PhD Scholarship in Chemical and Biological Engineering

Job No.: 639893

Location: Clayton campus, Monash University and CSIRO

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3-year and 6-month fixed-term appointment

Remuneration: $30,000 pa 3.5 years full-time rate (pro-rata) 2022 rate

The Opportunity

Expressions of interest are sought from outstanding candidates for PhD study in Chemical and Biological Engineering.

PhD Project – Development of electrode and cell materials for direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells. This project is undertaken collaboratively with CSIRO.

Hydrogen has been considered renewable energy (RE) transport media, however, storage and transport of renewable hydrogen remain a challenge due to energy-intensive compression and liquefaction processes. Ammonia is considered a renewable energy storage and transport media as it contains high hydrogen content (17.6 wt%) and is in liquid form at close to ambient conditions. Further, significant infrastructure and know-how for its storage and intercontinental transportation already exist; around 200 million tonnes of ammonia is already annually produced globally. One of the major hurdles in the application of ammonia though as an energy carrier is the limited number of options for the utilisation of the transported ammonia for power generation. The development of a more efficient, modular and scalable system which can convert ammonia directly into electricity and heat could bring a step change in the efforts to exploit Australia’s RE export potential. This project proposes the use of direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) for converting ammonia into electricity without external cracking. An overreaching goal of this exciting project would be an efficient and scalable direct ammonia-to-power system, thus significantly enhancing the hydrogen export market potential in the form of ammonia. 

The PhD candidate will contribute to the development of novel cell and anode materials and will study fundamental reaction mechanisms using a number of cutting–edge analytical and electrochemical characterisation techniques in state of art fuel cell laboratories at CSIRO’s Clayton site.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants will be considered provided that they fulfil the criteria for PhD admission at Monash University and demonstrate excellent research capability. Details of the relevant requirements are available at www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/apply.   A degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science Electrochemistry, Physics, or relevant area.

Applicants must show excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to conduct self-motivated research within a group high-performing and target-driven group of researchers. They should have research-based Honours or Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in the relevant research areas and preferably have a record of publishing their research in mainstream scientific journals. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, over Zoom if necessary. The interviews will be conducted in English.

Note: Applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered. Also, this position is open to citizens or permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand.

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) which shall comprise:

• A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant's suitability
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of published works
• A full statement of academic record, supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
• Contact details of two academic referees
• Evidence of English-language proficiency (if you have)
• A one-page write-up on your scientific understanding of fuel cells

Please submit this EOI form forms.gle/Mxj9cfzzcUCiAekT6 , preferably in a single PDF attachment.

Enquiries

Professor Sankar Bhattacharya, +61 3 9905 9623, [email protected] or Dr Dattatray Dhawale, [email protected]

Closing Date

Friday 12 August 2022, 11:55pm AEST 

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