MERIT Melbourne Engineering Research Institute

Research Higher Degree Opportunities

The Melbourne School of Engineering offers a wide range of postgraduate study by research. The awards offered include Research Masters, PhD programs and Doctorate Programs.

 

Current Opportunites

These are a selection of some of the projects available through Melbourne Engineering. Due to our dynamic research capacity, this site is regularly updated.

 

 

Rapid Optimisation in Underground Mining Network Design

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering together with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics is undertaking a large ARC Linkage project with AMIRA International Ltd. The chief investigators on the project are Professor Hyam Rubinstein, Dr Marcus Brazil and Professor Doreen Thomas. The aim is to optimise the design of underground mines by strategic modelling. There will be exciting opportunities to experience the mining industry and also to learn some interesting theory about shortest networks.

Scholarship details

Under funding from the ARC Linkage Project, the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is offering scholarships for 2 PhD candidates (3 years) to commence as soon as possible. These will be funded at APA(I) rate of approximately $26000 per annum. Open for Australian & New Zealand citizens.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Optimal Deployment of Wireless Sensor Networks

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is undertaking a large ARC Discovery project. The chief investigators on the project are Professor Doreen Thomas, Dr Marcus Brazil and Associate Professor Jamie Evans. Research will be conducted in wireless sensor networks which consist of coordinated sensing devices that offer us new ways to understand and interact with the physical world. Australia is a leading player in developing such networks. For a given technology, the key to both optimising the quality of area monitoring and minimising the cost of a sensor network lies in deciding how best to deploy the sensors. We aim to develop powerful new methods to get the best performance from a planned sensor network. This will enhance Australia's research role in this area and directly benefit applications such as security and environmental and biomedical monitoring.

Scholarship details

For a student who has successfully obtained another scholarship, such as the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), a funded top-up scholarship of $8000 pa is available.

In order to meet the admission criteria, applicants should have a strong background in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or equivalent with honours H2A or better. Applications for immediate commencement, or commencement up until March 2008, may be made at any time up to the closing date of 31 December 2007.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Applications of Collaborative Virtual Environments

Research scope

The premise of the project is that many areas of Australian life can benefit from access to high quality visualisation tools tailored to local issues and the local environment. These range from individual to government level decision making in fields including rural landscapes, climate change, security and education. The project will build on existing software developments which have focussed on automated generation of virtual worlds from 2D spatial data and on direct linkage between geographic information systems and the virtual environment to allow viewing, editing and exploring in 2D or 3D.

Scholarship details

Under funding from the CRC for Spatial Information, the Department of Geomatics is offering scholarships for 2 PhD candidates (3 years) and 1 research Masters candidate (18 months) to commence as soon as possible. These will be funded at normal APA(I) rate of approximately $25000 per annum. Open for Australian & New Zealand citizens.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

eWater CRC postgraduate top-up scholarship

Research scope

eWater CRC is a cooperative joint venture between many of Australia's best water research providers, water industry businesses and state/territory government agencies. eWater CRC is offering postgraduate top-up scholarships at partner universities for PhD candidates starting their full-time research program in 2008.

Applicants must develop a project proposal in water research, central to their own discipline and interests, but within the theme of "climate change, catchments and aquatic ecosystems".

This is an opportunity to be part of Australia's best water research team working on solutions to inform water management decisions in response to a changing climate.

Scholarship details

These scholarships are intended to top-up university scholarships and so interested students should also apply for appropriate scholarships. These scholarships offer:

They are open to Australian and international Research Higher Degree students supervised by eWater CRC academics at the University of Melbourne.

Candidate requirements

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Compressibility and permeability of stimuli responsive suspensions: application to modelling mineral dewatering processes

Research scope

The importance of efficient separation of water from solid particles in mineral processing, is gaining emphasis with increasing environmental regulation and economic rationalisation. High molecular weight polymers, called flocculants, are commonly used to induce aggregation and settling of slurry particles. This project investigates the development and use of flocculants that respond to stimuli such as changes in temperature or acidity, to manipulate particle-particle interactions. The approach provides a strategy for improving dewatering efficiency by producing both fast sedimentation of fine particles (by aggregation) and dense (low moisture) sediment beds. A stimulus is used to change the force between particles first to attractive. The particles then aggregate, rapidly settle and can be removed with a thickener. Then, by changing the inter-particle force back to repulsive, the particles in the sediment will undergo further consolidation resulting in additional expression of water from the solids suspension.

The primary parameters which influence the performance of dewatering operations such as thickening are the suspension compressibility and permeability. The techniques to measure these properties and the models used to predict performance of dewatering operations in industry have been developed in our department over the past several years. The aim of the project is to measure these properties of suspensions when the stimuli responsive flocculants developed within our department are used. The results of the measurements will be used to determine the optimum time to "switch" the stimulus in order to recover the most water in the least time.

Scholarship details

There is funding for one PhD Student to commence work on the project. This will be funded at the APA(1) rate of approximately $25000 per annum. The scholarship is open for Australian & New Zealand citizens.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Intelligent Self-Organising Transport (ISORT)

Research scope

The project aims to develop smart transport solutions for modern sprawling cities with their complex challenges to provide mobility and equitable access. Its significance lies in a major shift of paradigm, looking for ad-hoc coordination between peers instead of centralized management. Models will be tested and demonstrated in large-scale multi-agent simulations. They will form the basis for intelligent transportation systems (ITS), integrating P2P communication and agent collaboration.

Scholarship details

One PhD scholarship over three years (2008-10), of $25118 per annum, tax free, plus travel support. This scholarship is open to Australian residents only (ARC funding). The candidate can expect to be introduced into the international scientific community, and to Australian research networks.

Candidate requirements

Seeking an excellent PhD candidate with a degree in computer science, geomatics, or a related discipline. The candidate should have interest and skills in problem solving (algorithms), programming (Java), communication, and a pleasure in intellectual rigour.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Geopolymer Binders and Concretes: Durability and Applications

Geopolymers have been proposed, and are currently being commercialised, as an environmentally-friendly alternative to Portland cement as a binder material in concretes. Concrete production is currently responsible for around 5% of worldwide human-derived CO2 emissions, and geopolymer technology provides the potential to reduce this by around 80-90% per ton of concrete, for comparable or better performance. There are two major project opportunities available under this broader topic:

  1. Determining and analysing the durability of geopolymer binders and concretes exposed to aggressive environments has been identified by an international panel of geopolymer researchers as being the key to widespread commercial acceptance of geopolymer technology. This project will form part of a major international research effort directed at determining the durability, degradation mechanisms and expected lifetimes of geopolymer concretes.
  2. Geopolymers have been identified as a candidate material for the immobilisation of radioactive wastes, as well as a potential construction material for waste storage bunkers. Safe and effective disposal of wastes is key not only to the potential use of nuclear power generation in Australia, but also in treatment of radioactive wastes from medical, research and mining activities.

One student is to be recruited for each of these project areas, and students will join a highly active research group under the supervision of Dr John Provis and Professor Jannie van Deventer. Students should have a strong Honours or Masters degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Chemistry or a related field; project specifications will be individually tailored to the needs and interests of the successful applicants.

Scholarship details

The Geopolymer and Minerals Processing Group in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is acknowledged as a world leader in the study of geopolymer technology, and is offering positions for 2 PhD candidates (3 years) to commence in 2008. Tax-free stipends at competitive rates are available for Australian & New Zealand citizens and Permanent Residents.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Investigating musculoskeletal diseases using subject-specific and generic computational models

Recent advances in high performance computing, 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), motion capture, and more recently X-ray fluoroscopy, have enabled researchers to study the human musculoskeletal system in more detail and to investigate the effects of disease and interventions in vivo. This project will utilise these tools to compare the effects of modelling predictions on knee joint stress, when using both generic and subject-specific models. The project will be aligned with a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project investigating joint stress in people with knee osteoarthritis. The proposed study will based in the Biomechanics Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and involves multidisciplinary collaborations with the Royal Children's and Royal Melbourne Hospital, physiotherapy and numerous international colleagues.

Scholarship details

The project is funded by a tax free scholarship worth $25,000 pa for 3 years and is open to both local and international students.

Candidate requirements                            

This project would suit someone who has a keen interest in computational modelling and its application to biomechanics and clinical questions. The student should ideally have a Mechanical or Bioengineering bachelors degree and/or Masters. Other useful skills include:

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Mathematical modeling of mineral fracture towards energy-efficient mineral liberation

Research scope

Major improvements in the size reduction (comminution) of mineral ores are sought by the minerals industry. The manner in which energy inputs are used and wasted is key to informing these improvement efforts. Mathematical modeling represents the most promising route for achieving the requisite understanding of energy utilization across traditional and emerging technology approaches to comminution. Fracture modelling across broad length- and time-scale spectra is mathematically challenging. This is particularly the case in comminution, where multiple forms of loading on heterogeneous rock can result in cracking, damage and fragmentation through multiple mechanisms.

The proposed project envisages the development and application of fracture models to rock breakage, within a larger-scale research collaboration involving other universities and industry. Relevant modelling approaches may include: DEM; FEM; interface/discontinuity tracking; stochastic network modeling; MD; MC; multiscale modeling; theoretical modeling.

Scholarship details

Under funding from the Australian Mineral Science Research Institute (AMSRI), the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is offering full a scholarship, or top-up of an exsisting scholarship, for one PhD candidate (3 years) to commence as soon as possible. Open for Australian & New Zealand citizens.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Moisture Map: A soil moisture monitoring, prediction and reporting system for sustainable land and water management

Research scope

The project seeks to develop a prototype real-time soil moisture prediction tool using a land surface model, numerical weather prediction, and satellite observations of soil moisture from SMOS, the first ever soil moisture dedicated mission.  This will include opportunities to be involved in field work and airborne remote sensing campaigns, as well as data interpretation and modelling. The project involves collaboration between the Universities of Melbourne and Newcastle in Australia, University of Reading in the United Kingdom, CSIRO Land and Water, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, CESBIO in Toulouse, France and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.

Candidate requirements

We are inviting applications from students who have or are about to graduate with a Bachelors degree with Honours in Engineering, Surveying, Earth Science, Mathematics, Physics, Soil Science or other relevant scientific discipline.

Scholarship details

There is the opportunity for up to 5 doctoral scholars to be a part of this project. The project includes a scholarship top-up of approximately A$5000pa, to be combined with a University based scholarship, totalling $25000pa.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

Multi-physics models for drop coalescence

Research scope

The engineering of reliable interactions in emulsions and colloidal dispersions opens up a range of prospects for superior materials handling in a range of processing and waste applications, including in the minerals industry. The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering supports a large experimental program on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). These efforts are complemented by mathematical modeling aimed at describing the dynamic interactions witnessed under the AFM, and applying the dynamic interfacial interactions modeling capability to engineering problems. One example of an interesting interaction scenario in a colloidal dispersion is drop coalescence dictated by Marangoni convection, driven by the multi-physics and multi-scale coupling of fluid flow, surface tension, heat and mass transfer and thermodynamics. Theoretical modeling has been most successful in bridging between length scales with ease, but new physics and phenomenology such mass transfer and interfacial turbulence represent major challenges requiring significant model upgrades. This project therefore embraces both theoretical and computational efforts.

Scholarship details

Under funding from the Australian Mineral Science Research Institute (AMSRI), the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is offering full scholarships, or top-ups of other scholarships, for one PhD candidate (3 years) to commence as soon as possible. Open for Australian and New Zealand citizens.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Optimisation of Sludge Processing and Membrane Permeability in MBR Processing of Waste Water

The project premise is that future recycling of industrial and domestic waste water, a key to water sustainability, will involve greater utilisation of membrane processes. A trend in waste water processing is the use of Membrane Bioreactors (MBR's). They have already proven useful in reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) in product stream water, decreasing plant footprint and decreasing sludge volume through greater in process residence times for the solids components. Despite these obvious advantages, the prediction of fouling, the optimisation of cleaning cycles, the influences on sludge dewatering properties and the operating window that provides the optimal flow to fouling and sludge dewatering characteristics is poorly understood.

The aim of this project is to provide a quantitative basis for assessment and operation of MBR's in aerobic processing environments. It will require laboratory and field work as well as development of operational models. The field work will require travel to France. The expected outcome is an enhanced operational understanding of MBR's that will improve the quality of water recycle in our society.

Scholarship details

Under funding from Veolia Environmental, a scholarship is available for 1 PhD candidate (3 years) to commence as soon as possible. The scholarship will be at the normal APA(I) rate of $25400 per annum. The scholarship is open to Australian & New Zealand citizens and international students who themselves have an international fee waiver scholarship.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Signal processing techniques for estimation of brain activation patterns in functional MRI

Neuronal activity is indirectly observed in functional MRI (fMRI) studies, via the measured Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) signal. fMRI is capable of localising specific brain centres and networks, of great interest to the cognitive neuroscience and neurology communities, and is used as a pre-surgical planning tool. This PhD project involves formalism of the detection of brain activity from the BOLD signal as a statistical signal processing problem, and subsequent application of large-scale modelling and estimation techniques that are suitable for application to the whole brain 4-dimensional experimental fMRI datasets.  Implementation of signal and image processing algorithms will make use of joint supercomputing resources between the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Howard Florey Institute.

Scholarship details

There is funding for one PhD Student to commence work on the project, funded by an APA(I) scholarship of approximately $25000 per annum. The scholarship is open for Australian & New Zealand citizens.

Candidate requirements

The PhD candidate should have a Bachelors (with 1st class Honours) or Masters in Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics or a related discipline.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Smart polymer development and application as stimulant responsive flocculants

Research scope

The importance of efficient separation of water from solid particles in slurries produced from mining or paper milling processes, is gaining emphasis with increasing environmental regulation and economic rationalisation. High molecular weight polymers, called flocculants, are commonly used to induce aggregation and settling of slurry particles. This project investigates the development and use of flocculants that respond to stimuli such as changes in temperature or acidity, to manipulate particle-particle interactions. The approach provides a strategy for improving dewatering efficiency by producing both fast sedimentation of fine particles (by aggregation) and dense (low moisture) sediment beds.

There are several methods of controlling the inter-particle forces to be either attractive or repulsive. The use of pH, temperature or light sensitive "smart" polymers appears to have the potential for significant reduction in mineral tailings volume and enhanced water recovery. Preliminary results with model colloids indicate that for the pH and temperature controlled systems up to 40% reduction in sediment volume is possible within a few hours.

The aim of the project is to synthesise and investigate the use of novel homo- and co-polymers which respond to stimuli such as temperature and or light for dewatering applications. The influence of polymer properties such as molecular weight, fraction of charged monomers and responsive unit chemistry on the polymer solution properties, polymer adsorption and suspension behaviour will be investigated.

Scholarship details

There is funding for one PhD Student to commence work on the project. This will be funded at the APA(1) rate of approximately $25000 per annum. The scholarship is open for Australian & New Zealand citizens.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.

 

 

Using pressure reduction to remove liquids from powder compacts: application to ceramic powder processing of near-net-shape components

Research scope

Materials scientists can produce ceramic materials in the lab in small quantity with any imaginable property. These ceramics will enable emerging technologies such as advanced heat engines and electronics. The obstacle to their widespread use is the lack of low cost, reliable processes for complex shaping. The PhD project will contribute to the development of an innovative process for producing high strength near-net-shape advanced ceramic components. The process requires a liquid (the vehicle for the ceramic powder during shape forming) to be removed by pressure reduction without damaging the ceramic component. The process will minimise moulding time and eliminate the drying stage (factors limiting high volume production).

The focus of the PhD project is to develop a better understanding of the flow of liquids through powder compacts under conditions where the pressure gradient driving the flow is such that the liquid flashes to vapor as it permeates through the powder compact.

Scholarship details

There is funding for one PhD Student to commence work on the project. This will be funded at the APA(1) rate of approximately $25000 per annum. The scholarship is open for Australian & New Zealand citizens.

Further enquiries

Application help

For application help please contact David Strover, Research Services Unit, Engineering.