Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Domestic/International Scholarship Opportunities at Faculty of Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Domestic/International Scholarship Opportunities at Faculty of Engineering

Job No.: 669413

Location: Clayton campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Graduate Research Degrees: 3291 - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Duration: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - 3.5-year fixed-term appointment

Remuneration: $35,013 per annum (tax-free stipend) full-time rate

Monash Engineering is a leading global centre for research consistently placing highly in international ranking lists. We engage with industry and other world leading institutes to carry out pioneering research that benefits society and changes the world around us. Our world-class researchers are driven by a passion and commitment to leaving a more sustainable legacy for future generations.

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation (ARC COE-CSI) is a major 7-year initiative supported primarily by the Australian Research Council (ARC). The Centre is led by UNSW and partnering with a group of Australian universities and a suite of outstanding national and international Partner Organisations. The Centre’s purpose is to revolutionise carbon science and innovation for renewable energy generation and clean chemical production by using carbon catalysts as alternatives to critical minerals. The Monash Node of the Centre is focussed on developing bioelectrocatalytic processes, combining nanocarbon electrodes with enzymes to generate novel processes.

COE-CSI is committed to creating a safe, supportive, positive, inclusive, and equitable working environment for all members. We value and respect the contributions of our diverse members. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse genders, sexual orientations, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities.

As part of our commitment to excellence in research and training, both Monash Engineering and the ARC COE-CSI are proud to provide ongoing professional development training to our centre students. We are committed to training the next generation of research leaders through our graduate research degrees. Our students have the opportunity to make an impact and solve real world issues in a stimulating, supportive environment with access to cutting edge facilities.

The Opportunity

Expressions of interest are sought from outstanding domestic or international candidates for PhD study in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, focusing on cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in the design of novel bioelectrocatalysis approaches that combine novel enzymes and carbon nanomaterials to create next generation technologies for production of green energy and green chemicals. The supervision team involves chemical engineers with expertise in electrochemistry and protein/surface interactions, and also a structural biologist with expertise in protein engineering, including AI-guided approaches. We are seeking H1 graduates (or those soon to graduate) from engineering or science backgrounds, with relevant interests and/or experience, to join this team.

Ph.D. Project – Bioelectrocatalysis technologies for green energy and chemistry

This project will focus on the design and evaluation of enzyme-modified nanocarbon electrodes, with applications in energy production (e.g. hydrogen fuel cells, batteries) and/or green chemical production (e.g. producing C2+ chemicals from simple C1 feedstocks). Working in an interdisciplinary team with chemical engineers, protein engineers, and electrochemists, the successful candidate will use a combination of experiments and computational analysis to design novel bioelectrocatalytic processes, and will work alongside Monash staff (academics, research fellows and other PhD students) and ARC COE-CSI collaborators, in a supportive team environment. This opportunity provides a platform to contribute significantly to the advancement of next generation green processes for energy and chemical production.

To be eligible to apply for domestic postgraduate research scholarships an applicant must be an Candidates must be Australian Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents, or New Zealand Special Category Visa Holders.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants will be considered provided they fulfil the criteria for the PhD admission at Monash University and demonstrate excellent research capability. Details of the relevant requirements are available at www.monash.edu/engineering/future-students/graduate-research/how-to-apply.

Your application will be looked upon favourably if you:

• Graduated in the top 10% of your year level
• Graduated from a well ranked university
• Have authored peer-reviewed research publications
• Possess excellent written and verbal English skills

Note: applicants who already hold a PhD degree will not be considered.

Applicants must show excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to conduct self-motivated research. They should have either completed or in the process of completing a Bachelors H1 Honours Degree or already hold an H1E Bachelors and/or Masters degree in a relevant discipline. Candidates who are in the process of completing their H1 degree will be considered.

Application Process

To apply for a graduate research degree and/or scholarship at Monash Engineering please follow the following steps:

1. Check your eligibility
   Before beginning the application process, make sure that you meet our entry requirements. You can check the minimum entry requirements for the PhD course. Applicants must also satisfy Monash’s English Language Proficiency requirements.
2. Supervisors
   Associate Professor Simon Corrie, Dr Parama Banerjee, Dr Rhys Grinter
3. Submit and expression of interest (EOI)
   Applicants must complete the EOI form. This form will be forwarded to your nominated supervisor for assessment. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, over Skype if necessary. The interviews will be conducted in English.
   Please note the submission of the Expression of Interest does not constitute a formal application for a Research Degree.
4. Obtain an invitation to apply
   After assessing the Expressions of Interest, the supervisory team will shortlist and interview potential applicants. The successful applicant will be delivered an Invitation to Apply

Enquiries

Further enquiries about the scholarship or application process should be directed to Graduate Research Office, eng-gradresearch@monash.edu or visit website monash.edu/future-students/phd.

For enquires about the project, please contact Associate Professor Simon Corrie at simon.corrie@monash.edu

Applications Close: Monday 30 September 2024, 11:55pm AEST

Supporting a diverse workforce

Monash University recognises that its Australian campuses are located on the unceded lands of the people of the Kulin nations, and pays its respects to their elders, past and present. We acknowledge and pay respects to the Elders and Traditional Owners of the land on which our Australian campuses stand.