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Steel Research Hub

Current opportunities

Overview

We are seeking dynamic, self-motivated and well-qualified candidates with high-quality research experience in the fields of expertise applicable to the relevant opportunity. You must have a passion for applied, industry-focused research, and high quality communication skills to support successful industry collaborations. You will require strong time and project management skills to ensure project deliverables are met, and you must be prepared to spend significant time in industry partner’s facilities in order to understand and work collaboratively to address the issues faced by the industry.

 You will be supported through additional mentoring, training and personal development designed to help prepare you for a career in both academia or industry. You will be working closely with some of Australia’s best researchers and industry technologists and will form a vital part of a nationally significant research centre.

Current Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and PhD opportunities are shown below, and further opportunities will be added regularly in the coming months. To stay up to date, please register for the Steel Research Hub newsletter. All applications will need to go through the relevant recruitment processes within the host institution, or as detailed on the opportunity advertisement.

PhD Opportunity – Molecular Modelling

Higher Degree Research PhD Scholarship
Based at RMIT University Melbourne City Campus
Scholarship for 3.5 years full-time study, $AUD 33,413 pa

An exciting opportunity has become available and the Steel Research Hub is looking to recruit a PhD candidate at RMIT University. The PhD candidate will work within the Steel Innovation Hub’s Program 2: Product Innovation & Technology, collaboratively with Chief Investigators and their partner organisations. The student will be trained to undertake high-quality, cutting-edge theoretical molecular modelling of hybrid materials at multiple time and length scales and contribute fundamental materials design principles to guide the industry and experimentally focussed projects undertaken within RMIT’s Materials Modelling and Simulation (MMS) group, see link for details of our current and recent projects. The PhD project will focus on computational modelling of complex interfacial phenomena in nanostructured materials via multiscale computer simulations in order to optimize materials performance under various environmental conditions (temperature, pH, ionic strength). The project also aims at identifying computational strategies for prediction of structural and dynamic properties of complex nano-bio material interfaces as well as on the development and application of computational tools to support theoretical research in the MMS group in collaboration with experimental research partners in Australia and overseas. Application areas for the theoretical modelling developed in this project will include novel materials for industrial coatings as well as for biomedicine, e.g. biosensing, tissue engineering and drug delivery.

Selection criteria

Essential

  • 1st class Honours or equivalent in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related discipline.
  • Communication skills, both written and verbal; ability to present research outcomes to different audiences.
  • Australian citizenship or permanent residency.

Highly Desirable

  • Experience with molecular simulations/theoretical chemistry. 

Supervision and contact

Senior Supervisor: Distinguished Prof. Irene Yarovsky, Chief Investigator and Program Leader in the ARC Steel Research Hub. For project details please contact: irene.yarovsky@rmit.edu.au

Closing date

The position will close once the appropriate candidate has been recruited.

Australian National University: PhD Opportunity – Computational modelling of corrosion

Coated steel products are essential to all facets of modern life. The performance of sacrificial metal coatings (zinc containing) upon steel remains a key area of technological interest. With an interest in corrosion science and engineering, and using contemporary computational tools, the project will:

  • Develop an understanding of the role of the alloy coating layer and its influence on spatio- temporal corrosion processes. This includes the role of microstructure, and corrosion product formation.
  • Present a model to offer guidance and direction for future product enhancements.

Selection criteria

Essential

  • Academic qualification. Applicants should hold an Honours 1st class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree, or a Masters degree, in a relevant discipline or the equivalent combination of professional experience and academic qualifications
  • Communication skills in both in writing and orally, presenting research work and outcomes to different audiences

Highly Desirable

  • Experience or background in any of: Chemistry, physics, materials science, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, or computer science.
  • Highly developed computer literacy, including Python.
  • (Desirable but not essential) Computational modelling

Conditions for application

  • Capacity to be based at the ANU campus (in Canberra), or BlueScope Steel (in Wollongong).
  • The projects will work in an integrated manner with industry partner Bluescope Steel, and will include close collaboration with the Bluescope Innovation Laboratory (including travel to the site).
  • Applicants should submit cover letter detailing relevant experience and research interest; CV with names and addresses of two referees; and academic transcripts.
  • We seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, reflecting all facets of prior experience or history. Full scholarships will be provided to successful applicants, and Australian residents are particularly encouraged to apply.
  • The EOI should be sent via email to Nick Birbilis (nick.birbilis@anu.edu.au).

Closing date

The position will close once the appropriate candidate has been recruited.

Australian National University: PhD Opportunity – Next generation corrosion protection of coated steel

The longevity of alloy coatings upon steels is reliant upon corrosion inhibition and surface passivation. The project will:

  • Identify passivation mechanisms and develop a detailed passivation model for alloy (Zn-Al-Mg-Si) coatings upon steel.
  • Identify and simulate corrosion mechanisms occurring during storage of passivated (Zn-Al-Mg-Si) coated products.
  • Identify new strategies of corrosion inhibition/passivation using chromate free approaches.

Selection criteria

Essential

  • Academic qualification. Applicants should hold an Honours 1st class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree, or a Masters degree, in a relevant discipline or the equivalent combination of professional experience and academic qualifications
  • Communication skills in both in writing and orally, presenting research work and outcomes to different audiences

Highly Desirable

  • Experience in any of: materials, chemical engineering or chemistry; including one of either metals, alloys, or coatings.
  • Some understanding of corrosion
  • Some understanding of materials characterisation

Conditions for application

  • Capacity to be based at the ANU campus (in Canberra), or BlueScope Steel (in Wollongong).
  • The projects will work in an integrated manner with industry partner Bluescope Steel, and will include close collaboration with the Bluescope Innovation Laboratory (including travel to the site).
  • Applicants should submit cover letter detailing relevant experience and research interest; CV with names and addresses of two referees; and academic transcripts.
  • We seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, reflecting all facets of prior experience or history. Full scholarships will be provided to successful applicants, and Australian residents are particularly encouraged to apply.

 Closing date

The position will close once the appropriate candidate has been recruited.

Automation and Digitalisation at Port Kembla Steel Works

Scholarship for 3.5 years full-time study
AUD$ 33,413 p.a (tax-free)

Led by the University of Wollongong, the ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Innovation is a 5 year, $28m research program bringing together 9 Universities and 8 industry partners to deliver innovative research designed to enable a necessary technological shift in the steel supply chain.

Working within Program 4 (Steel supply chain transformation) of the Steel Research Hub, the PhD Candidate will be involved Project 4.1.1- Automation and Digitalisation at Port Kembla Steel Works. The project proposes to develop a tool using emerging digital technology (including use Augmented and Mixed Reality) to accelerate the early stages of robotic integration in an effort to rapidly assess the feasibility and safety requirements of robotic automation in an existing site.

Working within a large scale, multi-disciplinary research entity (30+ PhDs, 20+ Post-Docs), the appointee will have contact with BlueScope Steel on aspects of applied, industry-focussed research, as well as collaborating with the wider Steel Research Hub research team. The successful appointee will be supported through additional mentoring, training and personal development.

Selection criteria

Essential Academic qualification

Applicants should hold a Masters by Research, or an Honours 1st class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in Mechatronics Engineering and/or Computer Science or a relevant discipline or the equivalent combination of professional experience and academic qualifications Written and oral communication skills, presenting research work and outcomes to different audiences

Highly Desirable

  • Knowledge and ability in programming with Unity for Deployment to Hololens / Augmented Reality Headsets
  • Knowledge and ability in Robotics or industrial automation equipment and data transfer protocols.
  • Experience in C# or equivalent programming language.

Conditions for application

  • Capacity to be based at the Wollongong campus.
  • Applicants should submit cover letter detailing relevant experience and research interest; CV with names and addresses of two referees; and Academic transcripts.
  • Both domestic and international prospective students are encouraged to apply.
  • Contact for position is Philip Commins (philip_commins@uow.edu.au).

Closing date

The position will close once the appropriate candidate has been recruited.

The University of Wollongong is committed to workplace equity, diversity, and inclusion. We value and acknowledge the importance of our people’s diverse experiences, talents, and cultures that they bring to work with them each day. Embracing diversity and creating inclusion is a key component of attracting and retaining talent in our workforce. The creation of a diverse and inclusive workforce is central to our ability to unlock potential, enhance our success, and achieving our vision of being in the Top 1% of universities globally

Monash University: PhD Opportunity - Corrosion and electrochemistry of steel coatings

Corrosion of coated steel occurs during storage/transportation or in-service (by atmospheric corrosion). Steel surfaces could be exposed to varying concentrations of corrosives in the form of aerosols, thin moisture films, rain, entrapped moisture etc. Zinc (Zn)-containing metallic coatings are widely used to protect steel products from atmospheric corrosion. Zn provides sacrificial protection to steel, while Zn’s own corrosion products provide long term barrier protection. Generally, an organic or conversion coating is applied over Zn-coated steel products to avoid premature corrosion, and to preserve their surface aesthetics before they commence service. In modern coatings, elements such as Al, Mg and Si are used together with Zn to enhance corrosion protection. However, the mechanistic influences of these elements on corrosion/corrosion protection is not well understood. Corrosion may lead to ‘selective’ or incongruent dissolution of some elements, and enrichment of others which may affect surface aesthetics and long-term barrier protection. Moreover, this may impact performance of organic/conversion coatings used to protect the metallic coating.

This project will seek to mechanistically understand corrosion of Zn-Al-Mg-Si microstructures, using various advanced electrochemical, electron-based and X-ray based techniques. The temporal evolution of coated surfaces during corrosion, will be investigated using in-operando methods such as real time inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Also, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) will be used to ascertain compositions of corrosion products formed under varying exposure conditions. The influence of corrosion on surface aesthetics of Zn-Al-Mg-Si coatings, will also be closely investigated. The findings will be used to guide design of next-generation chromium-free coatings to preserve metallic coatings from premature corrosion.

Selection criteria

Essential

  • Academic qualification. Applicants should hold an Honours 1st class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree, or a Masters degree, in a relevant discipline or the equivalent combination of professional experience and academic qualifications
  • Communication skills in both in writing and orally, presenting research work and outcomes to different audiences

Highly Desirable

  • Experience in materials, including one of either metals, alloys, or coatings.
  • Understanding of corrosion
  • Materials characterisation

Conditions for application

  • Capacity to be based at Monash Clayton campus (in Melbourne).
  • The projects will work in an integrated manner with industry partner Bluescope Steel, and will include close collaboration with the Bluescope Innovation Laboratory (including travel to the site).
  • Applicants should submit cover letter detailing relevant experience and research interest; CV with names and addresses of two referees; and academic transcripts.
  • We seek applicants from diverse backgrounds, reflecting all facets of prior experience or history. Full scholarships will be provided to successful applicants, and Australian residents are particularly encouraged to apply.

Closing date

The position will close once the appropriate candidate has been recruited.

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