Summer and Winter Research Scholarships

Duration of the project: 
Hours of engagement: 20 hours
The project can be completed on-site or remotely.

Students will have the opportunity to:

• develop a deep understanding of laws affecting the use of autonomous systems
• gain a foundational understanding of machine learning and use cases for such systems
• learn about the interactions between international human rights law, domestic law and artificial intelligence
• develop practical knowledge of risk management approaches used in industry by AI actors.

This project would suit any students with an interest in law concerning AI, or law and emerging technology in general. A technical background is not needed but would be an advantage. Students who have completed Law and Technology (LAWS5151) are encouraged to apply.

Duration of the project: 6 weeks
Hours of engagement: between 20 and 35 hours per week
The project can be completed by hybrid arrangement: on-site and remote.

Students will develop skills in data collection, legal analysis and theorisation in the general field of comparative constitutional law, with particular attention to issues in federalism. The research will contribute to the development of publications in the field. Publication with the student is possible, but this will depend on the results of the research. The training provided to the student will enable them to understand the methods and standards required for publishable research and RHD study. Benefits to the school will include training of the student in advanced research methods and contribution to publications in the highest quality law journals in the field.

The research project is suitable for students who have successfully completed Constitutional Law and have relevant experience and language skills (eg, personal knowledge of a particular federal country or fluency in its language). Students who have studied politics or government, especially comparative government, will be especially suited to the project, but this is not essential.

Duration of the project: 6 Weeks
Hours of engagement: Must be between 20 - 36 hours per week. 
Students can work remotely with regular check-ins between the student and the supervisor

The AHRC has recently called for increased powers to hear and determine human rights complaints (Free and Equal Position Paper, ‘A Human Rights Act for Australia’, 2022). We are seeking a summer scholar to write a briefing paper on the constitutional implications of this proposal.

After the decision in Brandy v HREOC (1995), the power to hear and decide discrimination and human rights complaints was taken away from the Australian Human Rights Commission (then HREOC).

This leads us to ask, what are the constitutional impediments to the AHRC determining discrimination and human rights claims?

Specific research questions for this project are:

1. What is the difference between merits review and judicial review?
2. What has the High Court said about human rights review – is it a form of merits review or judicial review, or is it sui generis?
3. What are the relevant implications of the Brandy decision? (identify all relevant secondary sources)

This project provides a student who is interested in Constitutional Law or Administrative Law to research some of the real-world implications of notions like ‘judicial power’ and ‘merits review’.

They will undertake legal writing under supervision, so this project is ideal for a student who wishes to master their skills in written expression.

The student also has the opportunity to become involved in a large ARC funded study with a range of staff, including a PhD student, a post-doc and two academics from different law schools (UQ and Monash).

This project would suit a student who is considering a career in research, or policy.

This project is open to students with:

• Excellent legal research skills
• Excellent writing skills
• An interest in constitutional law (and administrative law)
• High academic achievement, particularly in constitutional law or administrative law

Duration of the project: 6 weeks
Hours of engagement: 20 hours per week
The project can be completed by hybrid arrangement: on-site and remote.

Federalism and constitutionalism, though frequently treated as distinct concepts, maintain a connection that merits deeper analysis. Although federal systems depend on rigidly written constitutions for their operation, the more profound correlation between federalism and constitutionalism remains largely uncharted. If a more intricate and symbiotic relationship between these notions exists, the potential arises for societies to create constitutional frameworks that better consider the dynamics of, and issues arising from, federalism.

This research is part of a broader project that aims to investigate the theoretical underpinnings of federalism and constitutionalism, refine their concepts, and assess whether a symbiosis between the two might lead to practical approaches to constitution-making. The student will mostly undertake research across scholarly works in the field of federalism and constitutional theory.

Students will gain a good understanding of two vital concepts in public law, and acquire advanced abilities in comprehensive legal research, rigorous qualitative analysis, and the production of research outcomes. The student’s contribution will feed directly to the production of peer-reviewed journal articles, and the creation of a scholarly book.

The project is suitable for students who have completed at least the first year of their program. The student should demonstrate an interest in public and constitutional law. Sympathy for more theoretical, historical, and philosophical aspects of constitutional law is desirable, but not essential.

Duration of the project: 6 weeks, 8 January to 16 February 2024.
Hours of engagement: 20hrs per week
The project can be completed on-site or remotely.

The student will gain practical skills in legal research and case analysis. They will gain an in-depth understanding of the operation of UN treaty bodies and limitations placed on human rights on national security grounds.

Duration of the project: 6 weeks
Hours of engagement: Between 20 and 35 hours per week.
The project can be completed by hybrid arrangement: on-site and remote.

The success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has ignited substantial global interest in the development of mRNA-based vaccines targeting other infectious diseases (and potentially therapeutics). Moreover, the mRNA technology has also sparked a set of patent lawsuits in key jurisdictions over the rightful ownership of its foundational components.

This project aims to present an overview of the ongoing patent litigations surrounding mRNA technology and to explore the potential implications of this burgeoning new arena for licensing disputes on global public health.

Students will gain practical skills in legal research and case analysis. They will also gain a good understanding of how the proliferation of patent infringement actions relating to mRNA vaccines may impact on public health.

The research output is expected to be a list of cases, case summaries, and an analysis of the possible implications of these cases on fair and equitable access to mRNA-based vaccines.

This project is suitable for students in the second year of law or beyond. A background or demonstrated interest in intellectual property law is helpful, but not required.

Students also do not need to have a background in biotechnology or a related scientific field. The project will only focus on the key legal and normative principles of patent law in contest in the lawsuits.

Duration of the project: 6 weeks, 8 January to 16 February 2024.
Hours of engagement: 20hrs per week
The project can be completed partly on-site and partly under a remote working arrangement.

Students will acquire enhanced research skills and gain some familiarity with the research topic, relevant sources and have some interaction with experts and stakeholders.

The main task of the research student will be to collect, store, and organise a great range of primary and secondary sources, set up and maintain an online directory and communication platform, and liaise with other researchers and stakeholders involved in this project.

Applicants must have completed LAWS2700 or LAWS2708 (Criminal Law) with an overall grade of 6 or higher. Applicants must have advanced MS Word and MS Excel skills.

It is desirable if applicants have some grasp of a foreign language, especially Italian, French, or German. It is desirable if applicants are interested in undertaking LAWS5231 the Transnational Organised Crime Working Group in Semester 1, 2024.