Diego Ramirez-Lovering

Monash University’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (MADA) is advertising two fully funded PhD scholarships in the 3Rivers Doctoral Network for research on climate-resilient urban transformations in the Asia-Pacific. The opportunity sits within the Monash Informal Cities Lab and Transforming Cities Hub , building on long-running Living Lab research through RISE and CARP . The PhD projects are practice-based and interdisciplinary, connecting architecture , landscape architecture , urban design , urban planning , and allied fields with real-world sites and partners. Research will focus on how climate adaptation and equitable urban transformation can be implemented and scaled in rapidly urbanising river basins across Indonesia , Malaysia , and India . Expressions of Interest are invited across four interconnected lines of inquiry: participatory design , system sustainability (including operations and maintenance of decentralised infrastructure), scaling solutions for impact , and building climate resilience at watershed scale. Example topics include nature-based solutions for wastewater and watershed management, settlement upgrading in climate-vulnerable contexts, circular economy and waste-to-resource systems, distributed and decentralised infrastructure, and adaptive planning pathways under multiple climate scenarios. The scholarships are fully funded and include a tax-free living allowance of $37,145 per annum for 3.5 years plus a tuition fee waiver . International students should note that flights, relocation costs, and OSHC are not covered. Successful candidates will join an international, multidisciplinary cohort and may have opportunities for sessional teaching. Eligibility highlights include a First-Class Honours or Master’s degree in a relevant field, strong analytical and research skills, design or creative-practice research capability, interest in interdisciplinary and field-based research in the Asia-Pacific, and excellent English communication skills. Applicants must meet Monash PhD admission requirements and enrol full-time on campus. The closing date is 26 May 2026, 11:55pm AEST . Applications are submitted as a single Expression of Interest by email to [email protected] with transcripts, English-language evidence if applicable, CV, portfolio, academic writing sample, and a research proposal. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed via Zoom in English.

The 3Rivers Doctoral Network at Monash University offers a unique, fully funded PhD scholarship focused on climate-resilient urban transformations in the Asia-Pacific region. Based within the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (MADA) at the Caulfield campus, successful candidates will join the Monash Informal Cities Lab and Transforming Cities Hub, engaging in multidisciplinary research that addresses the urgent challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate-related risks to water systems, settlements, and infrastructure. This international doctoral cohort investigates how science-based, collaborative, and practice-oriented research can enable climate adaptation and resilience across three rapidly urbanising river basins: Citarum River (Indonesia), Klang River (Malaysia), and a basin in India’s Greater Mumbai region. The program builds on nearly a decade of Living Lab interventions through the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) and the Citarum Action Research Program (CARP), offering access to established Living Lab sites and primary datasets. Doctoral research will focus on developing, testing, and scaling climate adaptation strategies within complex riverine urban systems. Practice-based projects may include nature-based solutions for wastewater and watershed management, settlement upgrading in climate-vulnerable contexts, circular economy and waste-to-resource systems, distributed and decentralised infrastructure, and adaptive planning pathways under multiple climate scenarios. The aim is to generate transferable evidence, tools, and frameworks to support scaling and long-term system sustainability. Four interconnected research themes are available: Enabling Participatory Design (co-design with infrastructure delivery and governance), Enabling System Sustainability (operations & maintenance models for decentralised climate infrastructure), Scaling Solutions for Impact (socio-ecological and political conditions for systemic change), and Building Climate Resilience (distributed nature-based systems at watershed scale). Candidates may focus on one or combine multiple themes. The scholarship offers a tax-free living allowance of $37,145 per annum for 3.5 years and a Tuition Fee Waiver. International students are responsible for flights, relocation costs, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Opportunities for sessional teaching may be available. The program provides international exchange opportunities across Monash campuses in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India, and membership in a multidisciplinary doctoral cohort with training in translational and impact-oriented research. Applicants must have a First-Class Honours or Master’s degree in a relevant field (Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, or Planning), demonstrate strong analytical and research capability, design or creative-practice research skills, interest in interdisciplinary and field-based research in the Asia-Pacific region, initiative, teamwork, and excellent written and oral English communication skills. Research ability through publications is desirable. Applicants must meet Monash University PhD admission requirements, enrol full-time and on campus, and commence by October 2026. Supervision will be provided by Professor Diego Ramirez-Lovering, Dr Michaela Prescott, Dr Tanvi Maheshwari, and Dr Brendan Josey, with potential collaboration across Monash campuses. For eligibility details, visit the Monash course page. Submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) as a single attachment to [email protected] with the subject ‘3Rivers PhD scholarship’. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed via Zoom in English. The application deadline is Tuesday 26 May 2026, 11:55pm AEST. For further information, refer to the full position description and application link provided.