Training Opportunities

The Centre will provide an unparalleled opportunity for Higher Degree Research Students and Early Career Researchers to obtain world-class university-industry integrated research training with invaluable industry exposure.

The training program is designed to be highly innovative with four major integrated components of the skills and capacity building:

(a) Research training

(b) Industry placements

(c) Annual symposium

(d) Industrial training.

As we are in the final months of the Training Centre’s 5-year term, there are no current training opportunities available.

 

Are you interested in a PhD with an industry focus?

We are looking for highly motivated, passionate and competitive candidates for 3.5-year fully funded PhD positions in the Transforming Biosolids Training Centre. Successful candidates will join the Centre and will be working in multidisciplinary research teams within the Centre as well as working closely with our industry partners to advance functional and translational biosolids research, leading to novel applications and new market opportunities for the Australian biosolids industry.

About the PhD positions

PhD positions (known as ICHDR roles) are available within the three research themes which form the research focus of the Centre:

RESEARCH THEME 1: Improving Technologies

In this theme we will be looking at improving existing wastewater treatment processes/technologies and current beneficial routes as well as investigating new alternative technologies to reduce biosolids volume and transform them into high-value products.  Existing processes such as anaerobic digesters and advance treatment methods such as drying, thermal hydrolysis, pyrolysis, gasification and hydrothermal liquefaction will be studied in depth for benchmarking to realise their techno-commercial potential in different scenarios (i.e.urban versus regional water utilities).

RESEARCH THEME 2: Enhancing Product Applications

In this theme, we will investigate the transformation of biosolids into carbon based fertiliser/growing media/advance materials for its use in commercial farming systems (such as horticulture, agriculture and greenhouses) and non-farming systems (such as construction, energy, animal feed) to develop sustainable water treatment and farming systems by closing carbon and nutrient cycles.

RESEARCH THEME 3: Ensuring Sustainability

Developing technical solutions for biosolids transformation will not lead to enhanced and sustained industry opportunities if environmental regulations, policy frameworks and public perceptions are out of step with the science.  To this end, this theme will consider a number of topics that are central to the successful implementation of improved management of biosolids or related products relevant to water and agriculture industries and Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs). These include facilitating an understanding of biosolids and tackling odour to improve community acceptance, developing national guidelines, developing a framework for evidence-based risk assessment of biosolids and its related products, and measuring public perception of the social and environmental benefits of biosolids transformation. (Go to the OPPORTUNITIES  section below for possible Theme 3 PhD projects)

Within these three themes, ten (10) research projects have been designed by a team of leading researchers and industry experts.  The expected outcomes of the Transforming Biosolids Training Centre are to develop a group of new, highly trained, industry-ready researchers as well as advanced solutions across the three major themes: this will provide significant benefits in the economic value of new applications and market opportunities as well as deliver cost savings – all in an environmentally friendly manner.

A Transforming Biosolids Training Centre research degree is designed to prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers by building professional development activities into the degree program.  The first professional appointment after graduation will be determined not only by the research-specific technical skills gained during candidature but also the transferable generic skills and personal attributes.  The Transforming Biosolids Training Centre will therefore make available an extensive skills development program and requires all ICHDR candidates to develop a program of Professional Development as part of their degree candidature, in consultation with the Supervisory Team.

Who are we looking for?

Applications are invited from outstanding and enthusiastic graduates with relevant backgrounds (engineering, microbiology, chemistry, soil science or equivalent).

General recruitment and requirements

Interested candidates should have the following attributes:

• Hold an Honours degree in a relevant discipline or will receive this before the appointment date
• Does not hold a previous equivalent degree
• Analytical thinking, data analysis and critical problem-solving
• The ability to work in a multidisciplinary team in an international environment and to work independently
• An interest in and/or experience working with industry partners
• Fluency in written and oral English.

In accordance with the requirements of the ARC ITTC program, all ICHDR students will be required to complete 12-months in industry placements during their candidature.

How do I apply?

If this sounds like you, then please submit a formal Expression of Interest (EoI) which must include the following:

• Resume
• Cover Letter*
• Academic transcripts
• 2 referees

*Please identify your program/project areas of interest within your cover letter and provide 150 words on why you are interested in this program/project area.

Expression of Interest

Any inquiries are strongly encouraged and welcome as places are still available.  Please contact the Centre Manager at transformingbiosolids@rmit.edu.au

 

OPPORTUNITIES

University of New South Wales

NO CURRENT POSITIONS 

University of Queensland

NO CURRENT ADVERTISED POSITIONS 

Positions are based at the internationally recognised Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB) at the picturesque St Lucia campus, working on projects in conjunction with researchers and industry partners in the ARC Biosolids Training Centre.

The research programme contributes to projects associated with the ARC Biosolids Training Centre’s Theme 1 Improving Technologies and Theme 2 Enhancing Product Applications. All projects involve collaboration with University partners (RMIT, UNSW and UWA) and include placements with industry partners across Australia.

For information on positions, contact Professor Damien Batstone by email: d.batstone@uq.edu.au