PhD scholarships

Reconfigurable Systems - Towards Zero Waste

The PhD scholarships in this research programme have all been recruited. 

Future Computing - Towards Low Energy Tech

Modelling approaches for percolating nanoparticle/nanotube networks

This project aims to develop a modelling framework describing the complicated but sought-after highly non-linear electric properties of networks made from metallic/semiconducting nanoparticles or nanotubes. These networks show interesting properties when prepared close to the percolation threshold where conducting pathways are formed. The ability to predict macroscopic properties from interactions of the nanocomponents leads the way to design intelligent materials with applications as stretch sensors and for neuromorphic computing. This work will be done in close collaboration with experimental groups.

Ideal candidate

We are looking for a student with a strong Honours or Master's degree in physics, engineering or a related field with a background in computational modelling.

How to apply

To apply, please send a CV, academic record, and the names and contact details of two referees to: Dr Elke Pahl at Elke.Pahl@auckland.ac.nz, with "PhD project: Modelling approaches for percolating nanoparticle/nanotube networks" in the subject line.

Pūtaiao Māori Research Programme - Sustainable Resource Use

Projects incorporating indigenous knowledge via collaboration and co-design are available. Contact the Programme Leader, Professor Pauline Harris, from Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Rakaipaaka and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, directly if interested. Potential candidates will be hosted at Victoria University under the supervision of the MacDiarmid Institute Principal Investigators.

Catalytic Architectures - Towards Zero Carbon

The PhD scholarships in this research programme have all been recruited. 

External PhD scholarship opportunities with MacDiarmid Institute Investigators

Please see this section for externally-funded PhD scholarship opportunities which will be supervised by MacDiarmid Institute Investigators. While the students will be affiliated with the MacDiarmid Institute and will automatically be part of the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientists Association (MESA), the scholarships are not funded by the MacDiarmid Institute.

Leveraging Ferromagnetism in Superconducting Electronics

This PhD project focusses on the incorporation of rare-earth nitride materials in superconducting electronics, especially to fill the gap in available cryogenic memory technology. The candidate will undertake fundamental materials science on thin films and devices. The project will encompass experimental and computational studies of the electronic and magnetic properties of the rare-earth nitrides and the design, modelling, and fabrication of memory structures and circuits, and has applications in superconducting and quantum computing.

Eligibility

• A strong background in physics or possibly electrical engineering.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving abilities, along with strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Ideally, but not necessarily, experience in magnetic and superconducting materials.

Total value and tenure of scholarship

NZD$35,000 per year, plus university tuition for three years.

How to apply

The requirements for the application can be found at https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/fgr/apply/how. Before submitting a formal application, interested candidates must send a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a brief statement of interest to Professor Ben Ruck (ben.ruck@vuw.ac.nz) and Dr Simon Granville (simon.granville@vuw.ac.nz) with "PhD project: rare-earth nitride cryogenic devices" in the subject line.

Processing and characterisation of Ti-Fe alloys as H₂ storage materials from NZ feedstocks (2 PhD scholarships)

Green hydrogen will become a pivotal vector to carry and store renewable energy in a future net-zero carbon New Zealand. Ti-Fe alloys demonstrate high hydrogen uptake at ambient conditions and are an attractive candidate material for stationary bulk hydrogen storage applications. Nevertheless, several key issues require further investigation, such as surface activation, cycle stability, impurity tolerance, and supply volume of the metallic feedstocks.

Two PhD candidates will explore the production and processing of Ti-Fe alloys from New Zealand-sourced feedstocks using metallurgical and mechanochemical methods as part of collaborative research within the German-New Zealand Green Hydrogen alliance. The alloys prepared will be characterised by a range of methods (XRD, SEM/EDS, ICP-MS, XRF, DSC), and their hydrogen storage capacity and kinetics studied using custom 'Sieverts apparatus'. Furthermore, the presence of common impurities within the Ti-Fe alloys will be systematically studied to better understand how locally-sourced feedstocks are likely to perform as hydrogen storage materials, including the effect of surface impurities on reactivity/diffusion characteristics.

Supervision and support for the project will be provided by staff at the University of Otago and University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and the Institute of Hydrogen Technology, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Germany. The students will be enrolled at the University of Otago, but it is expected that the candidates will spend time at both the New Zealand and German host institutions over the course of the PhD studies.

Eligibility

The applicant needs a degree equivalent to the 4-year BSc (Honours) degree in New Zealand, with 1st class Honours, or an MSc or Postgraduate Diploma in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, or equivalent. Practical experience with hydrogen materials, metallurgy, mechanochemistry and/or the characterisation techniques listed above will be advantageous. Māori and Pasifika students are particularly encouraged to apply. Candidates should satisfy the requirements for admission as a PhD candidate at the University of Otago.

Total value and tenure of scholarship

The PhD scholarship will include tuition fees and a stipend of NZD$30,000 per year (tax-free) for three years.

How to apply

To apply, please send your full CV, including academic record, research experience, and the names and contact details of two referees, to: Associate Professor Nigel Lucas, nigel.lucas@otago.ac.nz, and Professor Alex Yip, alex.yip@canterbury.ac.nz, with "PhD project: Hydrogen storage materials PhD" in the subject line.

Hydrogen generation with sustainable resources - a combined molecular, computational and engineering approach

There are three PhD positions available in Chemistry at the University of Otago - two positions in synthetic inorganic chemistry and one in spectroscopy of inorganic systems. The supervisors are Professor James Crowley and Professor Keith Gordon.

Hydrogen is an important fuel source and commodity chemical used in a wide range of industrial processes. Unfortunately, almost all the hydrogen produced currently is obtained from the steam reforming process which is both energy intensive and generates carbon dioxide as a by-product. There are already several photocatalytic systems, including bimetallic metal complexes that can efficiently generate hydrogen in this way. However, the current technologies use Noble metals which are expensive and rare. We will use earth abundant transition metals such as iron, cobalt and copper by re-designing the photocatalytic systems. This project is a Marsden funded project involving researchers in Jena, Germany (Professors Kupfer, Shilitto and Weigand) and Nottingham, UK (Professor George) The project may involve visits to collaborators in Germany and the UK.

Kindly contact either jcrowley@chemistry.otago.ac.nz or keith.gordon@otago.ac.nz with any questions.

Eligibility

The projects involve the synthesis of new metal complexes and their study using spectroscopy and computational chemistry. Two of the researchers will focus more on synthesis with the third undertaking computational studies and spectroscopic measurements including transient spectroscopy. Some overlap of expertise and interest is welcome. Experience in any of these areas is useful.

Total value and tenure of scholarship

The scholarship provides a non-taxed stipend of NZD$35,000 per year plus the PhD tuition fee for three years.

How to apply

As part of your application package, kindly include:

• CV (including 2-3 referee information)
• Cover letter (this may include: a description of why you want to undertake a PhD; how your previous experiences have prepared you for the research project that you are applying for; what your passions are within or outside of academia)

Applications should be sent to jcrowley@chemistry.otago.ac.nz or keith.gordon@otago.ac.nz, with "PhD project: Hydrogen generation with sustainable resources" in the subject line, and will be accepted beginning February 2024 until the positions are filled.

New industry-funded PhD studentship: Connecting structure and rheology in dairy protein concentrates

New and improved concentrated dairy products are constantly being designed for their nutritional value and health benefits. The goal of this project is to use both theory and experiments to develop rheological models for emerging products. The project is affiliated with the MacDiarmid Institute and funded by Fonterra, and represents a rare opportunity to carry out research embedded with the expert team at Fonterra's Research and Development Center, in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Eligibility

The ideal candidate will have a strong Honours or Masters degree in soft matter physics, materials science, physical chemistry, engineering or a related field. Experience with rheology (and especially rheological models) would be an advantage. In addition, they should have excellent analytical skills to assist with interpretation of experiments, and a strong command of written English. Candidates should satisfy the requirements for admission as a PhD candidate at University of Auckland.

Total value and tenure of scholarship

NZD$35,000 per year (not taxed), plus all student fees for three (3) years.

How to apply

To apply, please send a CV, academic record, and the names and contact details of two referees to: Professor Geoff Willmott, g.willmott@auckland.ac.nz, with "PhD project: Connecting structure and rheology in dairy protein concentrates" in the subject line.

Further PhD scholarships with non-MacDiarmid Institute Investigators:

Postgraduate scholarships in green H₂

• NZ national energy system modelling - role of hydrogen (1 PhD scholarship)
• Green hydrogen integration (6 PhD scholarships)

For more information and to apply.

Tags: Towards Zero Waste - Reconfigurable Systems, Towards Zero Carbon - Catalytic Architectures, Towards Low Energy Tech - Hardware for Future Computing, Pūtaiao Māori Research Programme