Doktorarbeit an der Deakin University

Two PhD scholarships are offered as part of a broader Australian Research Council Future Fellowship project, entitled 'Heritage and Displacement: Intersections of Exile, Culture and Conflict.' This project aims to investigate the intersections between heritage and displacement, and the differing ways these are understood by displaced people, governments and global agencies. This project expects to generate new knowledge via an innovative interdisciplinary approach that includes developing a novel conceptual framework and conducting interviews.

Expected outcomes of the project include unprecedented empirical insights into how displaced people from the Middle East (Syria, Iraq and Palestine) perceive their heritage, and the extent to which this aligns with the policies of relevant actors. This should provide significant benefits, shaping further intellectual inquiry and the responses of key international agencies to heritage and displacement.
Background information

Each PhD student will undertake an independent research project examining the ways people's connections to heritage has shaped (and been shaped by) their experiences of displacement. The case studies include displaced people from Syria, Iraq and Palestine - including those internally displaced, living as refugees or migrants in the Middle East (Jordan and Lebanon) as well as in the West (Germany, UK, Australia).

The PhD students will be expected to develop a strong proposal that includes a fieldwork dimension. Throughout the project, the two PhD students will also be provided opportunities to co-author high-impact scholarly publications, policy reports and media articles, and to present their work at project-specific workshops. The two PhD students will therefore benefit from their involvement in a project of global scope and significance and will be provided exceptional career advancement opportunities under my mentorship and relative to their career stage.

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of $37,450 per annum tax exempt (2026 rate)
• a relocation allowance of $500–1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

All candidates are expected to have exceptional written and verbal communication skills (English)

Although not mandatory, we encourage applications from;

• those with research experience in the field of heritage studies or political science (or related disciplines) in the context of the Middle East
• those with a proven track record of utilising relevant research tools and methods (such as conducting and analysing qualitative interviews) and in publishing outputs (such as in high quality international journals)

This PhD project aims to develop a new method to purify silk proteins using liquid chromatography. If successful, it could create a new class of “chromatographically degummed” silk proteins. It will study the properties and interactions of these extracted proteins compared with conventionally processed silk. The project is only possible thanks to a recent breakthrough made by the Deakin silk research team, which developed a new method to re-solubilise silk fibres.

If successful, this could lead to next generation silk-based materials with outstanding mechanical properties. Understanding the properties of the extracted proteins in their undegraded state will also help to answer key questions about how silkworms can spin fibres at room temperature with properties that rival many synthetic fibres. The project will also explore the properties of sericin extracted using a newly developed extraction method. This sericin will be explored for applications such as 3D printing or to develop injectable hydrogels.

Silkworm silk is a remarkable material; in addition to its use in high end textiles, it has been explored for applications ranging from regenerative medicine, drug delivery, cosmetics and even as edible coatings to preserve fruit and vegetables. To use silk for such applications it must first be “degummed” to remove sericin, the glue that holds the cocoon together. Despite decades of research, the most used degumming method involves boiling cocoons in an alkaline bath to dissolve sericin. This process is damaging to the remaining silk fibres, compromising their mechanical properties and changing silk’s properties in solution completely.

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of $37,450 per annum tax exempt (2026 rate)

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

Additional desirable criteria include:

• a background in chemistry, biology or materials science; experience in protein biochemistry is highly desirable.

Are you passionate about coastal ecosystems and ready to make a meaningful contribution to climate action? This exciting PhD opportunity offers the chance for two candidates to join a well-supported, interdisciplinary research program focused on seagrass restoration in Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay.

The two projects available are:

• Developing tools and knowledge for seagrass restoration in Port Phillip Bay.
• Upscaling seagrass restoration in Victoria

Seagrass meadows are critical to the health of coastal environments. They provide essential habitat, improve water quality, and play a key role in capturing and storing carbon dioxide, making them vital natural allies in the fight against climate change. However, many of these ecosystems have experienced dramatic declines due to urbanisation and changes in land use, particularly in Port Phillip, where extensive seagrass beds once thrived.

There is an urgent need to assess the current extent and condition of seagrass meadows and develop targeted strategies for their restoration. This industry supported PhD project will undertake the development of the knowledge and tools required for effective, large-scale seagrass restoration—an important step toward helping Australia meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050. The scholarship stipend includes an industry funded top-up.

These PhD projects are in collaboration with experienced scientists, Melbourne Water as the industry partner and Traditional Owners and offer the opportunity to undertake impactful, applied research within a supportive academic setting.

If you're ready to contribute to the recovery of a critical marine habitat and make a real difference for climate resilience, we encourage you to apply.

Both scholarships are available over three years (possible six-month extension) and offers:

• a stipend of $45,550 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate)
• a relocation allowance of $500–1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate
• contribution to research purposes including travel of $1,500 per annum for three years.

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

Additional desirable criteria:

• a passion for marine and coastal ecosystem conservation and restoration, especially with seagrass habitats
• a strong interest in marine ecology and biology, with foundational knowledge in ecological theory and seagrass ecosystems
• comfort working in marine and estuarine environments, setting up and conducting restoration trials, seed collection, ecological surveys, and mesocosm or lab-based experiments
• mapping and identifying restoration priority areas, species distribution modelling, and geospatial data interpretation
• understanding genetic diversity, population structure, donor selection, connectivity mapping, and the role of genomics in restoration planning
• quantitative analysis, scientific writing, and data interpretation capabilities

Are you ready to unlock the micro mechanisms of fracture in ultra-high strength steels (UHSS) and shape the next generation of automotive steels? We are offering a fully funded PhD position to develop a new in-situ testing technology that links steel microstructure evolution directly to fracture mechanisms during metal forming. 

What you’ll do

• develop and implement a novel in-situ testing procedure that links microstructural characteristics of ultra-high strength steels (UHSS) to fracture mechanisms.
• design and optimise dedicated specimen geometries to impose well-defined strain path conditions representative of industrial forming operations.
• conduct combined in-situ microstructure characterisation and deformation tracking to quantify how phase distribution, morphology and evolution influence fracture initiation and propagation.
• establish direct correlations between strain path, microstructure evolution and fracture behaviour to support advanced micro-structure design and forming process optimisation.

Target deliverables

• a robust experimental framework for in-situ tensile testing in an scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that enables systematic analysis of microstructure evolution and fracture mechanisms.
• fundamental understanding of microstructure effects on fracture that can be directly implemented in industrial Research and Development (R&D) environments for future UHSS microstructure design and optimisation.

Why this project is unique

• industry-embedded research with global impact through collaboration with Baosteel, one of the world’s leading steel producers.
• direct pathway to industrial implementation, with outcomes designed for immediate integration into advanced UHSS development programs.
• rare integration of mechanics and microstructure science, combining controlled strain-path material testing with in-situ microstructural analysis.
• strategic relevance to electric vehicle lightweighting, supporting the safe and widespread application of next-generation UHSS in future EV structures.
• strong career development opportunities, positioning the candidate at the interface of experimental mechanics, materials modelling, and industrial metal alloy innovation.

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of $35,000 per annum tax exempt

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

We are seeking highly motivated applicants with a background in mechanical engineering, materials (metal) engineering, manufacturing engineering, or closely related disciplines, who have a strong interest in:

• experimental mechanics and deformation testing
• microstructure characterisation and material behaviour
• finite Element Analysis and sub-routines
• translating fundamental materials science into industrial application

Graduates who are enthusiastic about working at the interface of academia and industry, and who are keen to see their research implemented in real-world steel development programs, are strongly encouraged to apply.

This project aims to develop the most advantageous combinations of electrolyte and binder through engineering the electrode structures for compatibility with advanced liquid or solid-state electrolytes. Targeted polymer binders will include those based on the non-fluorinated poly(dimethyldiallylammonium) ionomer and naturally occurring polymers such as carrageenan, alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose. These can then be imbibed with electrolytes containing ionic liquids or organic ionic plastic crystals with the goal of imparting ionic conductivity functionality for higher rate charge/discharge performance or developing the electrodes into a solid-state structure for pairing with a solid electrolyte.

Sodium-ion batteries are becoming an increasingly popularised lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries, however electrolytes for sodium-ion batteries are less developed than the lithium-based counterparts. Ionic liquid electrolytes developed at Deakin are a new electrolyte class that offers superior safety than conventional flammable and volatile electrolytes. Solid-state ceramic electrolytes developed at Bayreuth have enormous potential in overcoming some of the limitations faced with lithium-based ceramics.

Electrode composite structures will also be investigated, focusing mostly on using well-studied active materials such as hard carbon anodes and sodium vanadium phosphate (or fluorophosphate) cathodes available in Bayreuth.

You will be awarded with a doctoral degree from each university. The program runs for three years, and you will spend at least 12 months at the University of Bayreuth and the remainder at Deakin University.

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of $35,550 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate)
• at least 12 months of the total period of the program at University of Bayreuth.

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa
• full tuition fee waiver for up to four years
• travel allowance (approximately $3,000) to support travel between universities.

To be eligible you must:

• meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and University of Bayreuth, including H1 or H1 equivalence and English language proficiency criteria
• enrol full time
• be able to physically locate to both University of Bayreuth (Germany) and Deakin University (Australia).

Are you ready to push the boundaries of design, technology, and human performance?

Join a cutting-edge PhD research project at the forefront of innovation; where sports science, assistive technology, and advanced manufacturing collide!

This PhD project explores the design of personalised, lightweight, and multi-functional structures for the sports and assistive technology sectors. It integrates computational design, advanced additive manufacturing, and intelligent systems to develop user-specific solutions that enhance performance, comfort, and accessibility.

The research will focus on polymeric lattice structures with tunable mechanical properties - such as flexibility, energy absorption, and directional stiffness - fabricated using cutting-edge 3D printing and sensing technologies. Experimental and simulative methods will be used to analyse material behaviour across scales, supported by nonlinear computational modelling and AI-driven optimisation.

Guided by systems thinking, the project will develop adaptive, sustainable, and user-centred design workflows. Outcomes will contribute to the fields of structural modelling, smart materials, and inclusive design, with applications in rehabilitation, elite sport, and mobility.

Candidate profile

We seek a candidate with strong expertise in computational design, additive manufacturing, and nonlinear structural modelling. A background in mechanical, biomedical, or materials engineering is essential, along with experience in experimental methods, finite element analysis, and AI-assisted design.

You will be awarded with a doctoral degree from each university. The program runs for three years, and you will spend at least 12 months at the University of Bayreuth and the remainder at Deakin University.

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of $37,450 per annum tax exempt (2026 rate)
• at least 12 months of the total period of the program at University of Bayreuth.

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa
• full tuition fee waiver for up to four years
• travel allowance (approximately $3,000) to support travel between universities.

To be eligible you must:

• meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and University of Bayreuth, including H1 or H1 equivalence and English language proficiency criteria
• enrol full time
• be able to physically locate to both University of Bayreuth (Germany) and Deakin University (Australia).

This project aims to develop AI-based monitoring and estimation models for battery maintenance in Australian heavy industries. Xcel Tech provides next-generation technological solutions to electric trucks for the mining industry, the research team will develop novel and application-based models for specific batteries used in Australian heavy industries, such as mining and agriculture, for the purpose of battery health monitoring, optimal charging and fault diagnosis.

Due to the uniqueness of Australia’s mining sites, such as high temperature, low humidity and poor internet connection, a new plug-and-play software model and/or hardware device is needed to provide real-time monitoring and fault diagnosis for batteries used in these harsh conditions. These hardware devices and software models can help provide a range of features and functions, including but not limited to:

• predictive maintenance, i.e. to predict when maintenance is due
• condition monitoring, i.e. detecting abnormalities such as temperature fluctuations, voltage variations or electrolyte levels
• optimal charging strategies, i.e. dynamically adjusting charging schedules based on demand and battery health
• energy management integration, i.e. working with control algorithms to collaboratively manage battery usage.

You will be supervised by Dr Samson Yu at School of Engineering and Associate Professor Wei Luo at School of Information Technology. This multidisciplinary team will provide expertise necessary for the candidate to succeed in theoretical and applied research in this project.

Industry partner Xcel Tech will provide batteries used in heavy industries for testing and possible implementation of the developed software models, improving battery efficiency and prolonging battery life and contributing to the decarbonization of Australian industry. 

This PhD project is in collaboration with Xcel Tech. The project supports the research towards clean energy and battery storage technology.

This scholarship is available over three years (possible six-month extension) and offers:

• a stipend of $45,550 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate)
• a relocation allowance of $500–1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate
• contribution to research purposes including travel: $1,500 per annum for three years.

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

Additional desirable criteria:

• knowledge of electrical engineering or information technology, with background knowledge in circuits and systems, artificial intelligence, battery operations and/or broad knowledge in electronics or machine learning
• industry work experience in battery industry or energy industry, with a deep understanding of industry practices
• possess strong oral and written communication skills as they will be required to meet with their academic and industry stakeholders on a regular basis
• ability to travel between Deakin and the industry partner at least once a year for research finding communication and presentation.

This PhD project aims to advance the performance and reliability of geothermal heat pump systems for sustainable buildings by integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques.

The research will analyse real-world system performance against design expectations, identify and resolve operational inefficiencies in collaboration with industry partners, and develop AI-driven optimisation strategies to enhance temperature control, flow rates, and coefficient of performance (COP).

Through this work, the project seeks to unlock greater energy efficiency and emissions reduction in the built environment, contributing to global efforts to decarbonise a sector responsible for over a third of energy use and CO₂ emissions.

The successful candidate will work closely with leading organisations, including PICAC, IAPMO, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA).

If you're ready to lead research on geothermal energy for buildings we encourage you to apply.

The scholarships is available over three years (possible six-month extension) and offers:

• a stipend of $45,550 per annum tax exempt (2025 rate)
• a relocation allowance of $500–1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate
• contribution to research purposes including travel of $1,500 per annum for three years.
• a once-off $5,000 conference travel allowance
• an annual research allowance of $1,100 (per year)

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.