PhD Scholarship: Help Restore Australia's Rivers through Behaviour Change

You'll join Social Marketing @ Griffith, the world's largest university-based social marketing centre, housed in the Department of Tourism and Marketing within Griffith Business School. Ranked 1st in Australia for Hospitality and Tourism (QS 2025) and recognised as Australia's top institution in Marketing (Australian Research Magazine, 2025), Griffith combines world-class research, industry partnerships, and a strong focus on real-world impact.

CSIRO project listing: Enhancing sustainable land management practices through natural capital profiles – CSIRO Industry PhD Program opportunities

This opportunity will be primarily based at Gold Coast. As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations.

Griffith University's sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

This fully funded CSIRO Industry PhD gives you the chance to combine environmental science, social marketing, and behavioural research to make a real impact on how Australians manage land and water.

The Program includes:

• Admission to a university PhD program.
• Supervision by the participating university, CSIRO, and an industry partner.
• A four-year scholarship package.
• A four-year Project Expense and Development package.
• A 60-day Engagement component with the industry partner.
• A structured professional development and training program to develop your applied research skills.

Healthy rivers depend on how we manage the land around them. This project addresses knowledge gaps in environmental sustainability and social marketing, focusing on river health and sustainable land management practices via co-creation and adoption of Natural Capital Profiles. The expected outcome is to extend existing frameworks in social marketing, with a particular emphasis on the Co-Create – Build – Engage (CBE) process, to design more user-friendly behaviour change solutions for improved river health and land management practices. The project will potentially increase the adoption of Natural Capital Profiles by landholders, enabling healthier river ecosystems and better land management.

CSIRO iPhD prospective student webinar

Date:  Thursday 6 November 2025

Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm AEDT

Event overview: Information on the program for prospective students, insights from current iPhD students and Q&A

Registration link: CSIRO Industry PhD Program Student Webinar CSIRO

You're passionate about the environment and want to see your research make a tangible difference. You might come from social science, environmental science, or a sustainability background, but what matters most is curiosity, collaboration, and commitment to impact. The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful within this role, you will meet the following eligibility:

• Expressions of interest are welcome from Australian citizens or Permanent Residents, or New Zealand citizens.
• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to second class/division A honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Procedure.  For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

Please note applicants must:

• Not have previously completed a PhD.
• Be able to commence the Program in the year of the offer.
• Enrol as a full-time PhD student.
• Be prepared to be located at the project location(s).
• Be prepared to undergo onboarding to CSIRO, which will include passing mandatory government background checks (allow for between 4 to 8 weeks) and complete any other CSIRO requirements.

Applicants with the following background and skills are highly desired:

• A background in social science or environmental science, who is passionate about sustainability and has a keen interest in river ecosystem health.
• Research skills, including qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Can work collaboratively in an inter-disciplinary and multi-cultural team.
• Professional skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, and the ability to work independently.
• A commitment to driving positive social change and improving environmental management practices.
• Skills in co-creative processes and behaviour change strategies are a plus.

The CSIRO Industry PhD Program (iPhD) includes:

• A four-year scholarship package totalling approximately $47,000 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate).
• A four-year Project Expense and Development package of $13,000 per annum.
• Griffith University  x CSIRO x NSW Local Land Services

What Griffith offers

As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we've worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EOI Process

Please do not select the "APPLY" button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to Professor Timo Dietrich at [email protected] containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship as outlined in the 'About you' section
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section, including a  copy of your academic transcript
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.
• Names of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Sunday 30 November 2025 5pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

For project related enquiries please contact:

Professor Timo Dietrich

Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:

Griffith Graduate Research School

Email: [email protected]