Three Fully Funded Industry-Linked PhD Scholarships in Copper: From Ore to Flowsheet Murdoch University in Australia

Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia is offering three fully funded PhD scholarships in an industry-linked ARC-funded research program in partnership with BHP. The project theme is Copper: From Ore to Flowsheet, spanning the full copper value chain from ore geology and mineralogy through extractive processing and impurity management to techno-economic and life cycle assessment.

These PhD positions are designed for candidates with strong interests in economic geology, geometallurgy, extractive metallurgy, applied chemistry, materials characterisation, process modelling, sustainability, and resource assessment. The program is deliberately interdisciplinary and includes three parallel PhD projects:

Project 1 focuses on copper ore mineralogy and economic geology, looking at ore types, alteration, textures, geochemistry, and element deportment to understand how geology controls ore and concentrate quality and downstream processing behaviour.

Project 2 investigates copper concentrates, aiming to improve metal recovery, valuable by-product recovery, and impurity removal through extractive metallurgy, separation chemistry, reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and microanalytical characterisation.

Project 3 develops integrated copper processing flowsheets using techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment, assessing costs, emissions, energy scenarios, and robustness under realistic ore and concentrate variability.

The successful applicants will join a cohort of three PhD students, a postdoctoral fellow, and Honours students working with scientists at Murdoch University and BHP. The research environment includes major analytical and characterisation infrastructure such as in situ PXRD/SAXS, SEM-EDS, ICP-MS, ICP-OES, TGA/DSC, Raman spectroscopy, and access through formal agreements to the facilities at the University of Western Australia and Curtin University. The group also has access to advanced national-scale facilities including the Australian Synchrotron and the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering.

Funding is generous and clearly defined. Each scholarship includes a tax-free living stipend of AUD $37,000 per year for three years, with a possible six-month extension subject to satisfactory progress. Tuition fees are fully covered: domestic students pay no tuition fees, while international students receive a tuition fee waiver valued at approximately AUD $44,000 per year for up to four years. The project also provides operating funds for equipment, consumables, analytical work, conference travel, and facility access where relevant.

The university is seeking applicants with a suitable master’s-level or equivalent background, strong research potential, and good communication skills. Relevant academic backgrounds include geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, chemical engineering, materials engineering, applied chemistry, process engineering, environmental engineering, industrial ecology, and related fields. English language proficiency meeting Murdoch University HDR admission requirements is required where applicable.

Applications are due by 31 August 2026. Candidates must email a single application to the principal supervisor of their first-choice project, with a CV, transcripts, English test report if available, and a cover letter of up to 400 words explaining the chosen project, motivation, and an initial approach to the open question. Applicants may also name a second-choice project in the cover letter.

This is a strong opportunity for students wanting industry-linked doctoral training in copper processing, mineral systems, and sustainable resource development in one of Australia’s major mining and research hubs.