PhD scholarship in multiphase flow of immiscible fluids for industrial applications

PhD scholarship in multiphase flow of immiscible fluids for industrial applications

ARC Linkage Project

Multiphase flows involving immiscible fluids are central to a wide range of industrial processes, including chemical manufacturing, resource recovery, environmental engineering, energy systems, and advanced materials processing. Despite their prevalence, predicting flow structure, interfacial dynamics, and transport processes remains a major scientific and engineering challenge.

This PhD project will:

  • develop high-fidelity CFD simulations of immiscible multiphase flows (e.g. Lagranigan tracking, VOF, level-set, phase-field, or related methods)
  • derive and analyse reduced-order models to capture dominant transport mechanisms-Investigate interfacial dynamics and phase separation under realistic operating conditions
  • translate modelling insights into scalable design tools for industrial applications
  • work closely with experimental researchers to validate and apply modelling outcomes.

The research will combine rigorous mathematical analysis with large-scale numerical simulation, providing the candidate with advanced skills in both theoretical and computational fluid mechanics.

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$35,886 

One (1).

Please check the minimum requirements for admission to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at How to apply. 

2026-06-30

Interested candidates should submit:

  • A cover letter outlining research interests and suitability
  • Curriculum vitae-Academic transcripts
  • Contact details of at least two referees

We seek highly motivated applicants with:

  • a first-class Honours or Masters degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related discipline
  • strong background in fluid mechanics and transport phenomena
  • experience in CFD (e.g. ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, COMSOL, or similar) or numerical methods
  • programming experience (e.g. Python, C++, MATLAB)
  • demonstrated analytical and problem-solving ability
  • excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Prior experience in multiphase flow modelling is desirable but not essential. The candidate will join a dynamic research group within the Department of Chemical Engineering under the supervision of Associate Professor Daniel Lester, working on fluid mechanics, transport processes, and mixing in complex systems.

The project offers:

  • close collaboration with industry partners
  • access to high-performance computing facilities
  • opportunities for conference travel and publication in leading journals
  • professional development within an ARC-funded collaborative research framework.
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