As part of their support for the establishment of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology (QUBIC), the Queensland Government’s Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science, and Innovation (DETSI) has provided $900,000 in funding over 3 years for Early Career Researcher opportunities at QUBIC’s UQ node, to develop and apply quantum biotechnologies to environmental and sustainability challenges.
DETSI Quantum Biotechnology PhD scholarship – Call for projects
The QUBIC Research and Translation Portfolio is seeking Expressions of Interest from Chief Investigators based at the University of Queensland for a DETSI-funded PhD scholarship for a suitable project addressing environmental and sustainability challenges. The funding would be available for new domestic or international students. Please supply the following as part of your EOI:
- Project title
- A description of the proposed project
- Student – If you have a potential candidate ready to commence the project, please supply a copy of the student’s CV and transcript, along with a statement of student suitability for the project
Proposals will be assessed and scored by a sub-committee established by the QUBIC Research and Translation Portfolio (RTP), including a representative from DETSI, using the following criteria:
- Quality of project
- Alignment with environment and sustainability objectives, below
- Industry partnership
- Translation potential
Submissions are due by COB Friday 28 August to partnerships.qubic@uq.edu.au
To support the delivery of the project, in addition to the funded stipend, recipients will receive $10,000 for travel and other costs (excluding personnel). Scholarship recipients are required to provide an annual update on their project to the QUBIC Research and Translation Portfolio, as well as a final report at the end of their PhD.
To align with the Queensland Government’s strategic objectives of accelerating the commercialisation of quantum solutions, proposed projects are encouraged to consider how their quantum biotechnology innovations are developed with practical applications in mind. These practical applications should include environmental and sustainability challenges pertinent to DETSI, including, but not limited to:
- Grow Queensland’s protected areas to ensure our state’s rich ecological gifts and natural wonders are maintained and preserved
- Strengthen environmental resilience to the changing climate and extreme weather events
- Protect Queensland’s biodiversity, threatened and native species, heritage, and natural assets
- Collaborate with a landholders, stakeholders, rangers, and community to enhance invasive species and fire management on our managed estate
- Work innovatively with industry and across all levels of government to reduce waste and boost recycling rates
- Support and work with landholders to be the environmental stewards of their properties and leaders in innovative practices
- Protect our Great Barrier Reef through genuine environmental action, partnering across governments, landholders, and industry
- Work with all sectors, including the conservation, resources, agriculture, and property sectors to continue to support sustainable growth while responsibly managing environment and heritage assets and values.
Previously awarded DETSI-QUBIC funding under this program is supporting:
- DETSI Quantum Biotechnology Scholarships
- Round 1 – 2024: 2 full scholarships. AWARDED
- DETSI Quantum Biotechnology Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Round 1 – 2025: 1 × 12-month (1.0 FTE) fellowship. These could be taken as either 1.0 FTE for 12 months or 0.5 FTE over 2 years. AWARDED
- Round 2 – 2026: 2 × 0.5 FTE fellowships, which could be taken as 1.0 FTE for 6 months or 0.5 FTE over 12 months. AWARDED
DETSI Quantum Biotechnology funding recipients Research Fellows will deliver a presentation as part of the QUBIC Seminar series on their project, and provide a final report to the QUBIC Research and Translation Portfolio (RTP) at the end of the fellowship period.
For further information, please contact Errol Hunt or Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop.