PhD Scholarships
PhD Expression of Interest
Microcredentials
Positions AvailablePhD opportunities now open
Nine PhD scholarships with various research topics are immediately available at the Solving Plastic Waste CRC.
Research Program 1 (RP1)
Materials and design – to reduce products’ environmental impact
RP1 will develop plastic compositions that are more easily recycled or composted, and product designs which eliminate their unnecessary use, enable their reuse, avoid problematic plastics and material complexity and increase recycled content.
There are currently no PhD scholarships available under RP1.
If you’re interested in future opportunities, please express your interest and be notified when new scholarships open.
Research Program 2 (RP2)
Maximising the recovery and value of end-of-life plastics
RP2 will increase the recovery, sorting and recycling of plastics, maximising the value of the recyclates and expanding the markets for products that contain them. It will also enhance technologies for energy recovery from plastic waste.
Read about our scholarships below:
Upcycling of plastic waste into monomers using catalysts
This project aims to develop innovative catalytic routes for the chemical recycling of mixed plastics for recovery of their molecular building blocks. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the Australian ecosystem. Efficient recycling technologies are urgently needed as Australia only recycles ~4% of its 3.4 million tons of mixed waste plastics. This project expects to design highly efficient catalysts for the stepwise breakdown of mixed polyolefin plastics into monomers for the subsequent manufacturing of virgin plastics in a circular economy, and to elucidate fundamental underpinning reaction mechanisms. Outcomes will benefit the Australian waste plastic recycling industry, and minimise plastic accumulation in the environment.
PhD supervisor:
Dr Muxina Konarova, University of Queensland
Interested? Email m.konarova@uq.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Enhancing closed-loop mechanical recycling of automotive plastic waste through additive engineering
This project aims to develop a robust, industrially viable mechanical recycling process for automotive-grade polypropylene and polyamide that retains performance over repeated reprocessing cycles, with a strong focus on additive engineering, process control, and system-level evaluation. The project will explore how additive type, concentration, and interaction with contaminants affect long-term mechanical integrity and processability, aiming to preserve target automotive-grade performance benchmarks across at least five reprocessing loops.
PhD supervisor:
Prof Minoo Naebe, Deakin University
Interested? Email minoo.naebe@deakin.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Directing the catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of lignocellulosic biocrudes
Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), specifically the Cat-HTR process developed by Professor Maschmeyer and Licella, makes use of sub- and supercritical water to depolymerise, deoxygenate and liquefy carbonaceous (waste) materials into a “biocude” that is blendable with existing petro-derived oil fractions for refinement accordingly. The key aim is to improve our ability to control the composition of biocrude and influence the HTL processing parameters to tailor the chemical composition of the biocrude product.
PhD supervisor:
Prof Thomas Maschmeyer, University of Sydney
Industry partner:
Interested? Email thomas.maschmeyer@sydney.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Analysis of biocrudes from the hydrothermal liquefaction of lignocellulosic wastes
The overall objective is to better understand the chemical composition of Licella’s biocrude product from the liquefaction of waste cellulosic biomass. This aim requires access to a variety of real samples, run under relevant conditions, and how the Cat-HTR process can be tailored to promote or suppress various chemical species. This PhD project will be conducted in conjunction with a second PhD project in which process parameters and catalysis will be used to direct the reaction cascades that operate during the Cat-HTR process.
PhD supervisor:
Prof Thomas Maschmeyer, University of Sydney
Industry partner:
Interested? Email thomas.maschmeyer@sydney.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Particle-scale modelling of new separation technology for sustainable plastics recycling: Fundamentals & novel application
This project aims to design a new plastic particle separator and optimise it by developing particle-scale numerical methods, to improve separation efficiency and operation performance. Key research activities include developing particle-scale simulation models, designing the new separator, optimising design and operational conditions, and understanding the separation mechanism. Expected outcomes include an effective separation technology that increases the quality and value of sorted plastic pellets and flakes.
PhD supervisor:
Prof Yansong Shen, University of New South Wales
Interested? Email ys.shen@unsw.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Soft plastic waste (polyolefin) valorization through pyrolysis: Chemical reaction kinetic model development to assess correlation between feedstock (material) properties and pyrolytic oil qualities
This project aims to recover contaminant-free fuel-grade oil from waste soft plastics such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP) through pyrolysis processes. The research will begin with detailed characterisation of the feedstock (material) to understand its thermal behaviour and composition. The project will develop reaction kinetic model using CHEMKIN II software. A further techno-economic analysis will be conducted to evaluate its large-scale application.
PhD supervisor:
Prof Mohammad Rasul, Central Queensland University
Industry partner:
Interested? Email m.rasul@cqu.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Research Program 3 (RP3)
Implementing a circular economy for plastics in Australia
RP3 will scale the delivery of a carbon neutral circular economy for plastics by developing circular business models and markets, evidence-based policy advice and globally-informed strategies, underpinned by a robust evidence base for industry decision-making.
Read about our scholarships below:
Scenario analysis tool for plastic waste management futures: Systems Dynamics Model
This project develops a System Dynamics Model (SDM) to aid city plastic waste management planning, with a case study focused on the City of Gold Coast. Drawing on literature, stakeholder workshops, and prior research, the SDM will map key system variables and feedback loops, enabling plastic ‘futures’ scenario testing through developed simulation software. A user-friendly dashboard will allow stakeholders to explore how different plastic waste management policies, technologies, and strategies impact key performance indicators such as recycling rates, landfill reduction, and circular economy outcomes.
PhD supervisor:
Prof Rodney Stewart, Griffith University
Industry partner:
Interested? Email r.stewart@griffith.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Research Program 4 (RP4)
Mitigating the risk of microplastics in agricultural soils
RP4 will develop standardised methods to determine the sources, fate, and dispersion of microplastics in Australia’s agricultural soils, examine the long-term risks to human and environmental health and provide effective mitigation strategies to reduce the transmission of microplastics to Australian soils.
Read about our scholarships below:
Understanding the generation of microplastics by fragmentation of different types of plastics in agricultural soils
This project aims to determine the level of micro- and nanoplastics produced from different plastic polymer types via sunlight exposure and soil processes (e.g. soil disturbance) and determine the particle size distribution. This project will also evaluate the fragmentation rate of all the selected plastic types which can be applied to estimate the production of secondary micro- and nanoplastics from the standing stock of macro plastic debris exposed to sunlight and soil conditions over the longer period.
PhD supervisor:
Dr Biplob Pramanik, RMIT University
Interested? Email biplob.pramanik@rmit.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
From pixels to parts per thousand: Robust VNIR–SWIR hyperspectral detection and quantification of soil microplastics
This PhD will develop a validated, VNIR–SWIR hyperspectral imaging (HSI) workflow for the detection and quantification of soil microplastics that is robust to soil type, land use, and moisture—the principal sources of spectral variability and weak signals under terrestrial context. Building on high throughput HSI foundations and open chemometric resources for polymer identification, the project addresses known limitations arising from moisture masking, clay mineralogy (e.g. kaolinite), particle size, and colour, which induce nonlinearity and reduce detectability in conventional pipelines.
PhD supervisor:
Prof Chengrong Chen, Griffith University
Interested? Email c.chen@griffith.edu.au to express your interest.
Closing date: 28 November 2025
Remuneration
Top-up Scholarship
Apply for a PhD scholarship with the university associated with your chosen SPW CRC PhD project and/or chosen supervisor. If your application is successful, you will receive a top-up scholarship from SPW CRC to further support your research.
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Top-up stipend: $15,000 per year (tax-free) for 3 years (with the possibility of + 6 months)
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Operating expenses: $10,000 per year paid to the SPW CRC partner university (with the possibility of + 6 months)
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Full Scholarship
If you are not awarded a university scholarship, you will be considered for a full SPW CRC PhD scholarship.
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Stipend: $42,000 per year (tax-free) for 3 years (with the possibility of + 6 months)
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Operating expenses: $10,000 per year paid to the SPW CRC partner university (with the possibility of + 6 months)
SPW CRC will consider PhD scholarship applications outside of the standard university application rounds.
Candidate criteria
A minimum 2A Hons, MSc, or MPhil degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, Environmental Chemistry and relevant fields. The PhD candidate will be based at the partner university of the SPW CRC, depending upon the location of PhD supervisors. For further enquiries, please contact the relevant supervisor directly via email.
Note: We are currently accepting PhD expressions of interest from Australian citizens or permanent residents only.
Ready to apply?
To express your interest in one of the PhD scholarships, please email the relevant supervisor directly.
Each project listing includes the supervisor’s name, university, and contact details. Get in touch to discuss your suitability and next steps.
Don’t see a project that matches your interests?
If none of these PhD topics align with your research goals, but you’d like to express interest in future SPW CRC PhD opportunities, please send us a message to stay informed.
One of the best things about doing a PhD through a CRC is the network you build. The people you meet during your time in the program pop up again and again, often in totally unexpected places and ways. There is an instant connection through the shared CRC experience that immediately breaks the ice, even if it’s been years since you last saw each other. It’s those relationships that really stick and keep opening doors long after the PhD is done.
A/Prof Caroline Tiddy, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia
Contact us
If you require more information, please contact us via this form. You can also email or ring us directly on:
Email: info@solvingplasticwastecrc.com
Phone: +61 (0)7 2145 9200
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