For the past 3 years Innovation Cluster has facilitated the Science Industry PhD Fellowship program. The program offers a $10,000 a year top-up to PhD scholarships for 3 years, where the student is actively pursuing research to solve an industry problem or create a new business opportunity in conjunction with a local company.
The program encourages linkages between researchers and industry, adds value to the PhD experience and strengthens research impact in economic high growth areas, such as life sciences, cyber security, automation, including robotics and artificial intelligence, new energy industries, and data science.
Our role is to play ‘match maker’ between high quality PhD researchers and industry projects requiring research expertise. Innovation Cluster is also delivering a professional development program for the 23 fellows that focuses on project management, commercialisation, presenting, networking and career development.
We were pleased to partner with Innovation Central Perth (ICP) who hosted a careers information session for the JTSI Science Industry PhD Fellowship program. 18 Fellows heard from Ash Roberts about opportunities for PhD candidates to work on ICP projects.
After the info session, Innovation Cluster’s Dr Natasha Teakle (Ayers) facilitated a pitching strategy workshop which aimed to help participants develop strategies to promote their personal brand and articulate their value.
Self promotion is often an area that many people lack confidence in. Yet being able to confidently communicate your value, knowledge and experience is critical for many applications including;
- Working with researchers
- Engaging with external stakeholders
- Presenting new project ideas to senior executives
- Pitching yourself in a job interview or promotion opportunity
This interactive session mapped out ways for participants and fellows to promote their unique value and utilised scenario planning to bring these strategies to life and put them into action.
The Science Industry PhD Fellowships program is an initiative under the Western Australian Government’s New Industries Fund.
