Brisbane, Australia
The School of Chemical Engineering is an international leader in the chemical engineering field and has an excellent international reputation which has been built over four decades at the University. With 35 academic staff, including 17 professors, the School provides quality programs and leadership in chemical engineering education, research and development, and expert consulting to support the process industries. The School conducts undergraduate teaching in the disciplines of chemical, biological, environmental and metallurgical engineering and teaches into postgraduate programs in growing fields including integrated water management, energy, and petroleum engineering. The School’s project centered curriculum was recently chosen in a RAE & MIT study as one of six global exemplars in leading engineering education. UQ Chemical Engineering was ranked in the top 16 worldwide in the 2012 QS subject rankings for chemical engineering and was the top ranking school in Australia. It was also given the highest score awarded for chemical engineering in Australia in the recent ERA study.
The School’s website can be found at http://www.chemeng.uq.edu.au/
The role: We are seeking PhD candidates to work on a variety of different industry focused projects in the field of coal science and technology, and covering the disciplines of chemical engineering and earth sciences. One project is aimed at gaining a fundamental understanding of low permeability in coal, in order to find new ways to increase permeability for a particular site and enhance gas productivity. A second project is aimed at obtaining fundamental understanding of fines generation and movement in coal seams. Another project is aimed at understanding the microstructure of coal as it converts to coke using a variety of sophisticated tools including high temperature rheometry, in order to find new ways to make high strength coke.
The candidates will present their findings to both the industrial and academic communities and will be expected to articulate their findings in peer reviewed journal publications.Â
The person: Applicants should have (or soon to complete) an undergraduate degree in chemical, mechanical or materials engineering, or in chemistry or materials science, or related discipline. An interest in high quality research leading to industry innovation is also essential. An interest in developing expertise in the field of coal science and technology is desirable.
Remuneration: Stipends are valued at AUD$30,000 per year tax free for three years with the opportunity to increase each year based on successful completion of agreed tasks and with the possibility of an additional six month extension. Both Australian and International applicants are welcome to apply. There is also a possibility of a scholarship to cover tuition fees for high quality international applicants. Top-up scholarships would be available for applicants already holding another relevant scholarship.
Enquiries: For enquiries please contact Dr Karen Steel, email karen.steel@uq.edu.au or telephone +61-7-3365-3977. If interested please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your reasons for applying, preferred project area, and suitability for PhD level research, to Dr Karen Steel, either by post to The School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane Qld 4072, or by email to karen.steel@uq.edu.au.
Applications close: 31 December 2013
Job No.: 495287
UQ is an equal opportunity employer.