Company Description

As one of the most influential universities in Australia and the Asia–Pacific region, you will join Griffith University that spans five physical campuses in South East Queensland, while our network of more than 200,000 graduates extends worldwide. The successful candidate will join an ARC-funded research team collaborating across Griffith University and the University of Sydney, and will have the opportunity to be mentored by leading experts on market-based activism. This PhD scholarship is located at Griffith University in Brisbane South (Nathan), where you will be supervised by Associate Professor Erin O’Brien and Dr Justine Coneybeer. The candidate will join the School of Government and International Relations, and benefit from a vibrant, collegiate, and high performing research community.

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

Job Description

We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to join an Australian Research Council funded project team and undertake a research project examining civil society activism focused on market-based actors and processes. The specific focus of the research could be on any of the following areas:

• ESG and anti-ESG activism
• Political dynamics of ethical investment
• Shareholder activism on social and environmental issues
• Boycott and divestment campaigns
• Political discourse on ‘woke capitalism’
• Political consumerism or political investorism
• Corporate lobbying and interest groups

The PhD project may focus on one of the issue areas examined for the ARC project (climate change, First Nation people’s land and cultural rights, modern slavery, and diversity, equity and inclusion), but is not limited to these topics.

Qualifications

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 have strong qualitative research skills, evidence of a passion for social and environmental issues, with a strong desire to undertake research examining market-based actors (e.g. corporations, investors) and activism (e.g. shareholder activism, divestment campaigns).

• 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 first class 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 must contact Associate Professor Erin O’Brien via email ([email protected]) with an expression of interest (see details below) prior to submitting a formal application.

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

Additional Information

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 campuses 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 [email protected] containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Brief research proposal (no more than 2 pages)
• 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: Friday 13 June 2025 5pm AEST

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

For project related enquiries please contact:
Associate Professor Erin O’Brien
Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: [email protected]