Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowships
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The Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowships program supports field-intensive research at Lizard Island Research Station (LIRS) by outstanding PhD students worldwide. Since its inception in 1984, 81 PhD students have been supported. The program is funded by the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation (LIRRF) through its members and friends including some specific donations.
The following fellowships are available for research to begin in 2025.
- Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship is funded by members and friends of the LIRRF.
- Gough Family Doctoral Fellowship is funded by family members of the late John Gough AO, OBE who was a governor of The Ian Potter Foundation and a wonderful supporter of LIRS.
- Charles Warman Foundation Fellowship is named in recognition of the late Charles Warman who was one of the original Trustees of the LIRRF and served on its board for many years. The Charles Warman Foundation remains a major supporter of LIRS. This fellowship is offered for the first time in 2025.
- Big Blue Ocean Foundation Fellowship is funded by the Big Blue Ocean Foundation that seeks to make the planet better for today and tomorrow. This fellowship is offered for the first time in 2025.
Applications are assessed by a panel of Australian Museum scientists that includes members of the LIRRF Science Committee. Applications may be reviewed by external parties.
One application will be considered for all available fellowships - there is no need to submit multiple applications.
The closing date for applications is 27 September 2024.
Fellowship details
Funding is provided for field expenses at LIRS over one, two or three years as required. Salary is not provided. Additional funding may be awarded to fellows in the second or third year of their fellowship to present their PhD research at an international conference.
The maximum value of each 2025 fellowship is AU$15,400 including GST per year for up to three years. However, projects that do not require diving should limit their request to $12,100 including GST. The value of the international conference travel award is up to an additional AU$4,000.
Fellowship funds must be spent on field work at LIRS. Allowable expenses include bench fees, travel, freight, and field/lab consumables.
Fellowship funds may not be used for salary, for living expenses (such as food while in the field), for equipment other than research consumables, or for research or travel by the fellow's PhD supervisor (or any other more senior researcher) except as outlined below. The fellow's university may not deduct a fee for administering the fellowship.
Purpose: The fellow must conduct field-intensive research at LIRS that will form a substantial part of their thesis.
Field work duration: The fellow must spend substantial time in the field at LIRS for which bench fees at the current applicable rate must be paid. The minimum time is an average of 100 person nights at LIRS per year. For example, a 50-night trip by two people meets the 100 person night requirement. Projects that require diving may need a 3-person team. The time requirement for such projects is at least 130 person nights per year.
Timing: Each fellowship year runs from 1 April to 31 March. The first field trip using fellowship funds must not start before April 2025. Any funds unspent at the end of each fellowship year must be returned to LIRS unless carry-over arrangements are approved.
Supervisor involvement in field work: If the fellow's supervisor or any other senior researcher wishes to accompany the fellow on field trips, fellowship funds may not be used to cover any part of that person's travel costs. They may be used to pay bench fees for the supervisor or other senior researcher at the student assistant's rate for up to five nights over the life of the fellow's project, provided that the senior person is assisting the fellow on those days rather than conducting their own research. Bench fees for any additional time spent at LIRS by the senior researcher must be paid at the current rate applicable to researchers and that amount may not be paid from fellowship funds.
Conference travel award: Fellows who have been awarded two or three years of funding may apply in their second or third year for up to $4,000 additional funding to assist them to present their research at an international conference. Conference funding is not offered to one-year fellows.
Progress and reporting: Funding in the second and third years, if awarded, is subject to suitable progress. Reporting, outreach, and acknowledgement conditions will be detailed in a contract with each successful applicant.
Feedback: Feedback will not be provided to unsuccessful applicants.
At the time of applying, applicants must:
- be accepted into a PhD program for a project that requires substantial field-based research at a coral reef location, and
- show that they can support themselves for the duration of the requested fellowship period by, for example, having a stipend from a scholarship or other source.
Applications from people who do not meet these criteria will not be considered further.
- The applicant meets the eligibility criteria.
- The application is of high quality, including spelling, grammar, meets word restrictions, provides information in the required manner, the funding request is consistent with the remaining duration of the PhD, and similar considerations.
- The applicant has an excellent academic record.
- The applicant has high research output in relation to career stage.
- The project makes good use of LIRS facilities, requiring an average of at least 100 person nights (for non-diving projects) or 130 person nights (for diving projects that require a 3-person team) at LIRS per year of funding to conduct field-intensive research, which may include aquarium-based research.
- Projects for which LIRS is the primary research base will be given preference.
- The applicant has relevant research and field work experience.
- The significance and innovative approach of the project.
- The project is feasible within the limitations of capability, time, budget and safety regulations.
- Fellowship funds will be used efficiently (e.g. travel costs are minimised).
- There is an actual or potential source of additional funding if the fellowship does not cover all planned costs, or there is a plan for amending the proposal if such additional funding doesn't become available.
Preliminary applications
Preliminary applications must be submitted online:
Online preliminary application form for 2025 doctoral fellowships
The online form requires upload of your CV and a separate Word-based form:
Preliminary project information form for 2025 doctoral fellowships
Preliminary applications will be assessed against selection criteria 1-7 only.
Invited full applications
Highly ranked preliminary applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Full applications will only be accepted from those invited applicants.
Full applications must be supported by a letter from the applicant's primary supervisor which has been endorsed by the head of the university department where the applicant is enrolled. The letter must support the research proposal including the proposed field work at LIRS.
Full application form for 2025 doctoral fellowships
Full applications may be sent for external review and will be assessed against all selection criteria.
Information for completing applications
To assist in preparing your application, please consult other sections of the LIRS website to learn about available facilities. This will allow you to determine the number of assistants you will need to bring to comply with scuba diving and boating regulations and any experimental needs. Where your own institution's requirements differ from those of LIRS, the more conservative will apply. Note that diving at LIRS in teams of two can only be done with written permission from the project leader's home institution. You are welcome to contact LIRS with any queries. Contact information is provided below.
Indicative costs for field trips to Lizard Island are provided in the table below for planning purposes. Please use these rates when preparing your budget estimates.
2025 | 2026 | 2026 | |
---|---|---|---|
Bench fee (per person per night) | |||
- Applicant | $67.00 | $70.50 | $74.00 |
- Assistant | $63.00 | $66.00 | $70.00 |
Airfare, Cairns/Lizard/Cairns | $1,100.00 | $1,200.00 | $1,300.00 |
Barge freight, per piece | $22.00 | $23.00 | $24.00 |
27 September 2024, 11:59 pm AEST | Closing date for preliminary applications |
18 October 2024 | Invitations made to submit full applications |
15 November 2024, 11:59 pm AEST | Closing date for full applications |
31 January 2025 | Offer made to successful applicants |
1 April 2025 | Funds available |
Contacts
Dr Lyle Vail and Dr Anne Hoggett, Directors
Lizard Island Research Station
PMB 37 CAIRNS QLD 4870
AUSTRALIA
Phone: + 61 (0)7 4060 3977
Past doctoral fellows
Fellows' project titles and summaries are provided in LIRS Reports in the year that the fellowship is awarded. That is the year prior to the one listed in the Honour Roll below.
Year | Name | University | Fellowship |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Kyra Jean Cipolla | University of Texas Austin, USA | Lizard Island |
2024 | Cher Chow | St Andrews University, UK | Ian Potter |
2024 | Melman Neill | University of Texas Austin, USA | Joint Minderoo & LIRRF |
2023 | Casey Bowden | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2023 | Abigail Shaughnessy | University of Queensland | Gough Family |
2023 | Juan Carlos Azofeifa Solano | Curtin University | Raymond E. Purves Foundation |
2023 | Devynn Wulstein | University of Hawaii | Lizard Island |
2022 | Joshua Connelly | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2022 | Eric Fakan | James Cook University | Gough Family |
2022 | Juliano Morais | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2022 | Valerio Tettamanti | University of Queensland | Zoltan Florian |
2021 | No awards due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
2020 | Sterling Tebbett | James Cook University | IanPotter |
2020 | Makeely Blandford | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2019 | Jessica Bellworthy | Bar Ilan University, Israel | Raymond E. Purves Foundation |
2019 | Catheline Froelich | University of Wollongong | Zoltan Florian |
2019 | Tim Gordon | University of Exeter, UK | Ian Potter |
2019 | Kelly Hannan | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2018 | Viviana Brambilla | St Andrews University, UK | Ian Potter |
2018 | Claudio Brandao | University of Aveiro, Portugal | Lizard Island |
2018 | Jose Paula | University of Lisbon, Portugal | Lizard Island |
2018 | Robert Striet | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2018 | Zegni Triki | University of Neuchatel, Switzerland | Lizard Island |
2017 | Alexia Graba-Landry | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2017 | Renato Morais Araujo | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2017 | Damaris Torres-Pulliza | Macquarie University | Ian Potter |
2016 | Zoe Loffler | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2016 | Jamie McWilliam | Curtin University | Lizard Island |
2015 | Steve Doo | University of Sydney | Ian Potter |
2015 | Maria Palacios | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2014 | Lauren Nadler | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2014 | Davina Poulos | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2013 | Fabio Cortesi | University of Basel, Switzerland | Lizard Island |
2013 | Martina Prazeres | University of Queensland | Ian Potter |
2013 | Hanne Thoen | University of Queensland | Lizard island |
2012 | Oona Lonnstedt | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2012 | Dominique Roche | Australian National University | Lizard Island |
2012 | Justin Welsh | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2012 | Sharon Wismer | University of neuchatel, Switzerland | Lizard Island |
2011 | Sandra Binning | Australian National University | Ian Potter |
2011 | Jessica Stella | James Cook University | Yulgilbar |
2010 | Darren Coker | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2010 | Chris Goatley | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2009 | Rebecca Fox | James Cook University | Lizard island |
2009 | Alicia Crawley | University of Queensland | Ian Potter |
2008 | Roberta Bonaldo | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2008 | Jacob Johansenn | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2008 | Vanessa Messmer | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2007 | Adel Heenan | University of Edinburgh, UK | Lizard Island |
2007 | Michael Holcomb | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA | Lizard island |
2007 | Andrew Hoey | James Cook University | Ian Potter |
2007 | Tom Holmes | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2006 | Lynda Curtis | University of Queensland | Ian Potter |
2006 | Nicole Patten | Southern Cross University | Lizard Island |
2005 | Stefan Walker | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2005 | Marian Wong | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2004 | Cathie Page | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2003 | Line Bay | James Cook University | Lizard island |
2003 | Chris Fulton | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2002 | Justin Becker | University of Queensland | Lizard Island |
2001 | Rebecca Fisher | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2001 | Heather Petterson | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
2000 | Ulricke Siebeck | University of Queensland | Lizard Island |
1999 | Jackie Wolstenholme | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1998 | Nick Gust | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1997 | Andrew Baker | University of Miami, USA | Lizard Island |
1997 | Philip Munday | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1996 | Bryce Stewart | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1995 | Ilona Stobutzki | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1994 | Vicki Hall | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1993 | Alexandra Grutter | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1993 | Dirk Zeller | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1992 | Vicki Nelson | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1991 | Alison Green | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1990 | Campbell Davies | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1989 | Mark McCormick | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1988 | Julian Cayley | James Cook University | Lizard island |
1987 | Kendall Clements | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1986 | Maria Milicich | Griffith University | Lizard Island |
1985 | Geoffrey Smith | Griffith University | Lizard Island |
1984 | John Chisholm | James Cook University | Lizard Island |
1984 | Roland Pitcher | Griffith University | Lizard Island |