UNSW Science Vacation Research Scholarships (SVRS) 2026 - 2027
Applications open ~mid August 2026 and close ~mid September 2026 (exact dates TBA).
Are you a science student who would like the opportunity to experience the real world of scientific research first-hand?
Put your summer holidays to good use with a six-week Summer Vacation Research Scholarship. You’ll gain valuable research experience working with our renowned supervisors to participate in a research project. If you’re a talented undergraduate science student enrolled in your second year or above, it’s an opportunity worth applying for.
Students currently enrolled in second-year or above of an undergraduate program in the Faculty of Science or a science-related discipline at UNSW or another Australian university are invited to apply for an SVRS to join a BABS research team and participate in research over the coming summer.
Each SVRS scholarship is valued at $3,800 and students will participate in a six-week research project.
The school facilitates collaborative research efforts across discipline boundaries for fundamental discoveries, generation of commercial opportunities and clinical research. BABS has key strengths in environmental microbiology, genetics and cellular biology, molecular medicine, and associated technology development in the areas of functional genomics and many facets of biotechnology. The school has a unique strength in combining fundamental biological and biomolecular sciences with strong applied biotechnology and medical focus.
Eligibility
To be eligible:
- You must be currently enrolled in second-year or above of an undergraduate program in the Faculty of Science or a science-related discipline at UNSW or another Australian or New Zealand University.
- You must be able to be engaged in a project on a full-time basis (35 hours/week for six weeks during normal working hours unless advised otherwise by the supervisor).
- Projects must focus on research-based activities (administration tasks are not regarded as research) and should be completed by the end of February.
- Each successful candidate can hold only ONE such scholarship at a time.
- Students who were previously awarded a UNSW Science Vacation Research Scholarship are not eligible to apply.
How to apply
The first step of the application process is to contact the supervisor of your chosen project to discuss the project's requirements (see below for BABS SVRS projects on offer). When you have decided on your project preferences, please submit the application forms by the closing date listed above.
Full details (including how to apply) are provided on the Scholarships website (enquiries can be directed to science.adrt@unsw.edu.au). Note: Students are required to submit 2 applications - a scholarship application and the UNSW Science Vacation Research Submission Form.
SVRS Projects 2026 - 2027
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Supervisor: A/Prof Martin Smith & Dr Qing Wang
Email: martin.smith@unsw.edu.au
Description: Genomic technologies are transforming medicine by uncovering the causes of previously undiagnosed diseases and identifying opportunities for more precise treatment. Agentic AI could accelerate this process by independently gathering, analysing and explaining complex genomic evidence—but only if we can ensure that it works accurately, transparently and as intended. Using long- and short-read data from the well-characterised NA12878 reference genome, this project will develop and test an AI agent that investigates genomic variants, reconciles conflicting results and produces traceable, evidence-based explanations. The student will gain experience in genomics, bioinformatics and responsible AI development.
Experience required: Applicants should have basic Linux/Unix command-line experience and some programming experience, preferably in Python. They should also be comfortable working with data, learning new computational tools, and solving problems independently. Prior experience in genomics, bioinformatics or agentic AI is not required.
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Supervisor: A/Prof Emily Wong
Email: e.s.wong@unsw.edu.au
Description: This project will use outputs from AlphaGenome/sequence-to-function models to compare whether stable and dynamic enhancers differ in their reliance on core motifs versus distributed flanking sequence. The student will summarise ISM profiles, motif-dependency scores and context effects to identify principles that distinguish robust enhancer activity from signal-responsive activity.
Experience required: Programming experience, strong understanding of genetics.
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Supervisor: A/Prof Emily Wong, Dr Fujian Wu & Dr Alvaro Gonzalez
Email: e.s.wong@unsw.edu.au
Description: This project will establish a small, well-controlled wet-lab pipeline to stimulate cardiac fibroblasts with IL-1β or mechanical/fibrotic cues and measure early enhancer-linked responses by qPCR, reporter readout or low-input chromatin assay preparation.
Experience required: Molecular biology; genetics; This would suit careful and reliable student who can follow protocols, maintain clean experimental records and generate validated samples for larger enhancer-function experiments.
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Supervisor: A/Prof Emily Wong
Email: e.s.wong@unsw.edu.au
Description: This project will intersect human cardiac enhancer maps with population genetic variants to identify variants predicted to alter AP-1, ETS, RUNX, C/EBP or MEF2 regulatory grammar. The student will produce a prioritised catalogue of variants most likely to affect enhancer activity, ancestry-variable regulatory logic or cardiovascular disease-relevant cell types.
Experience required: Programming & bioinformatics experience, genetics.
Roy and Lois Tirrell Award (UGCA1213)
Amount: $5,000
The purpose of the scholarship is to support UNSW students studying an undergraduate degree program within the School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science.
Eligibility
The recipient must be currently enrolled in any full-time undergraduate degree program within the UNSW School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science including, but not limited to, the following programs*:
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (International)
- Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours)
- Bachelor of Advanced Science
*Enrolment in a dual degree is also permissible.
Selection
Applicants will be considered based on their UAC Equity Scholarship or UAC Educational Access Scheme application, or another appropriate UNSW admissions pathway program.
Scholarship Availability
One recipient will be awarded this Scholarship. The Scholarship will be reoffered once the current Scholarship holder ceases to receive benefits. The last open round for applications was in 2019. See 'How to apply' below to confirm if applications are open.