James Cook University

Homepage: https://www.jcu.edu.au/

Project Background

In Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES), as across many STEM disciplines, there is increasing expectation that publicly funded research should be freely accessible. Consequently, scientific publishing is progressively moving towards Open Access (OA), supported by institutional and funder mandates. However, making research openly accessible is not without financial and structural implications. The different OA models currently available to researchers vary substantially in their costs, accessibility, governance and sustainability, while researchers’ publishing choices remain closely connected to research assessment, career progression and perceptions of journal prestige.

One model receiving increasing attention within EES and the broader scientific community is Diamond Open Access (DOA). Diamond OA journals are free for authors to publish in and free for readers to access, with the version of record openly available. They are commonly community-led or institutionally supported and seek to remove direct financial barriers to both publishing and accessing scientific research. The model therefore offers an alternative to publishing systems based on article processing charges and commercial subscription models.

Despite these advantages, widespread adoption of Diamond OA faces significant cultural and institutional barriers. Researchers operate within assessment and career structures that have historically placed considerable emphasis on journal reputation and bibliometric indicators, including the controversial use of journal impact factors. Publishing behaviour can therefore be influenced by perceived prestige and career incentives as much as by considerations of accessibility, cost and sustainability, although these priorities should not be mutually exclusive. Such practices remain deeply embedded within academic cultures in Australia and internationally. At the same time, initiatives and policy developments in countries including Mexico and Switzerland provide alternative approaches to research assessment while supporting non-commercial and Diamond OA publishing infrastructures.

Project Focus

This PhD project will investigate publishing behaviours and attitudes towards Diamond OA within the Australian Earth and Environmental Sciences community. It will examine:

• How researchers make publishing decisions?
• How Diamond OA is perceived across career stages and EES sub-disciplines, which institutional and cultural factors facilitate or inhibit its adoption?
• How research assessment frameworks influence these behaviours?

International comparisons, particularly with countries where alternative publishing and assessment models have developed, will provide a broader context for understanding potential pathways for change in Australia. Ultimately, the project will seek to identify practical mechanisms through which publishing practices could evolve towards more accessible, equitable and financially sustainable models, and how these findings could inform institutional policy and researcher assessment.

Advisory panel

• Internal: Dr. Romain Vaucher (College of Science and Engineering at JCU, Australia) and A/Prof. Theresa Petray (College of Arts, Society & Education at JCU, Australia)
• External: Dr. Camille Thomas (University of Bern, Switzerland)
• Industry experts: Jayshree Mamtora (JCU Library, Australia and Tracy Creagh (QUT Library, Australia, and Directory of Open Access Journals)

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. The successful candidate will subsequently be required to meet JCU Higher Degree by Research admission requirements and apply for an appropriate JCU postgraduate research scholarship.

Candidate profile

The project would ideally be undertaken by a PhD candidate with a background in the social sciences and an interest in scholarly communication, research culture and Open Science. The candidate will be embedded within an Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) research environment and will work across disciplinary boundaries in collaboration with researchers, librarians, scholarly communication specialists and national and international partners.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the project, candidates from Earth and Environmental Sciences or related STEM disciplines who have a strong interest in scholarly publishing and are willing to develop and apply social-science research methods are also strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications are welcome from both domestic and international candidates who meet JCU’s eligibility requirements. Domestic candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Prospective candidates should first check their eligibility for admission to a JCU Higher Degree by Research program and for the relevant postgraduate research scholarships:

• Domestic applicants: https://www.jcu.edu.au/graduate-research-school/doctor-of-philosophy-candidates/postgraduate-research-scholarships/hdr-scholarships-for-domestic-candidates
• International applicants: https://www.jcu.edu.au/graduate-research-school/doctor-of-philosophy-candidates/postgraduate-research-scholarships/hdr-scholarships-for-international-candidates

Applications

We are seeking highly motivated candidates who possess:

• A completed or eligible Bachelor’s degree with First or Upper Second Class Honours, a Master’s degree, or equivalent in Social Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or a related field
• A strong interest in Open Science, scholarly communication, research culture, research policy and/or researcher behaviour
• An interest in interdisciplinary research and willingness to work across the Social Sciences and Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken

Candidates with a background in the Social Sciences are particularly encouraged to apply. Candidates from Earth and Environmental Sciences or related STEM disciplines who are interested in developing and applying social-science research methods are also welcome.

To apply, please email the following documents as a single PDF [FirstName_FamilyName_DOA.pdf] by 15 November 2026 to romain.vaucher@jcu.edu.au:

• A comprehensive CV (maximum 2 pages), including academic achievements, research experience, relevant skills, publications or other relevant outputs (if applicable), and contact details for two academic referees.
• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining your motivation for undertaking the PhD and explaining how your academic background, experience and interests align with the project.