PhD Scholarship in Electrochemical Water Splitting

Updated: over 2 years ago
Deadline: 2021-12-31T00:00:00Z

A Dean’s Scholarship is available in the group of Dr Cameron L. Bentley at Monash University, Australia (https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/cameron-bentley) for a PhD project entitled “Nanoscale Reaction Imaging of Water-Splitting Electrodes”. The scholarship includes a living stipend valued at $29,500 AUD per annum (2021 full-time rate, tax-free), a once-off relocation allowance of $1000 (interstate) or $1500 (international) and covers the cost of tuition (if applicable).


The supervisor

Dr Bentley is the recent recipient of a prestigious ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award (DECRA), as well as the 2020 Early Career Analytical Electrochemistry Prize of the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE). His research centres on the use of scanning electrochemical probe microscopy (SEPM) to “see” the nanoscale active sites of electrodes during operation (recent paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03454-x). Relating electrochemical activity on this scale to the underlying electrode surface structure guides the design/synthesis of the “next-generation” of materials with higher activity, improved stability, longer cycle life etc. Further details available at: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=l2axkDYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao.


The institution

Monash University has an outstanding reputation in scientific research and innovation (ranked 85th globally, source: ARWU ranking). The University is research intensive and widely recognised for its contributions to the fields of chemistry and materials science. Monash University is ranked 44 globally for Chemistry (source: ARWU ranking) and consistently benchmarks in the top two of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) Universities in Australia. In addition, the School of Chemistry at Monash University is recognized nationally and internationally for research excellence in the areas of electrochemistry, (electro)materials, and energy technologies, making it the ideal location for the proposed research project.


Candidate Requirements

Applicants must have completed, or be soon to complete, a relevant Honours/Masters degree in chemistry, physics, mechanical/chemical engineering or equivalent at a high level (HD1 or 2.1 minimum or equivalent). Applicants will be considered if they fulfil the criteria for PhD admission at Monash University (including English language requirements) and demonstrate excellent research capability, with outstanding academic track records in chemistry or materials science. Further details are available here: https://www.monash.edu/science/schools/chemistry/postgraduate.


Note that due to border restrictions, this position is open to candidates that are currently located within Australia and are an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold an appropriate student visa.


Admission procedure

The admission procedure for successful applicants is to:

1.<b>Contact Dr Cameron Bentley directly at <i>[email protected]</i>.</b> Attach a copy of your: curriculum vitae (CV), including a list of any published works; academic transcripts (university level qualifications) and; IELTS/TOEFL English test results (if applicable).

2.<b>Pass an initial screening procedure to determine whether you are competitive for a scholarship.</b> Dr Bentley will apply a simple formula to determine this, which considers your grades (WAM/GPA), the global ranking of your university/institution and your research outputs (publications).

3.<b>Be interviewed over Skype/Zoom.</b> Dr Bentley will organise an online interview with competitive candidates. You will be expected to present your previous research and discuss your potential PhD project with Dr Bentley. 

4.<b>Be offered a Dean’s Scholarship.</b>



Similar Positions