2027 Summer Research Program
Engage in a formal research project over the summer break with the UQ Summer Research Program.
The UQ Summer Research Scholarship Program offers scholarships to students wishing to gain experience working alongside a researcher in a formal research environment in their area of interest at UQ.
Each project will be offered for a period of six (6) weeks between 11 January to 19 February 2027.
Successful applicants will receive a $3,000 grant.
Eligibility
Participation is open to undergraduate (including honours) and master by coursework students who are currently enrolled and will remain at UQ for the entirety of the research program.
Please check your eligibility before submitting an application.
Applications will open 21 September
9. Mapoon Lingo Cultural Dictionary Compilation
Project title | Mapoon Lingo Cultural Dictionary Compilation |
|---|---|
Hours & delivery | 30 hours per week in a team of researchers on-campus (circa 50%) and independently online (circa 50%) to plan and carryout desk-top based tasks, engage with Mapoon community members and researchers in on-line meetings, attend weekly on-campus project meetings and regular SLC Summer Scholar gatherings. |
About the project | The Mapoon Cultural Dictionary project is a collaboration between the Mapoon Language Committee and researchers in the Indigenous Language Revitalisation team in the School of Language and Culture, underway since 2025. The project aims to compile historical text, audio and video language and cultural materials into a Cultural Dictionary in book format, with links embedded to multi-media content. The material includes language documentation from several Traditional languages of the Mapoon region in Western Cape York Peninsula including Tjungundji, Yupangathi (Yuputhimri), Teppathiggi and Mpakwithi, all of which today represent ‘Mapoon Lingo’. The Dictionary is designed as an important community resource for the reclamation and revitalisation of language and cultural knowledge in the community. In this phase of the project, we are selecting, editing, cataloguing and compiling audio, video and photographic material and preparing a layout of the book. |
What you'll do | Key activities include working in a team to project plan and compile materials; selecting, managing, editing and annotating multi-media files and catalogues; editing language transcripts; engaging with community members, researchers and other Summer Scholars. |
What you'll learn | You will learn about community project design, planning and ethical engagement, Indigenous data sovereignty, dictionary making, file management, multi-media editing and team-work. You will engage critically with archival material and learn to apply linguistic theory and knowledge in repurposing historical material for contemporary community purposes. You will gain insight into Indigenous Language and Culture reclamation and revitalisation practice and the languages of the Mapoon region. |
Project outcomes | This phase of the project will result in a data base of multi-media objects for inclusion in the Mapoon Lingo Cultural Dictionary and draft Dictionary document for community review. |
Who should apply? | Students of linguistics, applied linguistics, languages, communication and information technology and First Nations candidates are strongly invited to apply. Applicants should have sound computer and creative skills and capacity for attention to detail. Applicants should also be interested in Indigenous languages, cultures and histories and language and cultural reclamation. |
Team & supervision | At UQ Samantha Disbray, Senior Lecturer in Endangered Languages, Des Crump, Industry Fellow Indigenous Languages and Janet Watts, Research Associate, at Mapoon, the Mapoon Language Committee and community historian, Geoff Wharton. Direct supervision – Samantha Disbray |
Contact | Yes, students may contact the supervisor before applying. Direct enquiries to: Samantha Disbray (s.disbray@uq.edu.au) or Des Crump (desmond.crump@uq.edu.au) |