The PhD will be housed within Griffith University’s School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, which sits within the University’s large Arts, Education and Law Group.

We expect the successful candidate will have expertise in the fields of either media, migration studies or cultural studies, or will be an interdisciplinary scholar working across one or more of these fields.

The Voice and Belonging Project is led by Professor Susan Forde at Griffith University, with Associate Professor Heather Anderson (Griffith), Professor Halim Rane (Griffith) and Dr Poppy de Souza (UNSW) working as Chief Investigators on the project. The candidate will be co-supervised by 3 of the Chief Investigators.

The successful candidate will develop skills in research design and project implementation, and will receive opportunities to work as part of a high-performing research team delivering cutting edge research about media and migrant communities. The successful candidate will have access to research training opportunities provided through the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, and the broader Griffith University Researcher Education and Development suite of training courses.

The successful candidate will be based at Brisbane South (Nathan), about 15 minutes from the city centre and will take part in a dynamic and thriving research culture within the School, and the associated research centre, the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research.

Griffith University’s sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

We are offering a 3-year scholarship to a PhD candidate to undertake research as part of the Australian Research Council-funded project, Voice and Belonging: Pathways to inclusion for new migrant communities through media engagement (DP240103048). The primary focus of this role is to undertake a 3-year doctorate, comprising a stand-alone project that feeds into the broader ‘Voice and Belonging’ research agenda.  The scholarship includes a stipend  (detailed  below), project support costs of $4500 and further travel costs to attend conferences and fieldwork as part of the Discovery Project.

The Voice and Belonging project investigates the role of Australia's ethnic media in the humanitarian and refugee settlement experience, conceptualising media engagement as a key lens through which to foster a sense of belonging. The project will provide the first-ever national study of ethnic media, mapping the 'migrant mediasphere' with a focus on new humanitarian and refugee communities. Expected outcomes include conceptual advances about media engagement and public connection for new and emerging migrant communities, and media's place in the assemblage of humanitarian settlement services.

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful within this role, you will be able to work with a team of supervisors to develop a strong research proposal complementary to the broader work within the Voice and Belonging project. You will also have the ability to work with supervisors to design research methods and carry out relevant fieldwork. You will be able to work as part of a team of enthusiastic and research-active colleagues. You will have evidence of a passion for media, with a strong desire to undertake research in community, alternative, marginalised and minority communities.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to second class (division A) honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Procedure. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

Please note:

• Applicants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply
• This is a full-time scholarship only

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
2. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE OR
3. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19

About the scholarship
The 2025 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $34,752 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across locations in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EoI process
Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to s.forde@griffith.edu.au containing:

• Two-page statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• One-page Research Proposal
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section, including a  copy of your academic transcript
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.
• Names of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Monday 31 March 2025 at 5pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

For project related enquiries please contact:
Professor Susan Forde
Email: s.forde@griffith.edu.au

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: hdr-scholarship@griffith.edu.au