Jan Zika

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.