CSIRO PhD Top Up Scholarship – A DFT/AIMD study for Reactive Molecule Sensing using 2D Nanomaterials

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The Opportunity

• Are you passionate about a career in research?
• Want to access CSIRO’s world-class facilities and staff?
• Apply for a CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarship now!

CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarships provide enhanced opportunities in science and engineering for outstanding graduates enrolling in a PhD at Australian tertiary institutions. Collaborating with us to complete your PhD degree will give your research the edge. We offer you access to our leading scientists, engineers and mentors, the opportunity to take your research to the next level in our first-class facilities and first-hand experience in an environment where our innovative research really is changing the world for the better.

A CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarship is a supplementary award, which adds to the student’s support from a principal scholarship awarded by another body, e.g. RTP scholarship.  In all respects recipients of awards will be regarded as students of the University at which they are registered, and all rules relating to degree candidature and the primary award will apply. In particular, recipients will undertake research at CSIRO as a student of the university concerned and will not be employees of CSIRO.

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Project Title: A DFT/AIMD study for Reactive Small Molecule Sensing using 2D Nanomaterials

Project Details: Working with Professor Michelle Spencer at RMIT, this project entails reactive small molecules are commonly used industrially as fumigants to eliminate pests and microorganisms in the food supply chain. Many of these fumigants are highly toxic and can only be reliably tested at >1ppm levels. To overcome this limitation, new sensing materials such as 2D nanomaterials and 2D heterostructures will be investigated to enable ppb level sensing. This project will utilise computational modelling techniques including DFT and AIMD for in silico screening, and investigate the changes in surface chemistry imparted by these small highly reactive molecules.

Please note that this project is computational in nature. We encourage those with relevant computational modelling, condensed matter physics or computational chemistry education to apply. 

Contact:  For more information on the research project please contact Dr. Michael Breedon on 03 9545 7826 or email to [email protected]

Location: Clayton/Melbourne, VIC

Scholarship: Top-Up Scholarship of $10,000 per annum, plus a learning and development budget of $5,000 over the term of the studentship

Tenure: 3 years

Reference: 94312

Eligibility:

To be eligible to apply you must have (or expect to gain):

• first or upper second-class honours or equivalent in a relevant research area;
• admission to an Australian University as a PhD student;
• hold an appropriate visa to study in Australia (if international)*
• be no further than one year (FTE) into a PhD on commencing at CSIRO
• hold a primary scholarship; for example, a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or other primary scholarship of similar value
• not be in receipt of any other Top-Up Scholarship
• a university supervisor who is willing and able to supervise you; and
• be available to commence with CSIRO no later than 30 June 2024.

* International applicants must be residing in Australia and have the appropriate immigration approvals to allow them to take up the scholarship. 

Applications will be assessed on:

Quality and relevance of student project:  The primary assessment criterion for a CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarship is the quality and relevance of the project being proposed.  The research must be aligned with the advertised priority research area.

Academic calibre of the student:  The quality of the student is also critical to the assessment of a scholarship and candidates must hold (or expect to gain) a relevant first or upper second class honours (or equivalent) degree from a recognised university.

Availability of appropriate university supervision:  The relevance of the university supervisor’s research background and their willingness to supervise the student in collaboration with the CSIRO supervisor should also be made clear. 

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How to apply:

You will be required to:

submit a Resume/CV and Cover Letter (as one document) in the ‘Resume/CV’ field which includes:

• the names and contact details of two previous supervisors or academic/professional referees; and
• a one-page proposal stating how your research interests align with the project aims.

upload your academic results in the ‘Cover Letter’ field.

If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 984 220 and someone will be able to assist you. Outside business hours please email: [email protected] .

Applications Close

20 February 2024, 11:00pm AEDT