Division of Ecology & Evolution, ANU: Are you interested in a PhD at one of the best Ecology & Evolution departments in the country? Do you want to work with top researchers, in a welcoming and supportive multinational department, in a vibrant, liveable city? Then check out the Division of Ecology & Evolution at the Australian National University. We are a research-intensive university and have an international reputation for research excellence. The ANU is ranked among the top universities in Australia and frequently one of the top 50 universities in the world.

Our Science and our Staff: We provide an outstanding research environment with a world-class reputation. Our staff include global leaders in molecular ecology, phylogenetics, evolutionary genetics, evolutionary ecology, bioinformatics, behavioural ecology, ecophysiology, tropical forest ecosystems and macroecology. We research a wide range of topics – from orchid interactions with pollinators and mycorrhizae to cuckoo-host arms races; from the evolution of genomes to that of languages. We work on genomes, plants, insects, fish, frogs, reptiles, birds, mammals, fungi, and bacteria and across all of Australia’s biomes, and beyond. If you are interested in studying for a PhD in the Division of Ecology and Evolution then read more about our research Group Leaders below.

• Aplin Group - Cognitive Ecology
• Ball (Marilyn) Group - Ecophysiology of salinity and freezing tolerance
• Borevitz Group - Plant genomics for climate adaption
• Bromham Group - macroevolution, molecular evolution & Language evolution
• Cardillo Group - Macroevolution, Macroecology and Biogeography
• Farine Group - Social evolutionary ecology
• Head Group - Ecology and evolution of sex
• Huttley Group - Bioinformatics, molecular evolution of genomes
• Jennions Group - Behavioural and reproductive ecology
• Keogh Group - Evolutionary biology & ecology of reptiles and amphibians
• Lanfear Group - Mutation, molecular evolution and phylogenetics
• Langmore Group - Avian evolutionary and behavioural ecology
• Linde Group - Population genetics, evolution, phylogeography and molecular phylogenetics of fungi
• Magrath Group - Behavioural ecology; acoustic communication; ornithology
• Mikheyev Group - Evolutionary genomics
• Moritz Group - Evolutionary biogeography & conservation
• Nicotra Group - Plant physiological ecology, plant evolutionary biology, reproductive ecology
• Noble Group - Animal ecophysiology and evolutionary ecology
• Peakall Group - Pollination, evolution and conservation
• Sequeira Group - Statistical Modelling & Marine Megafauna Movement

What we provide: Our Division includes award-winning supervisors and teachers, and we pride ourselves on providing high-quality supervision to our students. Our PhD students are well supported through internal funding, including for conference travel, and our labs are in a well-equipped, modern research facility. Annual graduate student events, conference travel awards, graduate training workshops and a seminar series enrich the student experience. PhD Stipend Scholarships pay $36,652 per year tax free, and students have opportunities to earn extra money through teaching if they wish to do this.

Our Values: We have a thriving community of PhD students, and our graduates go on to productive careers in many areas of science and beyond. We value diversity and inclusivity in science and have active policies to prevent discrimination. Our faculty and their research teams are comprised of people from all over the world.

Our Location: The ANU is a research-intensive university situated in Canberra, Australia’s capital city. Canberra is a well-resourced regional city (population ~460,000), set amongst beautiful mountains and eucalypt forests. Bike riding and hiking are everyday activities, and we are a two-hour drive away from both winter snowfields and beautiful coastal beaches. Canberra’s birdlife is stunning and its inner-city kangaroo population expansive. Canberra is a vibrant, multicultural city and home to many National attractions and centres. There are frequent cultural evenings, festivals, art exhibits, music events, and world-class restaurant and coffee scenes.

Am I eligible to apply for a PhD?: Entry into the PhD program is open to applicants with a Bachelor degree who have also completed (or are in the process of nearly completing) an Honours or Masters research (as opposed to coursework) degree. The degree must comprise at least a half year, full time research component and a thesis (8,000-10,000+ words). Applicants without an Honours or Masters by research degree, but who have significant years of research experience and publications, may be deemed eligible if their achievements can be justified as completing a body of independent research equivalent to that of an Honours/Masters research graduate. Ensure you tick the scholarship box in your PhD application to automatically be considered for a stipend scholarship.

Am I competitive for a PhD Scholarship? Stipend scholarships are highly competitive, especially for international students where there are few scholarships available. Ranking is based on several factors including coursework and thesis marks, research potential, research experience, and referee reports. For domestic students, only those awarded a 1^st class honours thesis (or with H1 equivalent research experience) will be considered for an ANU PhD stipend scholarship. For international students, only those with excellent marks, a completed 1^st class honours or research Masters degree, and demonstrated excellent research potential will be considered for an ANU PhD stipend scholarship and shortlisted applicants will be interviewed.

How do I apply for a PhD?

The first step is to make contact with a potential Ecology & Evolution PhD supervisor(s) to begin discussing options. Send them a CV, your transcripts and tell them about your interests and aspirations. Only applicants that are supported by a potential supervisor will be considered.

General information is provided on how to apply and details about the Doctor of Philosophy program (use this link to apply online). Your application will need to include the following, so make sure you plan ahead to meet the strict deadlines.

1. Academic transcripts and graduation/completion certificates from your Bachelor and Honours/MSc degree (in its original language and, if needed, a translation), with grading scale information.
2. A current CV, including scholarships or prizes, publications and conference presentations, and relevant work experience, etc.
3. A research proposal (this is quite short and your potential supervisor can help you with it).
4. Proficiency in English: For students from many countries, a current IELTS or TOEFL certificate is required. Note: You can state this is pending. If awarded a scholarship you must then pass the test.
5. Three referee reports. You need to enter your referee details on the application form. The system then automatically sends them a link to complete an online form. You need to ensure your referees are willing and able to write recommendation letters and do so promptly. Plan ahead and alert them.

Application due dates:

• 15 April (small midyear round for both international and domestic student applications)
• 31 August (main round for international students)
• 31 October (main round for domestic students).

If you have any questions or problems with your application send an email here. If you have general questions or need advice about the E&E PhD program, contact the Ecology & Evolution HDR Convenor, Professor Scott Keogh.

If you have the possibility of PhD funding from your home country or elsewhere let a potential supervisor know.