This PhD scholarship is related to a new ethnographic Project funded by the Australian Research Council and the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth). We are seeking an outstanding applicant with a strong track record of academic excellence in anthropology, sociology, gender studies or a relevant discipline (i.e. youth studies).

The successful applicant will be required to undertake field research (participant observation, interviews, observation) involving work in the evening and on weekends.

This Scholarship is available to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian Permanent Residents only.

The Project will collect ethnographic and qualitative interview data to comprehensively investigate drinking cultures among nurses and lawyers. The Project aims to generate important new knowledge on the cultural and social practices that shape drinking among nurses and lawyers, and illuminate relations between drinking cultures and alcohol-related problems.

This Scholarship will support the overall aims of the Project. The successful applicant will collaborate with the chief investigators to identify an ethnographic thesis project, conducted with one of the two occupational groups, which is able to contribute directly to the aims of the larger project while also reflecting the interests and aspirations of the student. Applicants with qualitative research experience in a relevant field are strongly encouraged to apply.

Benefits of the scholarship include:

• a La Trobe Research Scholarship for three and a half years, with a value of $28,092.00 per annum, to support your living costs (2020 rate)
• a fee-relief scholarship for up to four years to undertake a PhD at La Trobe University
• opportunities to work with La Trobe’s outstanding researchers, and have access to our suite of professional development programs.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must have:

• an Australian Masters by research degree in a relevant discipline completed within the last ten years assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 75 or above; or
• an Australian Bachelors (Honours) degree, Masters by coursework or ungraded Masters by research degree completed within the last ten years where you achieved a weighted average mark of 70 or above across any coursework subjects; AND any of the following assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 75 or above:
  • a research thesis of approximately 15,000-20,000 words; or
  • the degree includes a written research component comprising at least 3/8 of one year; or
  • you are the lead author of a peer-reviewed publication or other research published within the last ten years