"PhD Student Call for Expressions of Interest - Faculty of Law"

About the position

The Faculty of Law, Bond University is calling for expressions of interest from law graduates wishing to complete a PhD in the in the area of International Commercial Arbitration.

Why study at Bond? 

The Bond Faculty of Law has a reputation for providing the best professional legal education in the country, and we leverage that reputation to attract exceptional law students and establish useful professional and institutional partnerships. We offer a suite of academically rigorous and professionally focussed law programs, delivered in an engaging and innovative manner by exceptional law teachers. We demonstrate an outstanding student service ethic, offer an engaging and satisfying student experience, and prioritise student wellbeing. We engage in high quality, impactful research in niche areas of research excellence.

The successful applicant’s doctoral thesis will be supervised by Dr Louise Parsons as Principal Supervisor and Dr Winnie Jo-Mei Ma as Associate Supervisor. 

A successful applicant will address research questions related to international commercial arbitration, in particular: 

• the governing law of the arbitration agreement (including choice of law clauses and multi-tier dispute resolution clauses);
• consent to arbitrate, and the limits to party autonomy;
• enforceability of arbitration agreement or arbitral award;
• arbitrability and public policy; and
• mandatory arbitration of specific disputes. 

Comparative studies are welcomed. 

Candidates are invited to propose their own research projects within the broad confines of the research areas mentioned above.

The successful applicant will need to meet all Bond University requirements for entry into the PhD program and achieve the milestones required by the University throughout their doctoral program. It is also a requirement that the successful applicant be based full-time at the Gold Coast campus.

About the person

Essential:

• A Master of Laws, Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws with Honours
• Experience undertaking a substantial research project (e.g. Masters thesis or Honours thesis)
• Excellent legal analysis and legal writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work in teams

Desirable:

• Evidence of project management and organisational skills, including the ability to achieve goals and deliver outcomes within a specified time period.
• Prior study in international commercial arbitration, or arbitration generally 
• Experience undertaking a substantial research project (e.g. Masters thesis or Honours thesis)
• Publication in a peer-reviewed journal or in a chapter in an edited book or similar

Salary details

In addition to high quality, personalised supervision and access to the full range of facilities available to Bond University students, the successful applicant will be entitled to the following benefits:

• Tuition fee waiver: The Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) scheme provides tuition fee waivers for eligible Australian and New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents enrolled in higher degree programs such as a PhD. International students may also be eligible for a partial fee waiver. The tuition waiver lasts the duration of the program.
• Option to apply for a scholarship: The successful applicant will be encouraged to apply for the Living Stipend Scholarship at Bond University. RTP also provides a limited number of scholarships for PhD students by way of a living stipend. Application is made through a competitive round held twice a year (closing 31 March and 30 September). The current full-time stipend rate for all HDR scholarship categories for 2025 is $33,511 AUD per annum.
• Employment opportunities (subject to availability): The successful applicant may also be provided with employment opportunities such as research assistant or tutoring work within the Faculty of Law dependent upon prior experience. Employment will be subject to the conditions of the PhD program and the terms of any scholarship awarded.
• Internship opportunities: The successful applicant may have the opportunity to partner with a business or organisation in our network to conduct research, gain valuable real-world experience and make an impact. PhD Industry Internships offer a unique opportunity to apply your research expertise to real-world challenges, collaborate with industry leaders, and build a pathway toward your future career.

Additional information

Please submit your expression of interest via email to the Faculty of Law, Bond University at LawResearch@bond.edu.au

Application and submission details

Your EOI must include:

• A written statement (maximum of 2 pages) describing your interest in the research project and your capacity to answer the research questions
• A written statement (maximum of 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria set out above
• A current curriculum vitae including the names of two academic referees
• Your academic transcripts
• An example of your written academic work (e.g. Honours thesis, peer-reviewed journal article, law essay or assignment)