Australian Government Research Training Program

The Sustainable Seas Research Group (SSRG) at Griffith University is recruiting motivated domestic (Australian) PhD candidates for a 2027 start. Merit scholarship applications are now open, with Round 1 available for domestic applicants and commencement options in February or April 2027.

This opportunity is centered on research at the intersection of conservation, the blue economy, and spatial planning. Projects may span marine spatial planning, cumulative impacts, offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, biodiversity conservation, and decision support for sustainable ocean management. The group’s broader research also focuses on human impacts on biodiversity, spatial conservation planning, land-sea interactions, and trade-offs in conservation and sustainable development.

The group is led by Dr Caitie Kuempel, Principal Investigator at Griffith University. The post is aimed at students interested in environmental science, geography, biology, and related ocean and conservation research areas. Applicants should be domestic (Australian) PhD candidates; no further eligibility details are provided in the post.

Funding is described as a merit scholarship application, with the post referencing the Australian Government Research Training Program. However, no stipend amount or full funding breakdown is stated in the text.

Deadline: 1 September 2026. Interested candidates should review the linked information page, assess fit with the research themes, and prepare the scholarship application. The group also invites interested applicants to get in touch or share the post with potential candidates.