PhD position: Interdisciplinary research programs

We offer a wide range of interdisciplinary research opportunities that foster a collaborative and dynamic research environment.

Our initiatives give graduate researchers the chance to work with researchers from other disciplines – a health researcher might work with neuroscientists to learn more about mental health, or an economics researcher might collaborate with designers to create affordable housing solutions. Whatever your passion, you can connect with others who want to make a difference.

Exposure to other disciplines through these initiatives will enable you to:

• Place your own research within a broader interdisciplinary context
• Access a broad pool of knowledge and expertise
• Develop your research in response to current real-world challenges
• Consider other methodologies that may spark ideas for your own work
• Establish a wide network that could lead to postdoctoral opportunities.

The Hallmark Research Initiatives address significant local and global challenges that cannot be solved by one discipline alone.

Our current Hallmark Research Initiatives are:

• Affordable Housing – finding new ways to respond to the housing affordability crisis
• Anti-Racism – seeking solutions to combat racism at interpersonal and structural levels
• Bioinspiration – using biological systems as a source of inspiration
• Creativity and Wellbeing – understanding how and why creativity relates to wellbeing, from infancy to old age
• Future Food – working with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to understand future demand and supply of food
• Indonesia Democracy – strengthening our work on democracy and religion in Indonesia
• Wildfire Futures – addressing the environmental, social and economic challenges presented by wildfire
• Work Futures – understanding how the future of work is changing.

The Melbourne Interdisciplinary Research Institutes work with industry, government and not-for-profit organisations in Australia and internationally to challenge current thinking and offer new solutions to change our world.

Our current Melbourne Interdisciplinary Research Institutes are:

• Melbourne Disability Institute – improving the social and economic wellbeing of people with disability
• Melbourne Energy Institute – working with community, industry and government to address energy challenges
• Melbourne Social Equity Institute – addressing disadvantage across the full spectrum of social life including health, education, housing, culture, work and transport
• Indigenous Knowledge Institute – connecting Indigenous knowledge to global knowledge systems
• Melbourne Biodiversity Institute   – a collective of researchers, innovators and problem solvers from across the University of Melbourne dedicated to addressing Earth’s biodiversity crisis

Through our PhD Programs , you’ll become part of a supportive research cohort, working with others who share a passion for discovering new knowledge in your area of interest.

Each PhD Program features a series of activities to enhance your learning experience. These activities are in addition to your core PhD studies. You'll attend masterclasses, workshops and seminars delivered by experts in your field – with opportunities for mentoring and internships.

To support interdisciplinary connections, we are creating innovative co-working spaces.

Melbourne Connect is a new development at our Parkville campus. It's a digital innovation ecosystem that connects and inspires researchers, industry groups and thought leaders – encouraging collaboration between the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to tackle complex problems.

Melbourne Connect also houses the new Science Gallery Melbourne – a living laboratory that explores the collision between art and science . Health, engineering and scientific researchers can collaborate with artists and curators. Together, they create interactive exhibits to explain research to the public. The new gallery is the Australian branch of the acclaimed Science Gallery International network .

We are building a new engineering and design campus in the heart of the Fishermans Bend employment precinct. The campus is set to be a vibrant place of large-scale research and project-based teaching – creating interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships with industry.

The new campus will drive innovation in engineering and design – bringing together researchers, industry and start-up companies. Together, we will solve global problems, create jobs and develop a skilled workforce.

The campus will feature facilities like:

• Wind and water tunnels
• Smart grid technologies
• Electric vehicle and engine propulsion testing
• Autonomous vehicle testing

First published on 17 February 2022.

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  Affordable Housing
  

  This Hallmark acknowledges the complexity of housing systems and their role in supporting or inhibiting sustainability, social justice and economic stability.

• 
  Creativity and Wellbeing
  

  The Creativity and Wellbeing Hallmark Research Initiative is uncovering ways that creativity can help people live happier and healthier lives.

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  Indigenous Knowledge Institute
  

  The Indigenous Knowledge Institute aims to advance research and education in Indigenous knowledge systems.

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  Melbourne Connect
  

  Melbourne Connect is powered by the University of Melbourne. An industry precinct where the brightest minds collaborate to speed up innovation.