Find a PhD or MPhil project with a scholarship
Scholarship-funded research projects
Explore our research projects with funded living stipend scholarships. You can filter by program type, research area and scholarship type, or use the keyword search field to find projects that suit your interests.
If you'd rather bring your own project, explore our scholarships (including top-up scholarships) and find a supervisor to support your project.
Valorisation of waste gases using gas fermenting microbes
This PhD scholarship targets the biotechnological conversion of greenhouse-gas-rich waste streams into sustainable fuels, food, feed, and chemicals. The research will employ gas‑fermenting microbes, with projects spanning bioprocess design and optimisation, multi-omics and systems biology, and computational and process modelling.
- Supervisor
- Professor Esteban Marcellen, Dr Lars Puiman and Dr Isabella Casini
- Location
- St Lucia
- Research areas
- Biological sciences, Engineering
Advancing AI tools for hazard detection in potable water sources
Provision of safe drinking water to Australian communities requires accurate monitoring of water supplies. New hazard monitoring tools are urgently required to detect contaminants and respond to contamination events.
- Supervisor
- Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon and Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
- Location
- Dutton Park
- Research areas
- Environmental sciences, Health sciences, Mathematical sciences
Chemical and pathogen exposure during mass gatherings
Before the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it’s important to understand how events can impact the population and environment. This project will establish methods for chemical/pathogen exposures, using samples collected during mass events.
- Supervisor
- Dr Richard Bade and Dr Jake O'Brien
- Location
- Dutton Park
- Research areas
- Environmental sciences
Climate-resilient cyanotoxins elimination in drinking water treatment
Freshwater harmful cyanobacteria are a growing concern in Australian drinking water. Investigate the presence of cyanobacteria/cyanotoxins detected in Queensland surface water and their fate in conventional as well as novel drinking water treatment processes.
- Supervisor
- Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho and Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
- Location
- Dutton Park
- Research areas
- Environmental sciences
Developing new methods for measuring the emergence of vaping products in Australia
Develop a novel monitoring tool that can assess the prevalence of vaping both nicotine and related substances across Australia to assess the effectiveness of government regulations.
- Supervisor
- Associate Professor Phong Thai and Dr Qiuda Zheng
- Location
- Dutton Park
- Research areas
- Environmental sciences
Identification and prioritisation of emerging cyanotoxins using advanced sampling and analytical approaches
Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are increasing across Australia, yet many cyanotoxins remain poorly characterised and undetected. This PhD will develop advanced analytical and sampling tools to identify, prioritise, and monitor emerging cyanotoxins, supporting improved water safety and management.
- Supervisor
- Dr Rory Verhagen and Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
- Location
- Dutton Park
- Research areas
- Environmental sciences
Improving adaptive responses to the health impacts of climate change through effective communication
Climate change poses a recognised threat to human health. Increases in extreme weather and climate events will affect health directly and indirectly. The project applies a communication lens to health impacts of climate change.
- Supervisor
- Professor Kelly Fielding and Dr Jagadish Thaker
- Location
- St Lucia
- Research areas
- Environmental sciences, Language, communication and culture, Psychology
Investigating UV-induced degradation of tattoo ink pigments and identification of transformation products using high-resolution mass spectrometry
Tattoo inks are complex mixtures of pigments and additives that can undergo chemical transformations when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Investigate the degradation pathways of various tattoo inks under controlled UV exposure using a UV simulator.
- Supervisor
- Professor Kevin Thomas and Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
- Location
- Dutton Park
- Research areas
- Environmental sciences
Defining the controlling mechanisms of flashover in compartment fires
Revisit the fundamental processes governing the transition to flashover in compartment fires. Apply modern measurement techniques to generate new insights into the heat and mass transfer phenomena that drive flashover in contemporary built environments.
- Supervisor
- Dr David Morrisset and Associate Professor David Lange
- Location
- St Lucia
- Research areas
- Engineering
Printed optoelectronics for wearable sensors and health-monitoring applications
Develop functional nanomaterials using solution-processable printing techniques for next-generation wearable sensors and health-monitoring applications. By leveraging low-temperature, large-area fabrication, we aim to create cost-effective, flexible optoelectronics capable of integration with wearable and healthcare devices.
- Supervisor
- Dr Miaoqiang Lyu and Professor Lianzhou Wang
- Location
- St Lucia
- Research areas
- Chemical sciences, Engineering, Health sciences, Physical sciences