Western Sydney University Project Scholarships

Western Sydney University is advertising multiple project scholarships for PhD candidates across engineering, medicine, nursing, built environment, health sciences, and education-related research.

These opportunities are tied to specific supervisors and projects, including:

• Numerical and AI modelling of screening, briquetting and agglomeration with Professor Kejun Dong in the School of Engineering. This project focuses on process modelling, multiscale simulation, DEM/CFD/FEM/MD, AI optimisation, and low-carbon mineral/metallurgical processing.

• Understanding links between neurodegeneration and cancer with Associate Professor Tara Roberts in the School of Medicine. The project examines neurodegeneration, cancer biology, tumour microenvironment, and neuronal activity in cancer growth and treatment response.

• Optimising early recognition and timely management of sepsis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Emergency departments with Dr Gladis Kabil in the School of Nursing & Midwifery. This is a health equity and clinical pathways project focused on sepsis, Indigenous health, emergency care, and mixed-methods research.

• Agentic AI-based framework for analysing social value creation in housing with Dr Krisanthi Seneviratne in the School of Built Environment & Design. The project combines housing, social sustainability, smart technologies, IoT sensors, home automation, and LLM-based decision support.

• Health system effects on early recognition and timely treatment of sepsis in emergency departments with Dr Gladis Kabil. This project uses health services research, digital health, data analytics, and emergency department system data.

• Non-invasive brain stimulation for improving post-surgical outcomes in people with endometriosis with Dr Rocco Cavaleri in the BrainStAR Lab at Western Sydney University’s Campbelltown campus. The project spans neuromodulation, pain science, clinical trials, EEG, biomarkers, and rehabilitation research.

• Next-Generation PFAS Management: Separation, Detection and Treatment with Dr Zuhaib Siddiqui in the School of Engineering. This project covers PFAS, water treatment, adsorption, environmental remediation, sensors, and materials research.

• From Living Lab to Curriculum: Industry-Engaged Circular Design Pedagogy for Net-Zero Built Environment Education in Western Sydney with Associate Lecturer Toktam Bashirzadeh Tabrizi in the School of Built Environment & Design. This project focuses on circular design, sustainability, LCA, MMC, pedagogy, and curriculum development.

The scholarships provide a tax-free stipend of AUD 35,188 per year for up to 3 years. Domestic candidates receive RTP Fee Offset support, while international candidates may receive the same stipend and, in some projects, a tuition fee waiver. Some projects also mention conference support, fieldwork support, additional costs, and Overseas Student Health Cover.

Eligibility generally requires an honours degree, research masters, coursework masters with a research component, or equivalent qualifications. Applicants should show strong academic performance and relevant interest or experience in the project area. International applicants must meet English language requirements where applicable.

The closing date shown for the listed projects is 31 August 2026. Applicants are asked to submit an Expression of Interest first, then complete the full application before the deadline.