The ARC Centre of Excellence for Our Future Oceans, hosted at the University of New South Wales and involving leading Australian universities, is seeking expressions of interest from domestic PhD candidates (Australian or New Zealand citizens/permanent residents) for research commencing in mid to late 2026. This Centre brings together top scientists and engineers from UNSW, The Australian National University, The University of Queensland, The University of Western Australia, and University of Tasmania to address critical challenges facing Australia's oceans, including climate change, ocean acidification, marine heatwaves, sea-level rise, and coastal hazards. PhD students will have the opportunity to work across multiple universities and disciplines, engaging with industry partners such as CSIRO, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Geoscience Australia, and the Bureau of Meteorology. The Centre's research is organized into four main themes: Our Changing Oceans (physical and biophysical changes), Digital Oceans (data science, AI, and modelling), Science for Ocean Resilience (adapting to ocean change), and Science for Ocean Resources (sustaining the Blue Economy). Students will benefit from annual winter schools, field programs, shipboard experience, and internships, with a strong emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaboration and engagement with under-represented groups, including indigenous students. Applicants must have a strong academic record (Honours 1 equivalent) in a relevant field such as ocean science, marine engineering, environmental science, or related disciplines, and must secure an Australian Graduate Research Training Program Scholarship from their home university. The Centre does not directly provide funding, so scholarship application is essential. For more information and to apply, candidates should visit the Centre website, review the research themes and Chief Investigators, and contact individual Investigators to discuss project ideas and application processes. Key research keywords include ocean science, marine engineering, environmental science, climate change, oceanography, marine technology, data science, AI, machine learning, marine resilience, ocean resources, marine biology, coastal hazards, fisheries, and aquaculture.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Water Research Laboratory and the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) are offering PhD opportunities as part of a new Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project. The research focuses on coastal mapping and sand dune dynamics using satellite remote sensing, with applications in environmental science, civil engineering, and earth science. The project is in collaboration with several Australian and international partners, including government agencies and leading universities such as Université de Bordeaux/CNES and Delft University of Technology. PhD candidates will have the opportunity to work on advanced topics such as vegetation and dune dynamics from satellites, high-resolution coastal mapping, and the use of UAVs for monitoring coastal changes. The research will be supervised by a team of experts: Prof Kristen Splinter and Dr Yongjing Mao at UNSW, and A/Prof Javier Leon and Prof Stuart Phinn at UniSC. Students will also collaborate with the DCCEEW science team, including Tom Doyle and Dr Danial Khojasteh. Applicants should hold an Honours 1 equivalent from a BSc or a MSc with a substantial independent thesis completed within the last 5 years, in fields such as Civil Engineering, Remote Sensing, or Environmental Sciences. Prior research experience and publications are advantageous but not mandatory. Both domestic and international students are encouraged to apply, with multiple research projects available at both institutions. Funding details are not explicitly stated; applicants should consult the university websites for information on scholarships and financial requirements. International applicants must demonstrate financial capacity or secure funding through scholarships or sponsorships. All applicants must meet the English language requirements of the host university. To apply, candidates should visit the relevant university application pages, contact the listed supervisors with their CV and academic transcripts, and prepare all required supporting documents. Applications are submitted online via the university portals, with the option to indicate interest in scholarships during the process. Research areas: coastal mapping, sand dune dynamics, satellite remote sensing, water engineering, environmental science, UAVs Supervisors: Prof Kristen Splinter, Dr Yongjing Mao (UNSW); A/Prof Javier Leon, Prof Stuart Phinn (UniSC) Institutions: University of New South Wales, University of the Sunshine Coast Eligibility: Honours 1 or MSc with thesis, relevant degree, English proficiency, financial capacity for international students Application: Online via university portals, contact supervisors, prepare documents

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Water Research Laboratory and the University of Sunshine Coast (USC) are recruiting PhD students for a new ARC Linkage Project focused on coastal environmental science. This collaborative project involves partners from NSW DCCEEW, Northern Beaches Council, Noosa and Sunshine Coastal Regional Councils, University of Bordeaux/CNES, and TU Delft. Research areas include coastal mapping, vegetation and dune dynamics using satellite imagery, and high-resolution remote sensing technologies such as UAVs. At UNSW, domestic PhD opportunities are available under the supervision of Associate Professor Kristen Splinter and Yongjing Mao, with research topics centered on vegetation and dune dynamics from satellites. There is potential for collaboration with the DCCEEW science team. At USC, both international and domestic PhD positions are available, supervised by Javier Leon and Stuart Phinn, with projects focusing on targeted high-resolution satellite applications for coastal mapping and monitoring coastal dune changes using UAVs. Applicants should hold an Honours 1 equivalent from a BSc or a MSc with a substantial independent thesis completed within the last five years, in Civil Engineering, Remote Sensing, Environmental Sciences, or a related field. Prior research experience and publications are advantageous but not required. All applicants must meet UNSW English language requirements and demonstrate financial capacity for the duration of their studies. Additional program-specific requirements may apply. Funding details are not explicitly provided; applicants are encouraged to explore scholarship opportunities and may need to demonstrate financial support if self-funded. For more information on the application process, visit the UNSW HDR application page or contact the relevant supervisors directly. The research environment offers access to leading facilities and the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team on impactful coastal environmental projects. To apply, contact Kristen Splinter at UNSW ([email protected]) or Javier Leon at USC ([email protected]) for more information, prepare your CV and academic transcripts, and follow the HDR application process as outlined on the university websites. Indicate your interest in scholarships during the application if applicable.