PhD Scholarship on Anti‑Government and Sovereign Citizen Extremism

About the role

The scholarship supports a full‑time PhD candidate to investigate anti‑government and sovereign‑citizen extremism in Australia, a growing national security concern. The research will be embedded in the School of Criminology & Criminal Justice and linked to an Office of National Intelligence funded project.

Key responsibilities

• Develop new knowledge on the drivers of anti‑government and sovereign‑citizen extremism.
• Collaborate with the supervisory team, industry partners and intelligence agencies to evaluate interventions that may reduce violence risk.
• Collect and analyse data using surveys, observations, interviews and social‑media sources.

Required profile

• Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand special‑category visa holder.
• Completed a Bachelor honours (first‑class or Division A) or a Master’s degree with a significant research component.
• Background in psychology, criminology, political science or a related discipline; experience in intelligence or policing is advantageous.

Required skills

• Strong analytical abilities and experience with mixed‑methods research (survey, interview, observation, social‑media analysis).
• Excellent written and oral communication, including academic presentation of findings.

What we offer

• Annual stipend of $55,656 AUD (indexed) for up to three years.
• Additional $20,000 per annum top‑up from the Office of National Intelligence.
• Access to $4,500 from the School for research, professional development and conference attendance.
• Supportive, diverse and inclusive research environment at a top‑ranked university.