Law PhD Student Call for EOI - Critical Minerals Trade & Economic Security

Call for Expressions of Interest

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student

Bond University, Faculty of Law

 PhD in Critical Minerals Trade, OR Australia’s Trade and Economic Security in a Shifting Global Order

About the position

The Faculty of Law at Bond University is calling for expressions of interest from law graduates interested in undertaking a PhD in the areas of Critical Minerals Trade, OR Australia’s Trade and Economic Security in a Shifting Global Order. The successful applicant will be supervised by Dr Umair Ghori and Dr Matthew Lister.

Description of the research project

A successful applicant will address research questions related to these areas, in particular:

1. Critical Minerals Trade in the Australian Context

• How should Australia regulate trade in critical minerals to balance openness, value-adding, and economic security?

• To what extent can Australia lawfully promote domestic processing and downstream manufacturing without breaching international trade obligations?

• What role should export controls, investment screening, offtake arrangements and strategic partnerships play in Australia’s critical minerals policy settings?

• How should ESG standards, sustainability obligations and First Nations engagement be integrated into Australia’s critical minerals trade architecture?

• What lessons can Australia draw from comparable jurisdictions in designing a critical minerals trade and industrial strategy?

2. Australia’s Trade and Economic Security (“America First” context)

• How have the Trump Administration’s “America First” trade policies altered the legal and policy environment for Australian trade?

• What are the direct and indirect implications of US tariff, industrial and economic security measures for Australia’s trade interests and strategic autonomy?

• How should Australia balance alliance management with diversification, multilateralism and domestic economic security objectives?

• Are existing Australian legal and policy tools - such as trade diversification strategies, investment screening, industrial policy and economic security frameworks—adequate to respond to sustained US protectionism?

• What reforms should Australia adopt to manage future trade coercion, supply-chain disruption and strategic economic vulnerability?

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.

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 will have the opportunity to work alongside highly respected senior academics conducting leading-edge research.

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.

• Publication in a peer-reviewed journal; or in a chapter book or similar

Salary details

Candidates will receive high quality, personalised supervision and access to the full range of facilities available to Bond University students. Successful applicants 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 2026 is $34,315 AUD per annum.

• Employment opportunities: 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 and availability. 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.

Application and submission details

Please submit your expression of interest via the Bond University application portal.

Your EOI must include:

• The title of the position you are applying for.

• A written statement (maximum of 2 pages) describing your interest in the research project and proposed research topic.

• A written statement (maximum of 1 page) 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, or academic research projects)

For all enquiries related to this position, please contact the Faculty of Law on ***********@bond.edu.au 

Submission is due by Friday 14 August 2026