Information to prospectives

Information for Prospective Students and Research Fellows:

(i) Domestic students

Honours students:

The Honours year provides a much higher level of training than the standard three-year Bachelor's degree, in the areas of laboratory competence, advanced coursework, instrument training and problem-solving skills. These attributes make Honours graduates much more attractive to prospective employers. The Honours year also allows you to experience real research first-hand, and this will help you to decide if you wish to pursue a PhD and a career in research. Honours students are typically able to gain some part-time employment within the School as tutors for laboratory classes.

UQ Chemistry BSc holders can enter the Honours program directly. Normally eight units of third-level chemistry should have been completed, with a Grade Point Average of 4.5 or above. Students with a good academic record from another university may also be admitted.

A number of exciting and important projects are offered in my group for Honours students. You can enrol either at the start of the year, or at mid-year. Enrolments are made through the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, and the application form can be downloaded here.The Chemistry department publishes a yearly Chemistry Honours Guide which lists all of the research projects offered by the chemistry academics. You should carefully read the enrolment requirements and the project descriptions, but please bear in mind that new projects are continually being developed during the year. I encourage all prospective students to discuss their interests, career plans and aspirations with me. Students completing an Honours year who are awarded either a first (I) or a second class, division A (IIA) Honours are eligible to enrol in a PhD degree.

PhD Students:

The purpose of PhD program is to train scientists to a high level of competence in their chosen speciality, to a level where they are able to conduct independent research. Holders of a PhD typically will find employment in a range of industries, academia and government, and these positions will generally have higher levels of responsibility and supervision of others, and better salaries.

Students are eligible to enrol in a PhD providing that they have either a Masters degree, or an Honours degree (class I or IIA). Students may also transfer into a PhD from a Research Masters program. More information can be obtained from the UQ Graduate School website

I offer a number of projects suitable for PhD students. The Honours project booklet will give you an overview of the types of projects currently offered, but for PhD students these projects will be more detailed and of wider scope. My philosophy is to encourage all PhD students to maximise the skills and techniques that they learn during their time with me. While all of my projects will emphasise organic synthesis, many of my collaborative projects are interdisciplinary, and this offers students an excellent opportunity to broaden their skills base.

A range of tax-free PhD scholarships are available. Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) and UQ Research Scholarships (UQRS) are available on a competitive basis. More information and details of how to apply can be found here.

(ii) International Students

The University of Queensland is one of Australia's leading Universities. It is currently ranked in the top three research universities in Australia. It is a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) research intensive institutions, and it is a member of Universitas 21 - an international network of leading universities.

International research higher degree students (Masters and PhD students) are required to pay tuition fees. A very limited number of scholarships for international students are offered by the university, and these are very competitive. Full details of fees, living costs, accommodation and visa requirements for international students can be found on the UQ (international) website. Also see our School's information section here.

The Chemistry Department at UQ is an excellent place for international undergraduate and postgraduate students to spend a semester or two on a Study Abroad Program or for those degrees that require a semester or two spent in a research laboratory. Some of the tourism and lifestyle advantages that Brisbane and Australia have to offer international visitors can be seen here.

The Australian Government offers Endeavour Postgraduate Awards to citizens of participating countries for up to 3 years to study for a Masters or PhD.

(iii) Research Fellows:

Employment opportunities for post-doctoral researchers arise within the group from time to time. The major Australian research funding announcements are usually made in November, for projects commencing the following year.

UQ offers a limited number of highly competitive postdoctoral research fellowships and postdoctoral research fellowships for women. Applicants considering applying for these or other fellowships should contact me initially to discuss suitable projects.

The Australian Government offers Endeavour Research Fellowships to citizens of participating countries for short-term (4-6 months) visits. Postgraduate students and Postdoctoral Fellows may apply.