Tim Fletcher

Fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of Melbourne focused on smart stormwater grids , urban hydrology , environmental economics , and environmental engineering . The project is part of an Australian Research Council Industry Laureate Fellowship in partnership with Melbourne Water and is based at Burnley Campus, Melbourne . The research aims to develop and evaluate Australia’s first real-time controlled “smart rainwater tank grid” to improve urban waterway health, reduce stormwater impacts, and support ecological outcomes, including protection of platypus habitat in Monbulk Creek. You may work on hydrological and flood modelling, statistical and spatial analysis, environmental and economic modelling, smart infrastructure and real-time control systems, and ecological/stormwater outcome assessment. The project sits within the Waterway Ecosystem Research Group (WERG) and offers a multidisciplinary environment spanning hydrology, ecology, engineering, economics, and smart infrastructure. Funding: fully funded PhD scholarship with a $39,500 p.a. tax-free stipend , plus operating funds, for 4 years full-time . Eligibility: Honours (H1 or 2A) or Masters in Engineering, Hydrology, Environmental Science, Economics, Mathematics, or a related field. Strong communication skills are required. Desirable skills include hydrological/flood modelling, R, Python, GIS, and cost-benefit analysis. Open to Australian and New Zealand applicants, with outstanding international applicants also considered. How to apply: Submit a CV with referees, academic transcripts, a cover letter, and a brief statement addressing the selection criteria. Applications are reviewed as they are received until the position is filled. Contact Dr Matthew Burns for enquiries.

New PhD opportunity at the University of Melbourne on connecting real-time control of urban stormwater to in-stream hydrodynamic conditions . The project focuses on how real-time control (RTC) of stormwater storages such as tanks, ponds, and wetlands affects downstream flow routing, stream hydraulics, physical habitat, and geomorphology. A key case study is the Monbulk Creek smart water network , with an aim to generalise findings beyond the study area using modelling approaches. Possible research directions include: (1) flow routing effects from stormwater release sites to target reaches, including release size, streamflow, and seasonality; (2) development and testing of geomorphic objectives for RTC of urban stormwater; and (3) simulations of RTC algorithm performance incorporating habitat and geomorphic objectives. Applicants should have strong numeric and data analysis skills, plus excellent written and verbal communication. Essential background includes surface hydrology , stream hydraulics , and fluvial geomorphic processes . Helpful experience includes hydrodynamic modelling (TUFLOW, HEC-RAS), hydrologic time-series analysis, sediment transport modelling, and programming in Python and R . Funding includes a tax-free scholarship of AUD 39,500 per year , with a small supplement possibly available. Interested candidates are invited to contact Tim Fletcher or Kathy Russell directly for more information.