Associate Professor Shahid Islam’s HDR journey at UNE is a case study in paying success forward. An academic in Bangladesh before moving to Australia, Shahid completed an Erasmus Mundus MSc across Queen Margaret University (Edinburgh), the Royal Tropical Institute (Amsterdam) and the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm). He then chose UNE for his PhD, earning an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (now RTP) as one of only two recipients that year.
Today, he is Discipline Lead and Course Coordinator for Health Management and Public Health (One Health) in the School of Health, where he helped establish Australia’s inaugural tertiary One Health program.
In the past five years, Shahid has supervised six PhD completions (two as principal) and currently guides nine candidates as principal – six on the highly competitive RTP and three on UNE IPRA - many additionally supported by Destination Australia. He blends academic leadership with pastoral care: “I strive to create a nurturing and caring environment that encourages active learning and student‑centred approaches. I’m both supervisor and mentor, and I work to understand my students’ lives beyond the PhD.”
I’m both supervisor and mentor, and I work to understand my students’ lives beyond the PhD.
Image: Shahid currently supervises ten PhD Candidates, six of them RTP scholarship holders.
That support starts before enrolment. Shahid mentors prospective RTP applicants by identifying competitive candidates, aligning topics with School, Faculty and UNE priorities, and reviewing drafts with constructive, timely feedback.
He emphasises the qualities of a strong application: a first‑rate academic record, excellent research skills and relevant professional experience, a well‑developed proposal aligned to UNE priorities, high‑quality publications, a capable supervision team and compelling referee reports.
During interviews he looks for clear verbal communication and motivation. He shares proposals with co‑supervisors across disciplines in advance - especially for One Health - to strengthen methodology and fit.
Once funded, expectations and momentum are clear. Shahid sets standards early, meets fortnightly, checks in informally between milestones and returns feedback quickly.
He urges students to publish from the outset: “Publishing is vital - I’ve co‑authored more than 40 peer‑reviewed papers with RTP students in the last five years.” Together, his RTP cohort has produced over 40 articles in high‑impact journals.
Publishing is vital - I’ve co‑authored more than 40 peer‑reviewed papers with RTP students in the last five years.
For candidates, the RTP Scholarship is transformative. It covers tuition fees and provides crucial financial stability, with additional support for family members – including health insurance and childcare – particularly valuable for international students. That security enables focus, timely progress and career‑building outputs.
Shahid’s advice to applicants is simple: find a supervisor with a proven record of completions whose expertise aligns with your project; engage early to co‑develop a high‑quality proposal; and seek detailed feedback on your application and referees.
From scholarship recipient to supervisory leader, Associate Professor Shahid Islam exemplifies how UNE’s RTP pathway, interdisciplinary mentorship and publishing culture create a virtuous cycle of HDR success.
