The Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research (ACPIR) Summer Research Scholarship (ACPIR SRS) program provides an opportunity for undergraduate, including honours, students to be part of an experienced research team and participate in a research project.

The ACPIR SRS program will provide undergraduates with increased exposure to research as a career pathway and enhance their employability. Students in the program will have 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 their 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.

Depending on the ACPIR SRS project, students will undertake research activities, such as literature reviews, develop data collection tools, collect and/or analyse data, present findings and/or undertake consultation with stakeholders. Undergraduate students 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 (for example, time management, communication skills), and career planning. They will be immersed in a mentoring culture and be encouraged to work with the project team in contributing to a publication/other output as a named author (for example: conference abstract, report, research publication, policy brief).

For the Summer period 2023-2024, ACPIR offers five research scholarships – to join the following projects:

1. Understanding the role of diviners and traditional healers in witchcraft and sorcery accusations in the Pacific with ACPIR supervisors Drs Barnaby Dixson & Georgia Kafer.

2. Dietary intake methodology in the Pacific Islands with ACPIR supervisor Dr Sarah Burkhart.

3. Samoan seaweed recipe book and resource suite development with ACPIR supervisors Drs Libby Swanepoel & Lee McGowan.

Undergraduate students (the ACPIR SRS participants) are paid a stipend / bursary for participation in the SRS of $3,000 for the 8-week program. The scholarship will be paid in instalments over the SRS period.

The ACPIR SRS will be 8 weeks in duration and held over the Summer (2023/2024). There is flexibility in the days/times that the student can work, and this will be negotiated at the start of the ACPIR SRS. Applications have now closed.