The UNSW Scientia Program

The UNSW Scientia Program

The UNSW Scientia Program is one of the cornerstones of UNSW's 2025 Strategy. A primary goal of the Program is to enhance UNSW's research performance by attracting and retaining exceptional early to mid-career researchers, with outstanding research track records. Scientia academics will be leaders in their School and Faculty and engage with the three pillars of social engagement, global impact and academic excellence.

Unprecedented support for unparalleled research

The UNSW Scientia Program provides the opportunity of a tenure track position with a career pathway commitment offering unprecedented flexibility.

UNSW Scientia have access to a range of development opportunities including career coaching tailored to their level of experience across research, teaching and leadership. Scientia will be mentored and will also develop the skills required to become mentors and research leaders themselves.

The Program also provides a significant financial development and collaboration package over a minimum of four years.

Read the Guidelines to learn more about the benefits of the Program.

Our Scientia Academics

UNSW is dedicated to addressing global issues that keep us all awake at night, harnessing disruptive approaches and drawing together diverse disciplines, teams, and institutions to undertake research that will change our world for the better. Scientia are at the forefront of research that tackles these issues.

Dr Angelica Merlot, 2019 NSW Young Woman of the Year, Centre for Childhood Cancer Research and Scientia Senior Lecturer

Dr Angelica Merlot, 2019 NSW Young Women of the Year and Scientia Senior Lecturer

“The power of research is that every day you can discover something new, solve problems and push barriers using your curiosity to address some of the major health issues in the community.”

 

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Dr David White, lead investigator in the Face Research Lab at UNSW and Scientia Senior Lecturer

Dr David White, lead investigator in the Face Research Lab at UNSW and Scientia Senior Lecturer

“The Scientia Program has been an enabler... it has enabled me to take a leadership role in this emerging field of super recognition.”

 

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Dr Rona Chandrawati, Scientia Senior Lecturer, ARC DECRA Fellow and named Australia's Most Innovative Engineers for 2020, UNSW School of Chemical Engineering

Dr Rona Chandrawati, Scientia Senior Lecturer, ARC DECRA Fellow and named Australia's Most Innovative Engineers for 2020, UNSW School of Chemical Engineering

“I’ve found that we have an excellent support package that enables us to visit top tier universities or we invite high profile professors here, allowing us to build connections and networks.”

 

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To meet more of the 118 Scientia academics appointed to date, click here. You can also hear from more of our Scientia and learn about their research.

Application Information

The UNSW Scientia Program is currently closed for new applications.

UNSW

UNSW - Australia's Global University

With access to unparalleled research support, world-class infrastructure, industry-leading mentors and an academic environment that has produced numerous world firsts, it is easy to see why leading researchers choose UNSW Sydney.

UNSW is a research-intensive university ranked in the world’s top 50 universities (QS rankings 2019).

We are proud to say our research facilities are some of the best in the business. From the world-leading Lowy Cancer Research Centre to the Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, we invest in the latest technologies, spaces and equipment to support research excellence across all disciplines.

Our Sydney campus is home to 62,500 students from over 120 countries. We aspire to be Australia's global university, improving and transforming lives through excellence in research, outstanding education and a commitment to advancing a just society.

Find out more:

World Class Teams

World-class research teams

UNSW is known for innovative and pioneering research that has global impact.

As a Scientia Scholarship candidate you will join a vibrant research community and be supervised by leading experts in your field.

Here are just a few of our research highlights:

  • UNSW has more top ratings in broad fields of research than any other Australian university (2018 Excellence in Research in Australia report).
  • 81 specific research subjects rated “above or well above world standard” (2018 Excellence in Research in Australia report).
  • UNSW awarded the highest number of Australian Research Council Discovery Projects in Australia for three years in a row (2017, 2018, and 2019). Total funding awarded over that period was in excess of $91m.
  • A 7,000-strong research community.

Find out more at UNSW Research.