Bond Business School just opened expressions of interest for a PhD in Business Management focused on ethical leadership, and if you have the research background they want, you should get your materials ready this week.

The project title is Antecedents and Consequences of Ethical Approaches to Organisational and Team Leadership. It sits inside a larger agenda looking at what drives ethical leadership and what that leadership produces for leaders, teams, and whole organisations. The work will compare outcomes across project-based firms, family businesses, banking, and hospitality and tourism. You will run qualitative or quantitative studies, build methodological skills, and aim for publications that actually influence practice.

Four supervisors will guide the work. Dr Ahmad Siddiquei leads as principal supervisor, with associate supervisors Dr Catharina Jecklin, Dr Chelsea Gill, and Professor Amy Kenworthy. Their combined expertise covers leadership, organisational behaviour, and ethics across sectors.

You need a Master by Research or an Honours degree in Business or Commerce, plus evidence you have already completed a substantial research project such as a thesis. Strong data analysis, academic writing, and the ability to manage a project to deadline matter most. Publications in peer-reviewed journals and tutoring experience help but are not essential. The role demands full-time presence on the Gold Coast campus.

Successful candidates receive a tuition fee waiver through the Australian Government’s Research Training Program for eligible domestic students. You can also compete for the Living Stipend Scholarship, currently valued at $34,315 AUD per year for 2026. Tutoring or research assistant work inside the Business School may be available, and industry internship options exist through Bond’s network.

Most people waste weeks polishing a generic application that gets ignored. The EOI must speak directly to this project. Keep your interest statement to two pages and explain exactly why this topic fits your background and what angle you would explore. The second two-page document must address every selection criterion with concrete examples from your past work. Attach a CV that lists two academic referees, your transcripts, and one sample of your academic writing such as a thesis chapter or published paper.

Submit everything through the Bond University application portal before Tuesday 1 September 2026. Enquiries go to the Bond Business School at the address listed on the job page.

Here is the practical sequence that actually works for these calls.

1. Read the full project description twice and note the sectors they want to compare.
2. Draft your interest statement around one specific research question that builds on their agenda.
3. Map every essential criterion to a real example from your thesis or previous projects.
4. Ask one of your referees to review the draft before you upload.
5. Submit early so the supervisors have time to ask questions if your profile looks promising.

Generic statements that could apply to any PhD anywhere get filtered fast. Specificity wins.

The deadline sits only weeks away, so the candidates who treat this like a real project from day one will stand out. Bond’s Business School emphasises personalised supervision and access to research groups in data analytics, governance, and family enterprise. That environment suits people who want both rigorous theory and sector-relevant findings.

Full details and the portal link live on the Bond University site. Cross-check the academicjobs.com listing for the same opportunity if you want a consolidated view of the requirements.