CSIRO's Industry PhD program supports a three-way partnership aiming to train new researchers in critical areas and facilitate long-term benefits between research organisations and industry.
How it works
Program benefits
Develop new, or strengthen relationships with industry partners and universities to:
- Upskill PhD students to develop capability in CSIRO priority areas and in areas of national need
- Build consortia aligned with CSIRO Missions through iPhD projects
- Grow industry and university involvement with CSIRO exploratory research (Future Science Platforms)
- Provide PhD students with industry-focused training.
Program funding and support
The iPhD program is funded by the Australian Government and the industry partner for up to four years. Funding for each year consists of three components:
- Student Scholarship of $46,000 p.a. (2024 rate) comprising of $34,000 p.a. provided by the Government, and $12,000 p.a. provided by the industry partner.
- Project Expense and Development package of up to $13,000 p.a. provided by the Government for research operating costs and research skill development.
- Student career and professional development training funding provided by the Government and developed/delivered by CSIRO.
Program requirements
iPhD projects must:
- Align with CSIRO and Government priorities
- Address an industry problem while complying with the university’s requirements of a PhD program
- Be with an Australian industry partner or an industry partner with an Australian presence (Government and Not-for-profit are excluded)
- Be limited to domestic students
- Include at least a three-month or 60-day full-time equivalent Industry Engagement component, conducting research under the guidance of the industry partner.
CSIRO Business Units must:
- Provide a suitably experienced researcher to supervise the PhD student for up to four years
- Provide access to facilities and infrastructure, if required for the project.
Become a CSIRO partner
If you are a CSIRO researcher who has a project idea and would like to commence the EOI process, please contact us.
Industry PhD scholarship program
Program intake dates
- Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are accepted from February to May for the commencement of the following year. However, we may accept EOIs outside these dates. Please contact us if you have an idea outside this time frame.
Program resources
- Program Rules PDF (268 KB)
- CSIRO Researcher Marketing Flyer PDF (496 KB)
- Supervisor Guidelines PDF (725 KB)
CSIRO Researchers: These are general guidelines. Please discuss with your Line Manager or iPhD team.
FAQ: CSIRO researcher
Activities should provide students with relevant tools and experience to better contextualise and apply research in an industry setting. Activities should contribute to the development, research and outcomes of the larger PhD project, and be related to the student’s area of research. Potential activities may include:
- understanding the research needs of the industry partner and/or the broader industry
- undertaking practical research translation activities under the guidance of the industry partner
- testing research assumptions and innovations in an industry setting with end-users.
Generally, any results from these activities can be included in the thesis so long as confidentiality and publication clauses listed in the Collaboration Agreement and Student Agreement are complied with.
The Industry Engagement component must be a minimum of 60 full-time days or three calendar months in duration and should ideally take place at the industry partner’s premises. However, activities can be undertaken remotely, within reason. A mixture of online and in-person engagement is also acceptable. The Industry Engagement component should ideally be completed part-time or in short blocks, strategically placed throughout the PhD to encourage ongoing engagement between the industry partner and the student.
At the discretion and with the agreement of the supervisory team, alternate locations may be possible, but the university will need to approve any alternate location(s).
Examples of locations include:
- CSIRO site
- the university
- a combination of sites
- remote
- a mixture of remote and in-person attendance.