Summer Research Scholarship 

The ACPIR Summer Research Scholarship (ACPIR SRS) program provides an opportunity for undergraduate, including honours, students to be part of a research team and participate in research. It extends ACPIR’s culture of mentoring to undergraduate students, through a tiered mentoring approach from ACPIR academic project leaders and postgraduates (HDR students and post docs). Through the program, students will have increased exposure to research as a career pathway and an opportunity to learn about the research process, be involved in a project, network with other researchers, postgraduate peers and professionals, and start to develop a research track record. Research skills are transferable, making this experience useful, even for those who may not decide to pursue research as a career option.

The program is run over the summer starting in December and recommencing after the Christmas holiday break. There is flexibility in the days/times that the student can work, negotiated at the start of the program.

Undergraduate students in the program are paid a stipend of $3,000 in instalments over the 8-week program. They will be mentored by an academic supervisor from ACPIR and also a postgraduate peer throughout the ACPIR-SRS program to help develop research skills, personal skills, and career planning, and are encouraged to work with the project team in contributing to a publication/other output as a named author. ACPIR postgraduate mentors will receive a stipend of $2,000.

Applications for the 2022/2023 ACPIR SRS are now closed. Congratulations to students who were successful with these research opportunities and who will contribute over summer.

Scholarship research topics and project leaders for 2022-2023:

1. Dietary intake methodology in the Pacific Islands (ACPIR supervisor Dr Sarah Burkhart)
2. NOVA: Developing a tool to measure consumption of ultra-processed foods in the Pacific Islands (ACPIR supervisor Dr Sarah Burkhart)
3. Fish assemblages at giant clam farms (ACPIR supervisor Prof. Paul Southgate)
4. Variability in shellcraft products (ACPIR supervisor Prof. Paul Southgate)
5. Development of consumer-facing resources to support village engagement in the seaweed value chain in Samoa   (ACPIR supervisor Dr Libby Swanepoel)
6. Women’s Soccer in Oceania:Community Resource Development Project (ACPIR supervisor Dr Lee McGowan)