Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 April 2025
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic / International
Scholarship
$33, 511pa for 3.5 years
About the research project
Atmospheric greenhouse gases are one of the major concerns facing the modern world. One strategy to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) is to transform it into feedstocks for new materials including energy storage molecules and value-added organic compounds. CO2 is a very stable molecule and requires tailor-designed catalysts for its activation and transformation. Nature employs enzymes (biological catalysts) centred around earth-abundant metals such as iron, nickel and cobalt to achieve similarly challenging chemical transformations with extremely high efficiencies.
This ARC-funded project aims to develop new catalysts inspired by enzymes for CO2 valorisation. It will generate new knowledge in understanding CO2 activation by organometallic complexes and provide innovative strategies to transforming CO2 into value-added materials. These strategies will be applicable to other stable small molecules such as nitrogen (N2) resulting in new nitrogen activation catalysts.
Outcomes will enhance the capacity to utilise CO2 as a carbon feedstock for the production of fuels and materials which ultimately provides significant economic and environmental benefits through CO2 recycling and upcycling.
Primary Supervisor
Funding
The successful applicant will receive a scholarship which provides:
- a living allowance stipend co-funded by ARC of $33,511 per annum (2025 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
- The scholarship is open to Australian and New Zealand (domestic) and to International candidates
- Research must be undertaken on a full-time basis
- Applicants should already have been awarded a First Class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Synthetic organic/organometallic/inorganic chemistry skills, including experience with chromatographic purification techniques and Schlenk techniques
- Experience with structural characterisation techniques, such as NMR spectroscopy
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Experience in single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Curtis Ho to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 April 2025.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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