission to an Australian university, as well as evidence that either their living costs or international student tuition fees are being covered by another scholarship or from private funds.

International applicants must have the appropriate immigration approvals to allow them to take up the scholarship.

Applications will be assessed on:

1. Quality and relevance of student project: The primary assessment criterion for a CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarship is the quality and relevance of the project being proposed.  The research must be aligned with, the advertised priority research area.
2. Academic calibre of the student: The quality of the student is also critical to the assessment of a scholarship and candidates must hold (or expect to gain) a relevant first class honours (or equivalent) degree from a recognised University.
3. Availability of appropriate university supervision: The relevance of the University supervisor’s research background and their willingness to supervise the student in collaboration with the CSIRO supervisor should also be made clear.

How to apply:

You will be required to:

1. submit a resume/cover letter (as one document) which includes:
   • the reasons why the research project/s you have selected are of interest to you, and how your previous skills/knowledge and experience meets the project requirements;
   • the names and contact details of two academic referees; and
   • an outline of your longer-term career aspirations and detail how this program will help you achieve them.
2. upload your academic results in the ‘Requested Information’ field.

If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 984 220 and someone will be able to assist you.  Outside business hours please email: csiro-careers@csiro.au.

About CSIRO:  

We imagine. We collaborate. We innovate.  At CSIRO, we do the extraordinary every day. We innovate for tomorrow and help improve today – for our customers, all Australians and the world. We do this by using science and technology to solve real issues. Diversity is the compass that navigates our innovation. We provide an inclusive workplace that respects, values and actively pursues the benefits of a diverse workforce.

Applications close on:  Friday 21 December 2018 (10.55pm AEDT)