PhD Scholarship in Interdisciplinary Research on Evacuation Behaviour in Bushfires

The successful candidate will undertake a research study to collect household evacuation data from bushfire events (e.g., evacuation drills or actual events) using a variety of data collection methods, including surveys, interviews, observations, and/or GPS data, analyse the data, and develop models that contribute to the development of a comprehensive evacuation simulation platform. This simulation platform can then be used by emergency officials to plan for and make decisions about emergency response to better protect bushfire prone communities around the world from the devastating consequences of fires. This project is funded by the National Research Council Canada. While the PhD candidate will be based in Australia with a team of experts in hazards and emergency response, they will also have access to an international research team, including experts from the UK, US, Canada, and Sweden.

The successful candidate will undertake a research study to collect household evacuation data from bushfire events (e.g., evacuation drills or actual events) using a variety of data collection methods, including surveys, interviews, observations, and/or GPS data, analyse the data, and develop models that contribute to the development of a comprehensive evacuation simulation platform. This simulation platform can then be used by emergency officials to plan for and make decisions about emergency response to better protect bushfire prone communities around the world from the devastating consequences of fires. This project is funded by the National Research Council Canada. While the PhD candidate will be based in Australia with a team of experts in hazards and emergency response, they will also have access to an international research team, including experts from the UK, US, Canada, and Sweden.

$32,600 per annum pro rata (full-time study) for 3 years.

$32,600 per annum pro rata (full-time study) for 3 years.

One (1).

One (1).

To be accepted into the Doctor of Philosophy Program at RMIT University’s School of Engineering, applicants must demonstrate they have a sufficiently strong background in independent supervised research (typically strong marks in an Honours degree with a research component) and provide evidence of English language proficiency and writing ability. Please see PhD (Civil Engineering)  for more information.
Preferred but not required is familiarity with social science research methods and/or analysing big data sets.

Must be able to commence in October-November 2021.

Understanding Australian borders are presently closed and unlikely to reopen by November 2021, international applicants who are not currently in Australia are ineligible to apply.

To be accepted into the Doctor of Philosophy Program at RMIT University’s School of Engineering, applicants must demonstrate they have a sufficiently strong background in independent supervised research (typically strong marks in an Honours degree with a research component) and provide evidence of English language proficiency and writing ability. Please see PhD (Civil Engineering)  for more information.
Preferred but not required is familiarity with social science research methods and/or analysing big data sets.

Must be able to commence in October-November 2021.

Understanding Australian borders are presently closed and unlikely to reopen by November 2021, international applicants who are not currently in Australia are ineligible to apply.

Please email Dr. Erica Kuligowski at [email protected] directly with your statement of interest, cover letter addressing the desirable criteria, CV, and academic qualifications. Also see the HDR How to Apply website.

Please email Dr. Erica Kuligowski at [email protected] directly with your statement of interest, cover letter addressing the desirable criteria, CV, and academic qualifications. Also see the HDR How to Apply website.

Applications now open.

Applications now open.

Applications will close once a candidate is appointed.

Applications will close once a candidate is appointed.

Encouraged to apply are candidates with outstanding research skills, excellent written and communication skills, demonstrated capacity to work independently and as a part of a team, experience in research, and a track record of published (or at least submitted) research articles.

Encouraged to apply are candidates with outstanding research skills, excellent written and communication skills, demonstrated capacity to work independently and as a part of a team, experience in research, and a track record of published (or at least submitted) research articles.

This scholarship will be governed by RMIT University's Research Scholarship Terms and Conditions .

This scholarship will be governed by RMIT University's Research Scholarship Terms and Conditions .

For further information, contact Erica Kuligowski via [email protected] .

For further information, contact Erica Kuligowski via [email protected] .