Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) on Phase Transformations in Advanced Steel Design Full-time

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) on Phase Transformations in Advanced Steel Design

Scholarship Opportunities at Faculty of Engineering

Job No: 685997 Location: Clayton campus Employment Type: Full-time Graduate Research Degrees: 3291 – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Duration: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – 3.5-year fixed-term appointment Remuneration: $37,145 per annum (tax-free stipend) Start Date: Early 2026

About Monash Engineering

Monash Engineering is a leading global centre for research consistently placing highly in international ranking lists. We engage with industry and other world leading institutes to carry out pioneering research that benefits society and changes the world around us. Our world-class researchers are driven by a passion and commitment to leaving a more sustainable legacy for future generations.

We are committed to training the next generation of research leaders through our graduate research degrees. Our students have the opportunity to make an impact and solve real world issues in a stimulating, supportive environment with access to cutting edge facilities.

The Opportunity

Expressions of interest are sought from outstanding domestic and international candidates for PhD study within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Faculty of Engineering, Monash University.

This PhD project forms part of the Baosteel–Australia Joint Centre (BAJC) collaboration and will investigate how local phase transformations can be harnessed to design new classes of advanced steels. The research aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of localised transformation behaviour and to design novel alloys that achieve superior combinations of strength, ductility, and damage tolerance.

Working within the Metallurgy and Corrosion Research Cluster, the candidate will combine experimental studies, computational modelling, and data-driven alloy design to:

• Understand the mechanisms of local austenite-to-ferrite transformation in low-alloy steels;
• Develop frameworks to predict and control these transformations;

Monash University hosts a unique suite of characterisation facilities—including advanced electron microscopy, in-situ analytical tools, and high-temperature testing systems—providing exceptional opportunities to perform high-quality, impactful research. The project offers close collaboration with Baosteel's Central Research Institute, and has the opportunity to travel to Shanghai, China.

Candidate Requirements

Applications are invited from candidates with backgrounds in Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related disciplines.

Candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in thermodynamics and kinetics of solid-state phase transformations, as well as enthusiasm for applying modelling approaches and advanced microscopy techniques to address fundamental materials science problems.

The ability to conduct independent, self-motivated research; and excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Applicants will be considered provided they fulfil the criteria for Masters by Research & PhD admission at Monash University. Details of the relevant requirements are available at https://www.monash.edu/engineering/future-students/graduate-research/how-to-apply

Your application will be looked upon favourably if you:

• Graduated in the top 10% of your year level
• Graduated from a well ranked university
• Have authored peer-reviewed research publications
• Possess excellent written and verbal English skills

Note: applicants who already hold a PhD degree will not be considered.

Applicants must show excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to conduct self-motivated research. They should have either completed or in the process of completing a Bachelors H1 Honours Degree or already hold an H1E Bachelors and/or Masters degree. Candidates who are in the process of completing their H1 degree will be considered. Masters by Engineering Science (Research) degree students have the option to upgrade to a PhD degree based on academic performance during their candidature.

Application Process

To apply for a graduate research degree and/or scholarship at Monash Engineering please follow the following steps:

1. Check your eligibility Before beginning the application process, make sure that you meet our entry requirements. You can check the minimum entry requirements for the PhD or the Research Masters in the course handbook. Applicants must also satisfy Monash's English Language Proficiency requirements.

2. Contact the project supervisor Interested applicants should first send a CV and academic transcript to Dr Yuxiang Wu (yuxiang.wu@monash.edu) to discuss the project and obtain supervisor support for their application. Supervisor endorsement is required before submitting an Expression of Interest.

3. Submit an expression of interest Once you have discussed your application with Dr Wu and confirmed his support, complete the Expression of Interest form and submit this directly to the potential supervisor or the relevant department's administrative staff.

Please note the submission of the Expression of Interest does not constitute a formal application for a Research Degree.

4. Obtain an invitation to apply If after assessing your Expression of Interest the potential supervisor has the suitable resources and expertise to take you on as a graduate research student, you will be supplied with an Invitation to Apply. All applicants are required to upload a copy of their invitation to apply with their formal application. Applications without this will not be considered.

After you have received an invitation to apply, you can then proceed to submit an application via the online application portal.

Enquiries Further enquiries about the scholarship or application process should be directed to Graduate Research Office, eng-gradresearch@monash.edu or visit website monash.edu/future-students/phd

For enquiries specific to this project, please contact Dr Yuxiang Wu at yuxiang.wu@monash.edu

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