Curtin University Higher Degrees by Research Scholarship

Curtin University is advertising a PhD scholarship opportunity linked to an Australian Research Council Discovery Project on art, politics, donor agendas, curation, and Timor-Leste. The project, titled Art, politics and donor agendas in Timor-Leste, investigates the contemporary arts landscape in Timor-Leste and how it is shaped by donor politics and the East Timorese state.

The PhD research will focus on intercultural curation initiatives involving East Timorese and international artists and curators. The successful candidate will undertake research in Timor-Leste, including fieldwork, and may work with the ARC Discovery project team and researchers from Curtin and other Australian universities.

Supervision will be provided by Associate Professor Vannessa Hearman and Professor Kit Messham-Muir in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry (MCASI) at Curtin University.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should have completed a BA (Honours) or Master’s degree in Art, Art History, History, Politics, Anthropology, or a related discipline with an appropriate research component. Preference is given to candidates with working knowledge of relevant languages, familiarity with Timor-Leste or another Southeast Asian/Pacific Island setting, strong communication skills, teamwork ability, and experience in qualitative research methods. Previous research experience and outputs are highly regarded.

Funding: one Curtin University Higher Degrees by Research Scholarship for up to 3.5 years, valued at $38,440 per annum (indexed), for full-time enrolment.

Application window: expressions of interest close on 15 June 2026. This opportunity is open to full-time domestic applicants only, preferably based in Perth.

Interested applicants should submit an Expression of Interest to Associate Professor Vannessa Hearman and contact her by email for enquiries.