Job No.: 666800
Location: Clayton campus
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: $35,013 AUD per annum 2024 full-time rate (tax-free stipend)

The successful applicant will receive a Research Living Allowance, at a current value of $35,013 AUD per annum 2024 full-time rate (tax-free stipend), indexed plus allowances as per RTP stipend scholarship conditions at: www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/scholarships/scholarship-policy-and-procedures

The Opportunity:

Products based on biogenic carbon (such as carbon dioxide captured from air) are emerging as front-runners in several markets – partly due to their ability to provide direct substitutes for fossil fuels without need for changes in engines and industrial processes. At the same time, they are likely to remain costlier to produce than their traditional counterparts for at least a decade. In the short-term, the financial viability of captured carbon products rests on superior market conditions for lower-carbon products compared to their conventional counterparts. 

As part of the certification of low carbon intensity products, a comprehensive cradle to grave life cycle analysis must be done. This is complicated by the lack of maturity of many carbon-to-products processes. In this PhD study, rigorous methods must be developed and validated to confirm the carbon intensity of a range of low carbon products and processes, providing insights and guidelines for future development of these processes.

Desired Student Skillset

Essential skills for this project include a background in Chemical Engineering and ability to model chemical systems using MATLAB or an equivalent programming language. Appreciation and passion for environmental sustainability and circular economy are required. Strong communication skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team are also required.

Applicants must demonstrate excellent communication and inter-personal skills, and the ability to conduct self-motivated research. The selection committee will prioritise applicants who hold an Australian (or equivalent international) Honours or Master’s degree (both in a relevant field), with a significant research component and first-class honours/H1 awarded.

Applicants currently in their final year of an Australian Bachelor's Honours degree will be considered for this scholarship, provided the degree is completed by the end of Semester 2, 2024.

How to apply

Please submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to Professor Paul Webley using this link: service.eng.monash.edu/servicedesk/customer/portal/6/group/7/create/73

Your EOIs should include:

• A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant's suitability
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of published works and contact details of two academic referees
• A full statement of academic record, supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
• Evidence of English-language proficiency (international applicants only)
• Current residency status
• Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed over Skype if necessary. The interviews will be conducted in English.

Please note: These documents will be used for an initial assessment, and you will need to re-submit copies of these documents, along with other additional documents, should you be given the opportunity to proceed with a formal application.

If you are successful with your EOI application you will need to submit a separate Monash University scholarship in one of the following rounds:

• Round 3, International closing 31st August 2024, 11:55pm AEDT
• Round 4, Domestic closing 31st October 2024, 11:55pm AEDT

For application questions please contact: Lilyanne Price, Lilyanne.Price@monash.edu

Applications Close: Applications will close when the role has been filled, no earlier than Thursday 31 October 2024, 11:55 pm AEDT

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