The Opportunity
Monash University is offering a fully funded PhD scholarship including support for fieldwork and conference travel, for a passionate early childhood professional. The project aims to investigate children's capacity to read their natural and engineered environment for risks, engineer solutions to problems they encounter, and positively develop safety risk intelligence (SRI).
Key research questions include: What are the motivating conditions for developing safety risk intelligence in engineering contexts in early childhood? How do educators draw on engineering concepts and principles to create a SeeMore Engineering Conceptual PlayWorld that supports children's development of safety risk intelligence? What, if any, are the safety risk intelligence profiles related to engineering as practice in EC contexts? How do children develop safety risk intelligence in engineering contexts?
This project is led by Monash University: Emeritus Professor Marilyn Fleer, Dr Anne Suryani, Dr Prabhat Rai, in collaboration with Dr Susie O'Neill from the K.I.D.S Foundation. The project is funded by Australian Research Council Linkage grants.
Joining our thriving Early Childhood research community and Monash Faculty of Education which is consistently ranked as the number 1 education faculty in Australia, your PhD project will offer an opportunity to connect with students and leading experts across the globe.
Candidate Requirements
To be eligible you must:
* Be a domestic candidate
* Have the necessary qualifications, such as a research masters or honours year to meet the selection requirements into the doctoral program (see Monash University PhD entry requirements)
* Be enrolling full-time and on campus
* Not already hold a PhD
* Have a valid Australian Driver's Licence and willingness to travel to research sites in rural Victoria
In its assessment, the selection committee will prioritise applicants with a significant experience working with children in early childhood settings. Any previous experience of researching with children would also be an advantage.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.
The successful applicant will be expected to enrol by February 2026. However, there may be some flexibility as to the date of commencement.
Enquiries
Faculty of Education Graduate Research Office
Email: edu-
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Scholarship applicants must complete the online EOI form including details of their proposed research topic by the closing date.
Enquiries
Faculty of Education Graduate Research Office
Email: edu-
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Scholarship applicants must complete the online EOI form including details of their proposed research topic by the closing date.
Closing Date
Friday 14 November 2025, 11:55pm AEDT
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