Indigenous Doctoral (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) scholarships are being offered as part of the Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Living Archives of People and Place Research Program (IDSLA) in the Information Empowered Lab, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University.

IDSLA Research themes:

1. Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Data Governance: Frameworks, models, and protocols in the context of Voice, Treaty and Truth Telling
2. Indigenous Living Archives on Country – Case studies
3. Repatriation: Frameworks, models and protocols
4. Co-design of knowledge management and information systems to support Living Archives and Repatriation

The broader research program

As a successful applicant, you will join the IDSLA research team, but also undertake your own distinct PhD or MPhil initiative. The benefits of this are that you will be:

• integrated into a successful research agenda that has been funded by the Whyte Memorial Fund
• supervised by research leaders, including Indigenous supervisors
• undertake a PhD or MPhil within a pre-existing structure.
• publish your research outcomes, which may include co-authored publications, and engage in future grant applications.

Support for Indigenous PhD and MPhil students

When you undertake a PhD or MPhil in the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash, you’ll automatically be put forward for any applicable scholarships and have access to other additional support resources:

• a tax-free stipend of $52,352 per annum for duration of scholarship
• the opportunity to apply for the Monash Indigenous Research Award funded by MGRO. This is a $8,000 tax-free annual top-up
• $4,000 of research support over the duration of your candidature
• a laptop or desktop provided by the Faculty.

National Indigenous Space Academy: Indigenous internships

Why Monash?

Monash University is the largest university in Australia.

We rank in the world’s top 100 for Computing and Information Sciences (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025) and are the country’s most innovative university (Reuters Top 75: Asia’s Most Innovative Universities, 2017-2019).

For this PhD or MPhil, you will be based at our Clayton campus as part of our the Information Empowered Lab in the Department of Human-Centred Computing – one of the largest multidisciplinary collectives of researchers, practitioners and scholars who are exploring how digital technologies can create a more equitable future.

Candidate requirements

Ideal applicants will have:

• an excellent academic track record
• lived experience in recordkeeping, library or archival field
• knowledge and skills relating to Indigenous Data Sovereignty, recordkeeping, library and archival studies, and/or data science
• met the criteria required for PhD admission or MPhil admission at Monash University.

Cultural knowledge and experience in Indigenous and qualitative research methods, Indigenous community-led research and working with Indigenous communities and organisations are desirable.

The successful applicant will be expected to enrol by February 2025, however there may be flexibility around the commencement date.

What you will receive