Australian Postgraduate Award

Australia: Australian Postgraduate Award, Human Oöcytes (ova) for Stem Cell Research, The University of Sydney

This scholarship is funded by an ARC Linkage-Projects grant and will provide support for 3 years on a full-time basis for a research project leading to a PhD. The objective of the research project is to explore the bioethics of research oöcyte donation for Australian stem cell research. Research will involve policy analysis, interviews with oöcyte donors, clinical and scientific staff and other stakeholders as well as bioethically informed social analysis of the issue. The aim of the project is both to produce scholarly research and to develop a socially sustainable, bioethically sound approach to somatic cell nuclear transfer research in Australia. The successful applicant will be supervised by A/Professor Catherine Waldby, International Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology and Social Policy and A/Professor Ian Kerridge, director of the Centre for Values, Ethics and Law in Medicine (VELIM), Sydney University.

Applicants should have an Honours 1 or 2A degree in social science, gender studies, science studies or bioethics and have some experience with empirical qualitative research. Experience with research in clinical settings and knowledge of stem cell research would be an advantage. Applicants must be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or New Zealand citizens. The scholarship stipend is $26, 140 p.a. in 2008 (tax exempt), and the position will begin in July 2008.

Please note that this scholarship is conditional on the University signing an agreement with the Partner Organisation named in the grant.

For further information, contact Associate Professor Catherine Waldby (Phone: 02-90367206 E-mail: catherine.waldby[ at ]arts.usyd.edu.au).

Applications, including letter of application, curriculum vitae, a sample of the applicant’s writing, copy of an academic transcript, proof of citizenship or permanent residency, and the names and contact details of at least two referees, should be sent to:

Associate Professor Catherine Waldby
Department of Sociology and Social Policy,
A26, The University of Sydney NSW 2006.
Australia

Closing Date: March 1 2008.