Transforming communities through policy, practice & governance – research outlines
Explore the research-focus outlines related to artificial intelligence; criminology; sociology; applied economics; education policy; sociology and philosophy; transportation, logistics and supply chain; and strategy, management and organisational behaviour.
All applicants who wish to be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship must choose an outline that aligns with your research experience and interest.
Choose a research outline for your application
This interdisciplinary project interrogates the legal, technical and governance challenges that arise when generative-AI vision models create synthetic images and videos that circulate online. We will design robust computer-vision watermarking and provenance-tracking algorithms, evaluate their reliability and bias, and map findings against copyright, trade-mark and design law to expose doctrinal gaps. Outputs include open-source detection tools, policy briefs and model legislation that will guide regulators and industry.
The project advances digital governance under the Research Priority Area ‘Transforming communities through policy, practice and governance’. The supervisory team combines Dr Wenjie Ye’s expertise in computer vision with Dr Christina Tao’s track record in intellectual-property law.
We invite a highly motivated PhD applicant with either technical AI skills (Python, deep-learning frameworks) or legal research experience, and an appetite to work at the frontier of policy-oriented, human-centred AI innovation.
Supervisors: Dr Wenjie Ye, Dr Christina Tao
Institute: Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities
Course Code: UPAF
Field of Research (FoR) Code: 4602 Artificial intelligenceTo indicate your interest and discuss your suitability, please contact: Dr Wenjie Ye, [email protected]
This PhD sits within the Centre of Excellence: young people & disasters that takes a youth participation, strengths based approach to actively involving young people, 12 - 24 year-olds, in all aspects of disaster management. The Centre brings together academic and practitioner expertise across a range of disciplines and fields of knowledge around young people and disasters. It is anticipated that the PhD candidate will choose a specific focus within these. We encourage you to visit our Centre webpage for an overview. There is no predetermined project but the supervisors, Associate Professor Fiona MacDonald (Sociology) and Professor Tim Corney (Youth Work and Community Sector) look forward to receiving a one page overview of your research proposal.
Supervisors: Associate Professor Fiona MacDonald, Professor Tim Corney
Institute: Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities
Course Code: UPAF
Field of Research (FoR) Code: 4410 SociologyTo indicate your interest and discuss your suitability, please contact Associate Professor Fiona MacDonald, [email protected]
China is experiencing a significant demographic shift marked by an ageing and shrinking working-age population, alongside persistent youth unemployment and rising demand for high-skilled labour. This research explores how digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) can help mitigate these economic challenges. AI technologies offer potential productivity gains and labour market restructuring, but their success depends on complementary investment in human capital and education.
Using CHINAGEM – a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the Chinese economy, disaggregated by age and skill –this project will assess the long-term impacts of AI and digitalisation on China’s economy from 2025 to 2100, under different policy scenarios.
Our research team – Dr Xiujian Peng, Professor Janine Dixon, and Associate Professor Jason Nassios – seeks a highly motivated PhD student with a strong background in economics, an interest in demography and technological change, and potential in research and CGE modelling to conduct this research under our supervision.
Supervisors: Dr Xiujian Peng, Associate Professor Janine Dixon, Dr Jason Nassios
Institute: Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS)
Course Code: UPAF
Field of Research (FoR) Code: 3801 Applied EconomicsTo indicate your interest and discuss your suitability, please contact: Dr Xiujian Peng, [email protected]
This research aims to improve our understanding of the effects of socioeconomic status and school segregation on educational outcomes at the end of schooling and beyond. It will use a system-level focus and advanced quantitative analysis to improve the evidence base of the effects of school socioeconomic segregation on a range of outcomes and propose policies to prevent or mitigate these effects.
The research team includes experienced researchers that routinely conduct strategic research using large-scale data covering every state and territory in Australia and every sector of education and training, as well as international comparative research on education systems around the world.
Applicants should have a strong background and interest in quantitative methods or data analysis, and interest in a systemic understanding of inequality and educational policy.
Supervisors: Dr Beatriz Gallo Cordoba, Dr Andres Molina
Institute: Mitchell Institute
Course Code: UPAF
Field of Research (FoR) Code: 3902 Education policy, sociology and philosophyTo indicate your interest and discuss your suitability, please contact Dr Beatriz Gallo Cordoba, [email protected]
This PhD project explores the socio-economic challenges faced by an ageing population, focusing on social isolation and financial vulnerability in post-retirement life. It aims to examine how re-engagement in social and economic activities can enhance wellbeing and mitigate these issues. The study will also evaluate existing retirement policies and propose strategies for more inclusive ageing.
The research team brings expertise in wellbeing, ageing, and the hospitality and tourism context. We are seeking a highly motivated PhD applicant with a background in social sciences, public policy, gerontology, or HRM, and a strong interest in ageing, wellbeing, and inclusive workforce participation.
Supervisors: Dr Dharshani Thennakoon, Dr Thu-Huong Nguyen
Institute: Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities
Course Code: UPAF
Field of Research (FoR) Code: 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviourTo indicate your interest and discuss your suitability, please contact Dr Dharshani Thennakoon, [email protected]
This interdisciplinary project interrogates the legal, technical and governance challenges that arise when generative-AI vision models create synthetic images and videos that circulate online. We will design robust computer-vision watermarking and provenance-tracking algorithms, evaluate their reliability and bias, and map findings against copyright, trade-mark and design law to expose doctrinal gaps. Outputs include open-source detection tools, policy briefs and model legislation that will guide regulators and industry. The project advances digital governance under the Research Priority Area ‘Transforming communities through policy, practice and governance’.
The supervisory team combines Dr Wenjie Ye’s expertise in computer vision with Dr Christina Tao’s track record in intellectual-property law.
We invite a highly motivated PhD applicant with either technical AI skills (Python, deep-learning frameworks) or legal research experience, and an appetite to work at the frontier of policy-oriented, human-centred AI innovation.
Supervisors: Dr Christina Tao, Dr Wenjie Ye
Institute: Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities
Course Code: UPAF
Field of Research (FoR) Code: 4602 Artificial IntelligenceTo indicate your interest and discuss your suitability, please contact Dr Christina Tao, [email protected]
The objectives of this research are to generate a better understanding of the drivers, effectiveness, challenges, and opportunities of terrorist rehabilitation and reintegration (tertiary prevention) and/or diversionary programs for individuals at risk of radicalising to violence (secondary prevention). The research will enhance the knowledge base and inform the development of tailored resources that support practitioners involved in the management and delivery of tertiary and secondary prevention programs. Stopping individuals from wanting to engage or re-engage in terrorist behaviour has become a key pillar of counter-terrorism efforts in Australia and throughout the world. These prevention efforts seem to offer the best strategic solution to the threat of terrorism, whilst also serving to minimise the broad impact on communities of violent extremism and more traditional forms of counter terrorism.
Supervisors: Professor Ramon Spaaij, Professor Debra Smith, Dr Muhammad Iqbal
Institute: Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities
Course Code: UPAF
Field of Research (FoR) Code: 4402 CriminologyTo indicate your interest and discuss your suitability, please contact Professor Ramon Spaaij, [email protected]
This research aims to investigate the impact of digitalisation in warehousing within the frameworks of Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0, and Supply Chain 4.0, with a focus on sustainable supply chain practices in Australia. The primary objective is to assess how digital technologies enhance operational efficiency, human-centric technological integration, and sustainability.
This study will involve in-depth interviews with logistics and operations managers in food and grocery sector in Victoria to gather rich insights into the practical challenges and benefits of digitalisation. Data analysis is conducted using NVivo software to systematically code and identify key themes and patterns. The findings will likely to contribute to theory by advancing our understanding of digitalisation, highlighting its role in enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
Practically, it will demonstrate how digitalisation can optimise resource use, reduce waste, and support compliance with environmental regulations.
