PhD scholarship in catalyst and membrane engineering for electrochemical co-production of ethylene and green hydrogen

$36,245 per annum.

1 (one).

• A Bachelor's degree with First Class Honours, or a Master's degree with a research component, in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
• A minimum GPA equivalent to Australian First Class Honours (H1).
• Strong academic background in one or more of the following: heterogeneous catalysis, electrochemistry, materials characterisation, ceramic processing, or membrane technology.
• Hands-on laboratory experience in catalyst synthesis, powder processing, microscopy (SEM/TEM), gas chromatography, or electrochemical testing is desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability or strong potential to publish in high-impact journals.
• Must meet RMIT English language proficiency requirements (if applicable).

30/06/2030

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the supervisory team before submitting a formal application.

See RMIT's How to Apply.

 

This scholarship is part of a funded RMIT–CSIRO collaboration targeting the decarbonisation of ethylene production—the world's most energy-intensive chemical process.The successful candidate will work at the interface of heterogeneous catalysis and electrochemical engineering, developing coke-resistant transition metal oxide catalysts and integrating them into proton-conducting ceramic membrane reactors (PCMRs) for simultaneous ethylene and green hydrogen production at 400–600°C.

The project offers:

• Access to world-class characterisation facilities at RMIT (XPS, SEM/TEM, XRD, in-situ techniques) and CSIRO Energy's electrochemical testing infrastructure.
• Joint supervision from RMIT's Centre for Advanced Materials and Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC) and CSIRO Energy.
• A clear publication pathway targeting high-impact journals.
• Industry-connected research with direct relevance to Australia's clean energy and chemical manufacturing sectors.

Ideal candidates will have a genuine interest in one or more of:

• Catalyst synthesis and characterisationCeramic membrane fabrication and processing.
• Electrochemical reactor design and testing.
• Green hydrogen and sustainable chemical production.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the nexus of catalysis, membrane science, and electrochemical engineering—with real-world impact on decarbonising one of the world's largest chemical industries.