Green Energy-Powered Offshore Aquaculture

Floating offshore infrastructure is emerging as a critical enabler of clean energy and sustainable food production. These PhD opportunities are part of a prestigious Future Fellowship funded by the Australian Research Council, aiming to unlock the full potential of floating wind turbines, floating solar farms, and offshore aquaculture systems. These novel systems are highly affected by complex and nonlinear wave-structure interactions that challenge current design and engineering practices.

We are seeking a PhD student to investigate the feasibility of green-energy powered (such as floating solar, floating wind) offshore aquaculture systems.

Students will join a world-class research team led by Associate Professor Wenhua Zhao, a recognised leader in offshore hydrodynamics and a Future Fellow of the Australian Research Council.

The project offers access to leading-edge computational resources, experimental facilities, and real-world field data from industrial partners. The team collaborates closely with international experts from Oxford, MIT, and Europe, and maintains strong industry links with the marine renewable energy sector. Students will receive tailored training in numerical modelling, lab experiments and field data analysis, and will be supported in building strong academic and professional networks.

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of fluid mechanics, hydrodynamics and ocean engineering would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of marine renewable energy and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of ocean engineering, coastal engineering, or oceanography is highly desirable.

You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) by 1 March, 2026 1 March, 2026.

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
2. Prepare your documentation.
3. If you have any questions about whether the project is suitable for your research interests, contact Associate Professor Wenhua Zhao (wenhua.zhao@uq.edu.au).

When you apply

To apply, submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program. You don't need to apply separately for the project or scholarship. How to submit an EOI

In your EOI, complete the ‘Scholarship/Sponsorship’ section with the following details:

1. Are you applying for an advertised project: 'Yes'
2. Project: 'Research project scholarship'
3. Scholarship Code Listed in the Advertisement: AQUACULTURE-ZHAO
4. Link to Scholarship Advertisement: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/green-energy-powered-offshore-aquaculture

Submit an EOI