AddressCharles Darwin University's Research Institute for Northern Agriculture is looking for a PhD student to research hard-to-get-rid-of waste from remote cattle properties.
Scholarship and financial support: Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship valued at $32,192 per annum (from 2024; indexed annually) plus up to $10,000 per annum top-up, for 3 years from commencement is open to Australian citizens/residents or New Zealand citizens.
About the project:
Like many industries, agriculture produces a significant amount and diversity of waste. The industry is keen to adopt the principles of the waste hierarchy and a circular economy to improve waste management on their farms and properties. Tyres from machines and vehicles are one such problematic waste. You will have the opportunity to work with industry partners (Tyre Stewardship Australia and one of Australia's largest pastoral companies) to deeply understand the issues with used tyres and other hard-to-dispose-of waste from remote northern Australian agricultural enterprises and to develop novel approaches to manage this critical waste stream. This research will enhance understandings of past and current approaches for dealing with problematic waste streams and move towards minimizing waste, improving efficiency, sustainability and profitability by finding a future for these problematic waste materials.
This project also has the potential for the student to complete an industry internship if they would like to, as part of their PhD. Students could be located in Darwin or Alice Springs (where the supervisors are based), or anywhere in Australia by negotiation. The candidate would be expected to travel to remote Northern Territory locations as part of the project.
About you:
- You bring a high level of academic merit and research background that meets the RTP Stipend Scholarship requirements (see https://www.cdu.edu.au/research-and-innovation/higher-degree-research/scholarships).
- Strong ability to work independently and show a high level of initiative.
- Be willing to travel to remote areas of northern Australia.
- Have an Australian (or equivalent) driving license, or be willing to get one soon after starting their PhD.
Benefits to you:
- Work closely with industry, with the additional opportunity to undertake an internship as part of your PhD.
- You can be located anywhere in Australia but willing to travel and conduct fieldwork in remote areas of the Northern Territory.
- Opportunity to travel extensively in the remote and spectacular regions of Northern Territory.
- Access to Student Support Services and Wellbeing Support Program.
- Work with a University committed to changing people's lives for the better through training, education, and research.
Essential selection criteria:
- Per the RTP scholarship conditions the candidate must be either an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen.
- First-class Honours degree or a Masters degree containing a substantial research component in science or social science such as (but not limited to) environmental science, sociology, agricultural science, sustainability.
- Have the capacity to work in remote Northern Territory locations.
Supervisory Team: The supervisory team will be drawn from CDU Researchers Associate Professor Beth Penrose and Dr Deepika Mathur, with the potential for additional industry supervisors.
Diversity and Inclusion: At CDU, we actively celebrate our diversity. We innovate, embrace new ideas, and act with courage and kindness. We're about what we can give to the world rather than what we take, and we believe in the transformative power of education. We work hard to make sure every member of our university community feels that they truly belong. Understanding that it is through our focus on our people and leveraging our differences that will make CDU the most connected university in Australia, we are striving to ensure that our culture and our community are inclusive of all our staff, students and visitors. We are committed to maintaining a culture where everyone feels respected, safe, encouraged to speak up and supported in achieving their professional goals. You make CDU. And we want you to be exactly who you are.
nrmjobs.com.au/job/20021312
