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Thank you for applying for a scholarship with CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics . This information package is designed to give you further information on CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics and the nature of the scholarships that are available to students undertaking research.

We are offering scholarships on the following basis:

• One PhD scholarship up to $30,000 pa, to an outstanding student, for up to three years in Information Technology.
  
  
• A number of PhD scholarships up to $25,000 pa, for students in Information Technology, Mathematics, Statistics and related disciplines
  
  
• One PhD scholarship of up to $25,000 pa, to an Information Technology student, for up to three years in conjunction with the Co-operative Research Centre for Enterprise Distributed Systems Technology
  
  
• A number of Supplementary PhD awards ‘top up’ to an approved postgraduate scholarship of up to $12,000 pa for up to three years in Information Technology, Mathematics or Statistics
  
  
• Four Honours scholarships of $5,000 pa tenable for one year in Information Technology
  
  
• Two Honours scholarships of $5,000 pa tenable for one year in Mathematics, Statistics or other related fields

CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics is a Division Australia’s leading research and development organisation. The Division employs over 200 scientists in 10 sites across Australia. Our research and development work supports decision makers across 18 industry sectors with particular emphasis in:

• Information & Communications Technologies
• Services
• Integrated Manufactured Products
• Marine
• Land & Water
• Mineral Processing
• Petroleum

Our purpose is to carry out and deploy research to generate world-class applications for the benefit of Australia. This research is based on expertise in information technology, mathematics and statistics that is integrated with a sound understanding of the business and scientific/technological context.

We have sites in all capital cities, the majority of which are located on or near major university campuses.

Our current areas of research include:

• Bioinformatics
• Image Analysis
• Environmental Statistics
• Remote Sensing & Image Integration
• Intelligent Interactive Technologies
• Interactive Modelling & Visualisation Systems (Virtual Environments)
• Technology for Electronic Documents
• Data Integration Technologies
• Spatial Information Systems
• Networking for the Information Economy
• Software Architectures & Component Technologies
• Business & Financial Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Mathematical Modelling of Industrial Processes
• Production Process Improvement
• Business intelligence
• Enterprise Data mining
• Operations Research

The research project will be jointly supervised by University and CSIRO staff, and it is expected that students will spend at least 25% or their time at CSIRO working on their projects.

For more detailed information on each of these areas visit our comprehensive internet site at:

Some additional information about the Division is included in the enclosed brochure.

To apply for a PhD or Masters scholarship you must:

• have a First Class Honours or Level 2A Honours Degree or equivalent
• be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status
• have or expect to receive a Commonwealth or University postgraduate (Primary) scholarship.

To apply for an Honours scholarship you must:

• possess an excellent academic record in your undergraduate degree
• be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status
• be eligible for enrolment or enrolled at a recognised Australian University.

Selection will be made on the basis of your academic record, evidence of publications and/or experience in research areas aligned with those of CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics and your referees reports. Please note that if the standard of applications is not strong and aligned with our work, scholarships will not necessarily by granted.

1. A letter explaining your area of research and how it aligns with the work of CSIRO Mathematics, Informatics and Statistics , information on where you are currently enrolled and any other information you consider relevant to the your application. Include information on which scholarship you are applying for and why.
2. A curriculum vitae.
3. An academic transcript.
4. The names and contact details of two academic referees.

Please contact Lucinda Bennie, Human Resources Adviser in Sydney on 02 9325 3106 or email Lucinda. Bennie@cmis.csiro.au 

Send your application to:

Closing date is Friday 2 November, 2001.

One of the aims of scholarships is to enable promising graduates to undertake a coherent program of research under the direction of a more experienced researcher. Each student will be allocated a supervisor who will be responsible for:

• The overseeing of, and decisions about, the student’s research program
• Day-to-day academic advice and support to the student
• Matters concerning the student’s welfare
• Co-ordination between the student, the University and CSIRO

It is usual for the University and CSIRO to each appoint a supervisor to oversee a student’s work.

Recipients of CSIRO scholarships are not employees of CSIRO and as such are not entitled to any conditions of employment (such as paid leave, etc). Students are required to work full-time on research towards the degree in which you are enrolled.

PhD and Masters Scholarships are available for up to 3 years and it is expected that you will commence your study by the end of March 2002. Your progress will be reviewed each year.

Honours scholarships are available for one year only in 2002.

Depending on the scholarship awarded, stipends are paid fortnightly from the commencement of studies until the cessation of studies. The stipend may be exempt from income tax under paragraph 23(z) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. Students receiving a scholarship are advised to confirm with the Australian Taxation Office that an exemption exists as early as possible.

The Division may accept responsibility for reasonable costs incurred by you in the course of work, such as for time spent on super computers or the costs of field trips essential to your study. Prior approval is required and the endorsement of the University and supervisor

A thesis allowance of $860 for a PhD is payable. This is a once only grant payable when you produce your thesis and is payable upon the production of receipts.

When students have to change their city or town of residence, consideration can be given at the commencement of the award to reimbursement of expenditure up to the cost of economy airfares at student rate in respect of a student and dependent family between the city of former residence and the city in which study under the studentship will take place. CSIRO may also make a grant towards the cost of removal of the furniture and personal effects of students when taking up an award.

All compulsory fees are met by CSIRO. This includes the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) charge in cases where the student does not receive a postgraduate scholarship under the scheme which provides exemption from liability for the charge. The charge should be paid in the form of a grant to the student when the lump sum HECS payment becomes due each semester.

Although postgraduate students are not employed by CSIRO, they are covered by the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 for worker’s compensation purposes.

Students in receipt of a CSIRO scholarship, other than a supplementary award, should not hold concurrently another scholarship or fellowship, or receive any remuneration except with the prior approval of the Division. In cases where approval is given, the Division may reduce the stipend paid to bring the total benefits to the level of the CSIRO studentship stipend.

A student may be permitted to undertake limited teaching and demonstrating duties or other part time work during the period of a studentship, but the Division must be informed in advance of:

• the extent of such activities; and
• any income to be derived from these activities.

The supervisor may ask for these activities to be reduced if he or she considers that they may interfere unduly with studies. (The usual limit for such activities at tertiary institutions is 6 hours per week and 180 hours per annum.)

The whole of a student's time is expected to be devoted to studies, except for such reasonable vacations as are customary for students of similar status in the institution in which the work is being undertaken. In general, a limit of 4 weeks will apply to vacations taken in any one calendar year. For absences of more than two weeks due to illness a medical certificate is to be provided.

The tenure of a scholarship will normally cease upon the submission of the thesis. Should the student delay thesis submission beyond the termination of a CSIRO scholarship, the student may be required to personally pay any additional fees levied by the tertiary institution. Reasons for the delay in thesis presentation should be given to the supervisor.

The tenure of a scholarship is subject to the student's compliance with the conditions outlined in the offer of the scholarship. The Division may terminate a scholarship at any time if the progress of the student is unsatisfactory. In this regard, the supervisor should be informed by the student or relevant University staff of any problems which arise.

Appropriate acknowledgment to CSIRO is to be made when a student submits for publication any manuscript embodying the results of research undertaken during the tenure of the CSIRO studentship.

Although CSIRO does not formally prevent postgraduate students from publishing the results of their research, students should be made aware of the confidentiality of some of the CSIRO's activities and students will be required to sign an confidentiality agreement with students who are researching in an area of particular sensitivity, although it is expected that such agreements would not be required for most postgraduate research projects. At all times, the confidentiality of CSIRO's activities which are not directly related to the student's research are to be protected.

A report on the progress of a student's work is to be submitted by the student, through the supervisor, to the Chief at the end of each year. This should be a detailed report on the progress of the student's research, preferably in the form of a scientific paper.

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last updated February 03, 2010 12:27 PM
Trevor.Heldt@cmis.csiro.au