StudyDesk Scholarships
About the project
The ReDiLEEP PhD project at Monash University asks a precise question: when a marine community is hit by environmental change, why do some ecosystems survive and others collapse? The answer the project tests is response diversity — the idea that different species respond differently to the same disturbance, and that the spread of those responses, not just the average, can determine whether a community persists, adapts or recovers. The successful doctoral researcher will work with marine phytoplankton communities to investigate how variation in species physiology affects persistence and recovery under global environmental change.
The work is based in the Ghedini Lab (Community Ecology & Evolution Lab) at Monash University, led by Dr Giulia Ghedini, and it sits inside the international ReDiLEEP Doctoral Network, funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. That network brings collaboration with research groups in Europe, joint training, workshops and secondments. One distinction matters and is stated plainly in the project guidance: because the Monash laboratory is outside the European Union, this position is not formally an MSCA Doctoral Candidate position, so the standard MSCA salary and mobility allowances should not be assumed — the candidate is supported to compete for a Monash graduate research scholarship instead.
Eligibility
- Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in biology, ecology, marine biology, environmental science or a closely related discipline.
- Meet the academic standard of First Class Honours or equivalent Master’s performance.
- Have laboratory research experience and statistical analysis skills, using R or similar software.
- Show a research interest that matches this specific project: community ecology, environmental change, marine systems and species physiology.
- Be of any nationality — the project is open to international applicants.
- A first-author peer-reviewed publication is not mandatory, but it would substantially strengthen your competitiveness for the Monash scholarship.
What you will research
- Marine phytoplankton communities as the model system for community stability under environmental change.
- How differences in species physiology — including how species acquire and use energy — affect community persistence and recovery.
- Theory-informed laboratory experiments, physiological measurements and eco-evolutionary assays.
- Quantitative analysis of response diversity and its consequences for ecosystem stability.
- Collaboration with the international ReDiLEEP doctoral network and research groups in Europe.
Benefits
- A funded PhD project: tuition support and a living stipend through a Monash graduate research scholarship (awarded competitively).
- Participation in the international ReDiLEEP doctoral network, with training activities, workshops and conferences.
- Secondment opportunities and exposure to interdisciplinary research networks.
- Supervision in the Ghedini Lab and access to Monash University research facilities.
- Research training and professional development in community ecology and environmental change biology.
Documents to prepare
- A motivation letter of up to two pages explaining your research interests, your relevant laboratory or experimental skills, and why this particular project matches your background.
- A CV of up to two pages including your university final grades, a publication list if available, and contact details for two referees.
- Your academic background, previous research experience and any experience using R or similar statistical tools, described in the motivation letter.
- Any publications or research outputs you have, if applicable.
How to apply
- Read the full project advertisement and confirm your background matches the project’s focus on response diversity in marine phytoplankton.
- Prepare your motivation letter (maximum two pages) and your CV (maximum two pages), including final grades, publications and two referees.
- Email Dr Giulia Ghedini at giulia.ghedini@monash.edu with both documents, explaining clearly why this project matches your research interests and how your previous work prepares you for it.
- Apply for a Monash PhD scholarship through the university’s official process — the project email alone does not secure funding.
- Applications closed 30 October 2026 at 12:00 noon Melbourne time. The PhD is expected to start in the first half of 2027.
FAQs
The project is funded through a Monash graduate research scholarship, which covers tuition and a living stipend — but you must compete for that scholarship. The project email is the first step; it does not itself guarantee funding.
No. The project operates inside the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network ReDiLEEP, but because the Monash laboratory is outside the European Union, the position is not formally classified as an MSCA Doctoral Candidate position. Do not assume the standard MSCA salary and mobility allowances apply.
30 October 2026 at 12:00 noon Melbourne time — now closed. The expected PhD start is in the first half of 2027.
There is no project application form. You email Dr Giulia Ghedini directly with a motivation letter (maximum two pages) and a CV (maximum two pages), and you also apply for a Monash PhD scholarship through the university’s official process.
A Master’s or equivalent in biology, ecology, marine biology, environmental science or a related field, at First Class Honours or equivalent standard, with laboratory research experience and statistical skills (R or similar). A first-author publication helps but is not mandatory.
Verified 31 Oct 2026: scholarshipsads.com — deadline 30 October 2026 at 12:00 Melbourne time, project led by Dr Giulia Ghedini, email giulia.ghedini@monash.edu, motivation letter up to 2 pages, CV up to 2 pages, expected PhD commencement first half of 2027; scholarinfo.net, scholarshipunion.com, schresult.com, daadscholarship.com — same 30 October 2026 deadline, First Class Honours or equivalent Master’s performance, must compete for a Monash graduate research scholarship, project title “Physiological Basis and Consequences of Response Diversity”, marine phytoplankton model system, not formally an MSCA Doctoral Candidate position as Monash is outside the EU; monash.edu (official graduate scholarship page) — Monash Graduate Scholarship terms (corrected 31 Oct 2026 — applications closed 30 Oct 2026, 12:00 noon Melbourne time, per the project listings; no extension found. Note: no separate official Monash project page for ReDiLEEP was located (Monash site search returns no ReDiLEEP result), so this verdict rests on the concordant listings).
