PhD Opportunities in Sustainable Energy, Thermochemical Conversion, and Mine Rehabilitation at Curtin University Curtin University in Australia

Curtin University in Perth, Australia is advertising two PhD project opportunities through its Higher Degree by Research portal, with applications aligned to the upcoming RTP scholarship round.

The first project focuses on descriptor-guided design of integrated oxygen–carbon carrier materials for hydrogen-rich biomass conversion. This research sits at the intersection of chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, and sustainable energy. It explores sorption-enhanced chemical looping gasification, hydrogen production, carbon capture, thermochemical conversion, catalyst/material architecture, and cyclic stability. The project combines advanced materials synthesis, thermochemical reactor experimentation, and materials characterisation to understand how spatial arrangement, oxygen mobility, and active-site proximity affect hydrogen yield and coke resistance.

The second project is spatially engineered interfaces for moisture–reaction coupling governing rhizosphere activation in iron ore tailings. This project is strongly connected to environmental science, chemical engineering, materials science, and mine rehabilitation. It investigates engineered biochar–mineral interfaces, moisture transport, reactive transport, microbial activation, and plant establishment in iron ore tailings under arid conditions. The work aims to develop predictive frameworks for rehabilitation of extreme substrates and improve long-term vegetation establishment and closure outcomes.

The post states that both domestic and international students are welcome. The ideal candidate should be motivated and technically strong, with a background in chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, energy engineering, environmental engineering, environmental science, soil science, or related fields. Helpful experience includes laboratory experimentation, thermal analysis, reactor operation, materials characterisation, MATLAB, environmental testing, and data analysis.

Funding is linked to the RTP scholarship round, and preferred candidates may be considered for an RTP scholarship. An internship opportunity is also mentioned. The application window is the Central Scholarship round from 1 July to 31 July 2026.

To apply, interested candidates should review the project pages and submit an Expression of Interest to Dr Arun Vuppaladadiyam. Enquiries can be sent to [email protected].