UQ PhD top-up scholarship: Systems-based strategies for implementing sustainability in cities 2025

About this scholarship

Supervisor: Dr Ray Maher, Professor Steven Kenway

Associate supervisor: Associate Professor Pedro Fidelman

At least two PhD projects are offered aiming to identify and scale specific initiatives and leverage points that enhance urban sustainability initiatives that deliverhealthy waterways, decarbonisation, and liveabilitybenefits. By using a systems approach to examine globalbest practices, the project will explore and document successful urban sustainability initiatives. It will provide practical, evidence-based guidance that empowers influential actors within urban governance systems to drive impactful, scalable urban sustainability practices.

Project Aims

• Primary Objective: Identify leverage points within urban systems that enable the scaling and implementation of multi-benefit sustainability initiatives, achieving outcomes such as improved ecosystem health, decarbonisation, and enhanced liveability.
• Secondary Objective: Provide insights into the broader governance system, pinpointing areas where influential stakeholders can make impactful interventions that maximise sustainability outcomes across urban systems.

Key Components

• Case Study Identification and analysis: The project will analyse case studies from cities that demonstrate high-impact urban sustainability initiatives, with a preference for locations where the supervisory team or candidate has established connections. Selected case studies will exemplify practices that are translatable to other urban contexts with similar socio-economic and governance characteristics.
• Stakeholder Engagement for Implementation: Through structured interviews, workshops, and site visits, the candidates will work closely with stakeholders across local and state governments, urban planners, water authorities, developers, and community groups. The aim is to understand their roles and influence, informing how each can contribute to effective implementation and scaling of sustainable urban practices.
• Systems Mapping and Methodology: The PhD candidates will explore and select systems methodologies (e.g., causal loop diagrams, influence maps) that effectively identify leverage points and interdependencies. The selected methods will focus on understanding pathways to scale urban sustainability initiatives by analysing where targeted stakeholder action can yield substantial outcomes.

Research environment

This PhD project is supported by an interdisciplinary research environment at The University of Queensland (UQ), providing access to expertise and resources across urban sustainability, water systems, and biodiversity conservation. The candidate will be co-supervised by Dr Ray Maher from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning and an affiliate of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), and Professor Steven Kenway from the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (the student/s could either enrol through the School of Architecture or Chemical Engineering within the EAIT faculty). Together, these supervisors bring a combined focus on sustainable urban design, water-sensitive cities, and environmental systems, fostering a setting that integrates practical solutions with cutting-edge research.

This environment offers the candidate unique opportunities to engage with UQ’s leading research infrastructure, participate in collaborative research initiatives, and work alongside a vibrant community of researchers dedicated to advancing sustainable outcomes in urban and environmental contexts.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirments
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJuly 16, 2025
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorThe University of Queensland
• City to studyQueensland
• School to studyThe University of Queensland
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

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Benefits

• $8,000 per annum

Requirements

• You're eligible if you meet the entry requirements for a higher degree by research.
• You must be in receipt of or apply for and be awarded a living allowance scholarship of at least the Research Training Program rate to be eligible for this scholarship. You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You don't need to submit a separate scholarship application.

Rules

Read the policy on UQ Research Scholarships.

A domestic part-time student with carer’s responsibilities, a medical condition or a disability, which prevents them from studying full-time may be eligible for scholarship consideration, on a case-by-case basis.

Interview Dates and Process

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of urban sustainability, urban water systems and/or policy and governance would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of urban design, urban planning, conservation sciences, policy and governance and the potential for scholastic success.

Application Deadline

July 16, 2025

How To Apply

Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to The University of Queensland on apply.uq.edu.au to apply

Before submitting an application you should:

• check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• prepare your documentation
• contact Dr Ray Maher ([email protected]) to discuss your suitability for this scholarship

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You don't need to submit a separate scholarship application.

Applications close: Round 1: 17 February 2025; Round 2: 17th July

When you apply, please ensure that under the scholarships and collaborative study section you:

1. Select ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
2. Select 'I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'.
3. Select ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and type in ‘CITIES-MAHER’ in the 'Name of scholarship' field.

For more information, kindly visit UQ scholarship webpage.