2027 research projects

Evaluating Microbial Biological Control Agents for Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer

Polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus, is a destructive invasive pest threatening urban trees, horticulture and biodiversity in Western Australia. Sustainable control options are urgently needed to complement current surveillance, sanitation and tree removal programs. This M.Sc. project will evaluate the potential of microbial biological control agents, particularly entomopathogenic fungi, for management of PSHB. Laboratory bioassays will screen selected candidate agents against different PSHB life stages and determine their effects on beetle mortality, development and reproduction. Promising treatments will be further evaluated under conditions that better represent the beetle’s protected gallery environment, including their ability to reach and infect beetles within host material. Where feasible, effects on PSHB-associated symbiotic fungi will also be examined. The project will identify promising biological control candidates and generate preliminary efficacy data to support the development of sustainable and integrated management strategies for PSHB in Australia.

Evaluating Biological Control Agents for Sustainable Management of Chilli Thrips

Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis, is an important invasive pest affecting berries and other high-value horticultural crops. Management relies heavily on insecticides, creating risks of resistance and disruption of beneficial arthropods. This M.Sc. project will evaluate promising biological control agents for sustainable management of chilli thrips. Candidate natural enemies, including predatory insects and mites, and selected microbial agents such as entomopathogenic fungi, will be screened under controlled laboratory conditions. Experiments will assess their effects on chilli thrips mortality, development and population suppression, and determine how efficacy varies among pest life stages and agent application or release rates. The most promising candidates will be further evaluated on host plants under semi-field conditions and, where feasible, in combination with compatible crop protection products. The project will identify effective biological control options and generate practical knowledge to support integrated pest management of chilli thrips in Australian horticultural production.

Identifying Chemical Cues that Influence Host Selection by Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer

Polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus, is an invasive pest threatening urban trees, horticulture and biodiversity in Western Australia. Understanding the chemical cues used by PSHB to locate suitable hosts could support development of improved monitoring and management tools. This M.Sc. project will investigate the role of plant- and fungus-derived volatile compounds in PSHB host selection. Volatile profiles from selected host plants, including healthy and stressed material, and PSHB-associated symbiotic fungi will be characterised using headspace sampling and GC-MS. Candidate compounds will be selected based on chemical profiles and existing knowledge, and their effects on PSHB behaviour will be evaluated using laboratory olfactometer bioassays. Selected attractive or repellent compounds and blends will be further tested to determine concentration-dependent responses. The project will identify behaviourally active chemical cues and provide candidate semiochemicals for future development of PSHB lures, repellents and monitoring strategies.

Pioneering targeted recombination by pushing the boundaries of Mendel's meiosis using CRISPR/cas genome editing

Are you ready to join the next revolution in plant genetics? This project offers motivated students the chance to explore one of the most exciting frontiers in genome engineering: targeted recombination. Recombination naturally shuffles genetic material during reproduction, creating diversity that plant breeders use for crop improvement. But in many crops, it's rare and unpredictable, slowing breeding progress. Imagine being able to guide recombination exactly where it matters most. Using CRISPR/Cas genome editing, this project aims to do just that—reshuffling DNA precisely to assemble key traits like stress tolerance, disease resistance, and yield stability (CRISPR–Cas-mediated chromosome engineering for crop improvement and synthetic biology). As a Master's student, you'll gain hands-on experience in CRISPR editing, molecular biology, and advanced genomics. You'll apply these tools to WA's major crops, such as wheat and canola, working alongside industry partners. Beyond technical skills, you'll help drive real-world outcomes in food security and climate resilience.

Suitable for Accelerated Research Masters with Training. A basic knowledge of genetics and molecular biology required.

Pre-requisites skills or knowledge: Experience with Polymerase Chain Reaction, recombinant DNA techniques, Plant growth and handling.

Unlocking wheat's full reproductive potential for hybrid breeding using the latest techniques in synthetic biology and genome editing (CRISPR/Cas)

Wheat feeds more people worldwide than any other crop—yet yields have stagnated for decades. Unlike rice and corn, which benefit from hybrid breeding, wheat remains inbred and self-fertilizing. Hybrids could boost yields by 10–22%, but high seed production costs—caused by wheat’s floral architecture and poor outcrossing—blocks progress. This project aims to overcome that barrier by enhancing wheat’s female receptivity to airborne pollen, cutting seed costs and unlocking hybrid potential. The result: more stable harvests, higher yields, and stronger food security in a changing climate. Backed by the Australian Research Council, BASF, and a global alliance of seed companies and universities (New genomic resources to boost research in reproductive biology to enable cost-effective hybrid seed production), this is your chance to work at the frontier of plant genetics. As a Master’s student, you’ll gain hands-on expertise in CRISPR/Cas9 editing, synthetic biology, molecular cloning, transformation, microscopy, and trait phenotyping—skills in high demand across academia and industry. Help shape the future of agriculture with real-world impact.

Suitable for Accelerated Research Masters with Training. Basic knowledge of genetics and molecular techniques required.

Pre-requisites skills or knowledge: Experience with PCR, recombinant DNA techniques and plant growth and handling.

Coaches' Knowledge, Priorities, Training Time, and Injury Prevention Practices Across Australian Team Sport Settings

This project investigates how Australian team-sport coaches and performance staff understand, prioritise, and implement injury prevention across competition levels, from community junior sport to elite environments. Despite strong evidence that injury prevention programs reduce injury risk, uptake and adherence remain inconsistent, with limited understanding of how much training time coaches actually have available or what forms of injury prevention guidance they prefer. Using a national cross-sectional survey, the study will examine coaching experience, qualifications, available training time across the season, current injury prevention practices, and preferred knowledge translation methods. Findings will help identify how injury prevention strategies can be better designed for real-world sporting contexts, including youth and community sport where time constraints may be greatest. The project is well suited to graduate research students interested in sports injury prevention, coaching practice, implementation science, and translating research evidence into practical guidance for Australian sport.

Suitable for aRMT or RMT

Improving health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes

Our group's goal is to improve health outcomes for people living with clinical conditions including type 2 diabetes. Within this, our work spans several interconnected themes. Projects are available for students interested in topics such as:

• Tailoring lifestyle interventions to improve health outcomes
• Assessing metabolic changes associated with lifestyle and medicinal interventions
• Identifying responders and non-responders to lifestyle interventions, and the predictors that distinguish them.

Understanding metabolic change in patients with inclusion body myositis

Myositis refers to a group of rare autoimmune conditions characterised by chronic muscle inflammation, leading to progressive weakness and reduced physical function. There is currently no cure, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and slowing progression - our team is working alongside clinicians to improve how this condition is managed, including dietary and exercise interventions, to help preserve function and quality of life for those affected. We have multiple projects within this theme which would be suitable for a RMT or PhD student.

Improving child health to prevent cardiometabolic disease across the lifespan

Cardiometabolic disease often has its roots in childhood, shaped by early patterns of physical activity, diet, and metabolic health. Our research focuses on working with children and families to identify and intervene on these early risk factors, with the aim of preventing cardiometabolic disease later in life. We have multiple projects suitable for both RMT and PhD students.

The effect of exercise on sleep and cognition in community-dwelling older adults

Exercise is a powerful intervention for improving sleep and supporting brain health in ageing - two key determinants of healthy ageing and quality of life. However, there is currently a lack of understanding of the optimal exercise prescription to improve sleep and cognition in older adults. The current project will leverage data from a large, US-based phase III randomised controlled trial: Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (IGNITE), which examined the effect of exercise dose and modality on cognition in community-dwelling older adults.

Possible research directions include:

1. Examining the impact of the exercise intervention on sleep and potential moderators (e.g., sex).
2. Whether exercise-induced cognitive change is influenced by baseline sleep characteristics.

We welcome motivated applicants with backgrounds in Exercise Science or Psychology. These projects may be suitable for accelerated Research Masters with Training, Research Masters with Training, or Masters by Research, depending on the applicant.

Pre-requisites skills or knowledge: Basic knowledge of statistics and coding skills in R will be very helpful for engaging with the analyses and interpreting the findings.

Efficient Automatic Prompt Optimisation for large language models

The project aims to study the automatic prompt optimisation strategies for large language model (LLMs). The project will study the refinement mechanisms that control the optimisation updates, and it will study the compression techniques that restructure automatic prompts. The study will compare the method with existing baseline automatic prompt optimisation approaches. The contribution of the project is to develop efficient automatic prompt optimisation algorithm that enhances the performance of large language models.

Truth-Witnessing and Healing: Pathways to Shared Understanding

This project would contribute to a larger ARC Linkage project that addresses a critical and under-researched intersection of Indigenous wellbeing, cultural memory, and aged care.  Specifically, it would aim to address the research question, "How can Aboriginal child removal be embedded as a foundational collective memory in Australia through truth telling?" You will work with Dr Alison Atkinson-Phillips on research that focusses on truth-listening, and the processes by which non-Aboriginal Australians are able to hear the stories and understand the intergenerational impacts of Aboriginal Child Removal.  This is an inter-disciplinary project that will investigate forms of Aboriginal and collaborative cultural memory work—memoirs, films, exhibitions, and art—that have successfully engaged non-Aboriginal Australians and influenced public understanding of the Stolen Generations.  Within the scope of the broader project, and under the guidance of an Aboriginal Advisory Group, you will have flexibility to explore your own research questions.

How can feminist approaches contribute to more just and sustainable development futures in the Anthropocene?

This research seeks to explore how do feminist approaches reshape understandings and practices of climate adaptation and resilience in the Anthropocene across different contexts. Questions for research include (but not limited to):

• How do women's knowledge, leadership and collective action influence community responses to environmental change and socio-ecological uncertainty?
• How are rural livelihoods and agricultural systems being transformed by environmental uncertainty, and what are the implications for gender relations and social inclusion?
• How can Indigenous, local and feminist knowledges contribute to more just and sustainable approaches to environmental governance?
• How can Feminist Participatory Action Research generate socially transformative knowledge and support more equitable development processes?
• How are energy transitions and critical minerals development experienced, negotiated and contested by different social groups, and with what implications for gender justice?

Anthropocene Feminism: Gender, Development and Environmental Change

Climate change, environmental degradation and growing social inequalities are reshaping development challenges around the world. Feminist scholars have long argued that these changes are experienced differently according to gender and that sustainable development requires attention to power, relationships and social justice. Drawing on perspectives from Gender and Development, feminist political ecology, and feminist participatory action research, projects can explore how gender shapes experiences of environmental and social change and how feminist approaches can contribute to more equitable and sustainable development outcomes. This research area is inspired by emerging scholarship that considers how feminist thinking can inform development practice in an era of climate crisis and ecological uncertainty.

Potential projects could examine:

• How do feminist approaches reshape understandings of climate adaptation and resilience?
• How can Feminist Participatory Action Research generate socially transformative knowledge and support more equitable development processes?
• How are energy transitions and critical minerals development experienced, negotiated and contested by different social groups, and with what implications for gender justice?
• How do infrastructure development and climate change intersect to shape gendered experiences of development, wellbeing and social justice?

Every Recess Counts: School Policies for Every Child's Well-Being

Play has long been established as crucial to children and healthy development into adulthood as it positively impacts their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional wellbeing. Due to the many benefits, play is guaranteed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. School recess and lunch is a key opportunity to promote healthy play as well as healthy nutrition, however, limited research suggests not all students have access to quality recess and lunch play opportunities. This project seeks to better understand the current landscape of recess policies and practices across diverse schools in Western Australia and Australia. It will include a systematic web audit of current recess and lunch policies and practices and systematic observations of current recess physical activity, policies and practices. This project will support work to co-design practical recommendations and strategies for school leaders to improve recess and lunch for all students.

Pre-requisite skills or knowledge: Requires Working with Children Check

Application and Evaluation of a Generative Solar Forecasting Model for Whole-Plant Forecasts of Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Systems

Reliable forecasts on the inherent variability of utility-scale photovoltaic systems can improve operational control of power systems. Particularly in remote power systems, intra-hour forecasting can help reduce reserve requirements, fuel use, battery stress, and curtailment while improving reliability and enabling higher renewable penetration. This project aims to analyse and assess the capabilities of a generative solar forecasting tool based on all-sky imagery (ASI), linked to photovoltaic (PV) system output predictions, for applying whole-plant forecasts in power systems with utility-scale PV power plants. The work will draw on operational data of Murdoch University’s 450 kWp PV system and existing ASI infrastructure. The project aims to develop a control system that includes the generative forecasting tool suitable for remote power system control tasks.

Pre-requisites skills or knowledge: Photovoltaic system modelling, power system operation, data acquisition and analysis, data-driven modelling, forecasting, supervisory control development, Python, MATLAB

Environmental impact assessment and streamlined development approvals in Western Australia

Environmental impact assessment plays a vital role in understanding and managing the environmental consequences of industrial, mining and other resource extraction projects. Western Australia’s 2025 State Development Act introduces streamlined assessment processes designed to accelerate project approvals. But does faster decision-making risk reduce the quality of environmental assessment? This project offers an opportunity to investigate this important and timely question. The student will critically analyse projects submitted and approved since late 2025 under the Act’s streamlined provisions, assessing the quality, depth and rigour of the environmental analysis undertaken. The research will identify patterns, strengths, limitations and potential gaps in how environmental impacts are considered during project assessment. The project provides hands-on experience in environmental policy, impact assessment and applied ecological analysis, and is particularly suited to students with backgrounds in environmental science or environmental management.

Testing the thermal load sensitivity framework

Traditional measures of thermal tolerance, such as CTmax, provides unrealistic predictions an animal’s ability to survive heat stress in the wild because they do not account for the complex patterns of temperature exposure animals experience. Survival depends not only on the intensity of heat stress, but also on its duration, frequency, and the organism's capacity to acclimate and repair heat-induced damage.

This project will use the thermal load sensitivity framework, which combines experiments across a range of temperatures and exposure times to create tolerance landscapes that better predict survival under natural conditions. Using model organisms, the candidate will investigate how abiotic factors, including drought, pollutants, and pathogens, as well as biotic factors such as adaptation and life stage, influence thermal sensitivity. Experimental findings will be integrated with microclimate data to improve predictions of overheating risk and enhance our understanding of animal vulnerability to climate change in Western Australia.

Pre-requisites skills or knowledge: Experience with experimental research and maintaining invertebrates in the lab.

Climate and environmental protection in Australian regulatory governance

Regulatory impact assessment is an important part of the policymaking process, requiring governments to assess the likely economic, environmental and social impacts of proposed legislation and regulation. This project will analyse a large dataset of regulatory impact statements produced by the Australian national government to examine how environmental sustainability concerns are considered alongside economic and social impacts. The project will investigate the relative prominence of climate change and environmental protection at a critical stage of policymaking: agenda-setting and policy development. Using large-N, computer-assisted analysis of regulatory impact statements, the research will identify patterns in how environmental considerations are represented and weighed across different policy areas and over time. The project will be particularly suited to students interested in environmental policy, the role of scientific evidence in policymaking and the relationship between evidence and policy.

Lawyers as environmental activists: exploring the role of pro bono legal advocacy in Western Australia

The Environmental Defenders Office of Western Australia provides vital legal support to communities and environmental organisations across Western Australia. With limited resources, EDOWA relies on a network of professional lawyers who contribute pro bono legal advice, analysis and representation. This project offers a novel opportunity to examine lawyers not only as legal professionals, but as participants in environmental activism. The student will interview staff to investigate the organisation’s operating environment, challenges and strategies. The research will then use qualitative interviews and surveys to explore the broader network of lawyers supporting EDOWA, examining their motivations, experiences, professional identities and contributions to environmental advocacy. By focusing on an overlooked dimension of environmental activism - the mobilisation of professional legal expertise - the project can generate new insights into how environmental organisations build capacity and pursue advocacy through professional networks. Travel expenses associated with the research can be covered.

Environmental governance and the working relationship between the EPA and government departments in Western Australia

This project will examine the day-to-day working relationship between the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and government departments in Western Australia, focusing on environmental impact assessment and environmental regulation. It will explore how these organisations interact in practice, including how responsibilities, expertise, advice and decision-making are negotiated across institutional boundaries. Understanding these relationships is important because effective environmental governance depends not only on legislation and institutional structures, but also on how agencies work together in practice. The project will provide insight into inter-agency environmental decision-making and broader issues of regulatory independence, accountability and governance. Methods will include research interviews with EPA and government staff, alongside analysis of legislation, policies and reports. The project would also provide valuable opportunities to develop professional networks across WA’s environmental policy sector, supporting future career opportunities. Travel expenses can be covered.

Unlocking the Power of the Raine Study to Understand Movement Behaviours and their Health Outcomes Across the Life Course

The Raine Study (rainestudey.org.au) is a multi-generational prospective cohort study started in 1989 in Western Australia that includes a wide range of health information across the life course and across generations. This enables a unique opportunity to understand health behaviours and health outcomes across the life course and we are currently examining complex interactions of physical activity, sleep, sport participation, and screen time behaviours and how they influence various outcomes including physical health, mental health, and other adult outcomes. Murdoch University supports the Raine Study as a Unincorporated Joint Venture partner that allows students at Murdoch to access the wealth of data collected for free. This project will allow students to explore multiple health behaviours and relevant outcomes with assistance from experienced Raine Study researchers to guide them in formulating research questions, accessing data, and appropriately modelling and interpreting longitudinal statistical models with data collected through the Raine Study.

Every Recess Counts: School Policies for Every Child's Well-Being

Play has long been established as crucial to children and healthy development into adulthood as it positively impacts their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional wellbeing. Due to the many benefits, play is guaranteed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. School recess and lunch is a key opportunity to promote healthy play as well as healthy nutrition, however, limited research suggests not all students have access to quality recess and lunch play opportunities. This project seeks to better understand the current landscape of recess policies and practices across diverse schools in Western Australia and Australia. It will include a systematic web audit of current recess and lunch policies and practices and systematic observations of current recess physical activity, policies and practices. This project will support work to co-design practical recommendations and strategies for school leaders to improve recess and lunch for all students.

Pre-requisite skills or knowledge: Requires Working with Children Check

Genetic variation in marri canker susceptibility across southwestern Western Australia

Marri (Corymbia calophylla) is an iconic tree of southwestern Western Australia that is increasingly affected by canker disease caused by the native fungal pathogen Quambalaria coyrecup. However, its possible that individual trees may vary considerably in their susceptibility to disease, raising the possibility that some marri populations possess greater natural resistance.

This project will use existing data from established marri provenance trials containing trees grown from seed collected across the species' geographic range. Canker incidence and severity will be used to investigate whether susceptibility to canker varies among provenances and families and whether these differences are associated with the climate and environment of their origin.

The project will provide experience in forest pathology, plant–pathogen interactions, quantitative data analysis and ecological genetics. Results will improve our understanding of natural variation in marri disease resistance and could help inform the selection of resilient plant material for future restoration and conservation of marri populations.

Pre-requisite skills or knowledge: The data has been collected and thus, the prospective student will gain skills in analysing large datasets and new analytical approaches.

Are all Phytophthora species invasive?

Phytophthora dieback cause by the invasive pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi has devastated impacted natural ecosystems in Western Australia. In mapping its presence, 70 other Phytophthora species have been recovered some of which appear to be native and some introduced. The bridgehead effect suggest that new species arrive, becomes established in urban environments and then spread into natural ecosystems. However, traits of the species and environmental filtering, may influence invasiveness. This project would use the extensive database and targeted sampling from Western Australia to interrogate these principals.

Pre-requisite skills or knowledge: This project will be a desktop study (no field work) and will provide the opportunity to upskill your programming skills.

Climate and environmental protection in Australian regulatory governance

Regulatory impact assessment is an important part of the policymaking process, requiring governments to assess the likely economic, environmental and social impacts of proposed legislation and regulation. This project will analyse a large dataset of regulatory impact statements produced by the Australian national government to examine how environmental sustainability concerns are considered alongside economic and social impacts. The project will investigate the relative prominence of climate change and environmental protection at a critical stage of policymaking: agenda-setting and policy development. Using large-N, computer-assisted analysis of regulatory impact statements, the research will identify patterns in how environmental considerations are represented and weighed across different policy areas and over time. The project will be particularly suited to students interested in environmental policy, the role of scientific evidence in policymaking and the relationship between evidence and policy.

Lawyers as environmental activists: exploring the role of pro bono legal advocacy in Western Australia

The Environmental Defenders Office of Western Australia provides vital legal support to communities and environmental organisations across Western Australia. With limited resources, EDOWA relies on a network of professional lawyers who contribute pro bono legal advice, analysis and representation. This project offers a novel opportunity to examine lawyers not only as legal professionals, but as participants in environmental activism. The student will interview staff to investigate the organisation’s operating environment, challenges and strategies. The research will then use qualitative interviews and surveys to explore the broader network of lawyers supporting EDOWA, examining their motivations, experiences, professional identities and contributions to environmental advocacy. By focusing on an overlooked dimension of environmental activism - the mobilisation of professional legal expertise - the project can generate new insights into how environmental organisations build capacity and pursue advocacy through professional networks. Travel expenses associated with the research can be covered.

Environmental governance and the working relationship between the EPA and government departments in Western Australia

This project will examine the day-to-day working relationship between the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and government departments in Western Australia, focusing on environmental impact assessment and environmental regulation. It will explore how these organisations interact in practice, including how responsibilities, expertise, advice and decision-making are negotiated across institutional boundaries. Understanding these relationships is important because effective environmental governance depends not only on legislation and institutional structures, but also on how agencies work together in practice. The project will provide insight into inter-agency environmental decision-making and broader issues of regulatory independence, accountability and governance. Methods will include research interviews with EPA and government staff, alongside analysis of legislation, policies and reports. The project would also provide valuable opportunities to develop professional networks across WA’s environmental policy sector, supporting future career opportunities. Travel expenses can be covered.

Modelling the transition from amorphous to ordered interfaces in biological and chemical network nanomaterials

The Gyroid nanostructure is a network-like structure found in nanomaterials in biology and chemistry. Its beautiful highly ordered saddle shape was once considered a geometric curiosity but we now understand why it is so widely found in both biology and chemistry. Current research interest focuses on related amorphous structures (without symmetry and periodicity but otherwise similar) and their transitions, both spatially and temporally, to the gyroid geometry. This project is excellent for students with maths and physics interest, and will build expertise in computational geometry, differential geometry, stochastic or spatial statistics modelling, 3d data and 3d microscopy analysis, as well as soft matter physics and nanostructured materials.

Pre-requisite skills or knowledge: The project could take multiple directions, e.g. with a greater focus on 3D tomography data analysis of biomineralised structures, or on differential geometric theory involving hyperbolic geometry, or on computational geometric methods for curvature-structure calculations.

Statistics for Fairer, Safer, and Smarter AI

Generative artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming research, industry, and everyday life. Although statistical methods have long provided the theoretical foundation for machine learning and deep learning, the emergence of increasingly powerful AI systems raises an important question: how can statistics help shape the next generation of AI?

This project will investigate how modern statistical methodologies can contribute to the development of reliable, responsible, and trustworthy AI. Potential research areas include synthetic data generation, data privacy protection, uncertainty quantification, algorithmic fairness, model evaluation, and the analysis of complex or high-dimensional datasets. The precise research direction may be tailored to the successful applicant’s background and interests.

The successful applicant will work at the intersection of statistics, computer science, and engineering. The project will involve developing and evaluating statistical approaches that address real-world challenges arising from contemporary AI systems. The research offers an opportunity to develop interdisciplinary expertise while contributing to practical solutions with meaningful and wide-ranging impact.

Pre-requisite skills or knowledge: R or Python coding skills is a must.

Modelling invasive species propagation in the Perth region

Australian flora and fauna are particularly susceptible to introduced invasive species (such as the polyphagous shot-hole borer). The project aims to firstly establish an appropriate analytical model for species propagation and resource consumption (in the absence of predation) in both space and time, and account for various control policies that may be applied. The model's stability at a single point will be analysed with classical techniques (Lyapunov stability analysis). Then, by means of the finite element method, a spatial model of the Perth region will be generated, and a complete numerical study will be conducted to analyse the spatial propagation patterns over time. By studying the results of different control policies numerically, we hope to better understand how to reduce or eliminate invasive species, and reduce the threat they pose to Australian ecologies.

Cosserat finite element performance analysis

The Cosserat continuum is an extension of the typical continuum formulation used in solid and fluid mechanics that accounts for micro-rotations of the elementary particles. The formulation is particularly useful for capturing dispersion effects in elastodynamics, size-dependent effects in bending, and localisation effects in non-associated or softening plasticity. All of these domains of application require a (mixed) finite element discretisation, where the underlying displacement and micro-rotation fields are separately discretised. It has been known for almost 25 years that a quadratic discretisation of the displacement field combined with a linear discretisation of the micro-rotation field is the most performant in two-dimensional elasticity. This project aims to answer whether this is the case in three dimensions, in dynamics, and when plasticity occurs, and if not what the optimal discretisations are for these cases. The project is expected to directly aid advanced civil and mechanical engineering practice.

Harvesting Energy from Agricultural Waste: Sustainable Production of Nano-Engineered Carbon Anodes from Agri Biomass for Next-Generation Lithium and Sodium Batteries

This PhD project will investigate the conversion of agricultural plant waste, into high-value nano-structured carbon materials for advanced lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery technologies. Agricultural biomass is generated in large quantities worldwide and is often underutilised or disposed of through environmentally harmful practices.

The resulting materials will be characterised using structural, morphological, and electrochemical techniques and evaluated as battery anodes. The expected outcomes will establish a circular-economy pathway that converts low-value agricultural waste into high-performance energy-storage materials, supporting sustainable battery manufacturing and future renewable energy systems.

This research will develop sustainable thermochemical and nano-engineering approaches to transform plant-derived biomass into porous carbon materials with tailored morphology, high surface area, controlled pore architecture, and enhanced electrochemical performance. Advanced activation, heteroatom doping, and surface functionalisation strategies will be explored to optimise ion transport, charge storage, and cycling stability.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Basic Training can be provided to the PhD Candidate

Developing Biological Control Strategies for Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer in Australia

Polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus, is a destructive invasive pest threatening urban trees, horticulture and biodiversity in Western Australia. Current management relies heavily on surveillance, tree removal and sanitation, highlighting the need for sustainable biological control options. This PhD project will investigate potential biological control agents targeting PSHB and its associated symbiotic fungi. The research will identify and evaluate candidate natural enemies and microbial agents through literature review, field surveys and laboratory bioassays, examining their effects on beetle survival, development, reproduction and fungal symbiosis. Promising candidates will be assessed for efficacy, host specificity and compatibility with existing PSHB management approaches. The project will also investigate how PSHB biology, behaviour and its protected gallery system influence biological control effectiveness. Outcomes will provide the scientific foundation for developing safe, sustainable and integrated biological control strategies for PSHB in Australia.

Developing Sustainable Biological Control Strategies for Chilli Thrips in Australian Horticulture

Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis, is an important invasive pest affecting a wide range of horticultural crops, including berries and other high-value crops. Heavy reliance on insecticides can contribute to resistance, disrupt beneficial arthropods and limit sustainable pest management. This PhD project will investigate biological control strategies for chilli thrips, focusing on the identification and evaluation of effective natural enemies and microbial biocontrol agents. Candidate predators, parasitoids and entomopathogenic fungi will be assessed through laboratory and semi-field experiments for their effects on thrips survival, development and population suppression. The project will investigate how crop type, pest density, environmental conditions and release timing influence biological control effectiveness. Promising agents will be further evaluated for their compatibility with commonly used crop protection practices. Outcomes will provide practical knowledge for integrating biological control into sustainable chilli thrips management programs and reducing reliance on conventional insecticides in Australian horticulture.

Decoding the Chemical Ecology of Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer for Improved Monitoring and Management

Polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus, is a destructive invasive pest threatening urban trees, horticulture and biodiversity in Western Australia. Effective monitoring and management require a better understanding of the chemical cues that guide beetle behaviour and host selection. This project will investigate the chemical ecology of PSHB by identifying host- and fungus-derived volatile compounds associated with attraction or repellence. Volatile profiles from susceptible and less-preferred host plants, stressed plants and PSHB-associated symbiotic fungi will be characterised using chemical analytical techniques. Candidate compounds will be evaluated through laboratory behavioural bioassays and electrophysiological approaches to determine beetle responses and identify biologically active semiochemicals. Promising attractants and repellents will subsequently be assessed individually and in blends under semi-field or field conditions. The project will advance understanding of PSHB host-location mechanisms and support development of improved lures, monitoring tools and behaviour-based management strategies for PSHB in Australia.

Decoding the Chemical Ecology of Western Australian Cockchafers for Pheromone-Based Monitoring and Management

Cockchafers are important soil-dwelling pests of pastures and crops in Western Australia, but effective tools for detecting and monitoring adult populations remain limited. This PhD project will investigate the chemical ecology of key pest cockchafer species to develop semiochemical-based monitoring tools. The research will identify potential sex or aggregation pheromones and host-plant volatile cues involved in mate finding and host selection. Volatile compounds will be characterised using headspace collection and GC-MS, with candidate compounds evaluated using electrophysiological and behavioural assays. The influence of sex, age, reproductive status and environmental conditions on chemical communication will also be investigated. Promising compounds and optimised blends will be incorporated into prototype lures and evaluated through field trapping experiments across Western Australian agricultural environments. The project will advance understanding of cockchafer chemical communication and deliver candidate pheromone or semiochemical lures for improved detection, population monitoring and future integrated pest management.

Nitrogen-Driven Plant–Snail Interactions: Implications for Pest Snail Population Dynamics and Management

Pest snails cause significant damage and contamination risks in Australian grain production, yet the influence of crop nutrition on snail population dynamics remains poorly understood. This PhD project will investigate how nitrogen availability influences plant–snail interactions and contributes to pest snail growth, survival and reproduction. Controlled experiments will examine how different nitrogen sources and application rates alter plant nutritional quality and subsequently affect snail feeding preference, consumption, growth, fecundity and shell development. Physiological and biochemical approaches will be used to investigate mechanisms linking plant nitrogen status with snail performance. Key findings will be validated under semi-field and field conditions to determine how nitrogen management interacts with environmental factors to influence snail abundance and crop damage. The project will improve understanding of the nutritional ecology of pest snails and provide evidence for integrating fertiliser management, pest risk prediction and sustainable snail management strategies in Australian grain production.

Basalt and Sand-Based Nano-Modified Soil Amendments for Water Retention and Climate-Resilient Agriculture

This PhD project will investigate basalt- and sand-based nano-modified soil amendments designed to improve water retention, nutrient availability, and soil performance in water-limited agricultural environments. Sandy soils are often characterised by poor water-holding capacity, low organic matter, rapid nutrient leaching, and reduced crop productivity, particularly under drought-prone Australian conditions.

Basalt-derived minerals offer a sustainable source of slow-release nutrients and can contribute to soil remineralisation, while nano-scale modification may enhance surface area, porosity, cation exchange capacity, and water-binding behaviour. This research will focus on engineering basalt, sand, and hybrid mineral amendments through physical, chemical, or bio-functionalisation approaches to improve moisture retention and nutrient dynamics. The materials will be characterised for structure, surface chemistry, porosity, and water-holding performance, followed by plant growth and soil column studies. The expected outcomes will contribute to low-cost, scalable soil technologies for climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture.

Pre-requisite: Knowledge about Bascis Agricultural Science and Chemistry (training can be provided if needed).

Nano-Enabled Biofortification Strategies for Improving Crop Nutritional Quality and Food Security

This PhD project will investigate nano-enabled biofortification strategies to enhance the nutritional quality of food crops while improving nutrient-use efficiency and agricultural sustainability. Micronutrient deficiencies, including iron, zinc, selenium, and magnesium, remain major global health challenges, particularly in regions where staple crops provide limited dietary mineral intake. Conventional fertiliser-based biofortification approaches are often limited by poor nutrient availability, soil interactions, leaching losses, and low plant uptake efficiency.

Nanotechnology offers a promising platform for the controlled delivery of essential micronutrients through nano-fertilisers, mineral nanoparticles, bio-based nanocarriers, and soil or foliar application systems. This project will focus on developing and characterising nano-enabled nutrient formulations and evaluating their effects on plant growth, mineral uptake, nutrient translocation, crop yield, and nutritional enhancement. The expected outcomes will contribute to sustainable agriculture, improved food quality, reduced fertiliser losses, and innovative strategies for addressing hidden hunger and future food security challenges.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Training can be provided

Development of Innovative Nano-Fertilisers for Controlled Nutrient Delivery and Improved Crop Productivity

This PhD project will investigate the development of advanced nano-fertilisers for controlled nutrient delivery, improved nutrient-use efficiency, and sustainable crop production. Conventional fertilisers often suffer from poor uptake efficiency, nutrient leaching, soil imbalance, and environmental impacts, including eutrophication and greenhouse gas emissions. Nanotechnology offers a promising pathway to engineer fertiliser systems that release nutrients gradually, respond to soil conditions, and improve plant availability.

This project will focus on synthesising and characterising nano-enabled fertiliser formulations containing essential macro- and micronutrients, supported by biocompatible carriers such as clay minerals, biochar, silica, or polymer-based matrices. Their effects on nutrient release, plant uptake, root development, soil health, and crop performance will be assessed under controlled and field-relevant conditions. The expected outcomes will support the development of efficient, environmentally responsible fertiliser technologies that enhance agricultural productivity while reducing nutrient losses and improving sustainability.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Basics Chemistry and Agricultural Sciences

Improving health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes

Our group's goal is to improve health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes. Within this, our work spans several interconnected themes:

• Tailoring lifestyle interventions to improve health outcomes
• Assessing metabolic changes associated with lifestyle and medicinal interventions
• Identifying responders and non-responders to lifestyle interventions, and the predictors that distinguish them.

Efficient Automatic Prompt Optimisation for large language models

The project aims to study the automatic prompt optimisation strategies for large language model (LLMs). The project will study the refinement mechanisms that control the optimisation updates, and it will study the compression techniques that restructure automatic prompts. The study will compare the method with existing baseline automatic prompt optimisation approaches. The contribution of the project is to develop efficient automatic prompt optimisation algorithm that enhances the performance of large language models.

From Curse to Cure: Transforming Paterson's Curse (Toxic Weed) into Life-Saving Nano-Silver Green Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine

This PhD project will investigate the transformation of Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum), an invasive and environmentally problematic weed, into high-value nano-silver biomaterials for biomedical applications. While the plant is widely regarded as a nuisance species, its biomass presents an untapped resource for sustainable nanomaterial production.

The research will explore green synthesis pathways that utilise plant-derived extracts as reducing and stabilising agents for the production of biocompatible silver nanoparticles. Synthesised nano-silver materials will be characterised using advanced physicochemical techniques and evaluated for antimicrobial activity against clinically relevant pathogens, biofilm inhibition, cytocompatibility, and wound-healing performance.

The project will further investigate integration of nano-silver into wound dressings, hydrogels, and bioactive coatings for infection prevention and tissue regeneration. The expected outcomes will establish a circular-economy pathway that converts problematic biomass into life-saving biomaterials, creating innovative healthcare solutions while simultaneously addressing environmental management challenges.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: Basic training can be provided to upskill the PhD Candidate.

Leadership for Responsible AI & Digital Transformations in Healthcare

This project redefines the modern workplace by exploring how leadership, people, and AI and digital technology can unite to build organisations that are innovative, responsible, and human-centred. Focusing on the rapidly evolving healthcare sector, this study investigates how leaders navigate complex AI and digital transformations to drive sustainable organisational change. While AI and digital tools offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and service quality, successful adoption relies on leadership that prioritises human well-being. This research examines the complex, multi-level impact of responsible leadership, across organisational, team, and individual levels, on technology implementation, employee physical and mental health, and overall service delivery. By placing ethical governance and human needs at the heart of digital strategy, this project offers a blueprint for healthcare organisations to harness emerging technologies while protecting their workforce, ultimately improving service outcomes and establishing a balanced, future-ready workplace.

Shaping Innovative Leaders: A Capability Framework for Entrepreneurs

This research investigates how leadership, people, and AI technology come together to foster innovation that is responsible and human-centered. Representing over 70% of the workforce, SMEs are vital economic drivers, yet they frequently struggle with limited access to finance and receive less than 10% of Research and Development (R&D) funding. To bridge this gap, this study examines how forward-thinking leadership can empower teams and leverage emerging AI technology to foster sustainable growth. By placing ethical governance and human potential at the core of digital adoption, the research aims to develop a comprehensive Leadership Capability Framework. This framework will equip entrepreneurs with the competencies required to cultivate an innovative culture, optimise technology integration, and elevate overall performance, transforming SMEs into resilient, future-ready growth engines.

Development of Novel Functional Superabsorbers for Sustainable Recovery of Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements

This PhD project will investigate the design and development of novel superabsorbent materials for the selective capture and recovery of critical minerals and rare earth elements from complex aqueous streams. With increasing global demand for clean energy technologies, electronics, advanced manufacturing, and defence applications, sustainable access to rare earth elements has become a strategic priority. Conventional extraction and separation processes are often energy-intensive, chemically harsh, and environmentally challenging.

This project will focus on engineering functional superabsorbers with tailored chemical groups, high swelling capacity, and selective binding sites to enhance uptake, separation, and recovery efficiency. Materials will be synthesised and characterised to evaluate adsorption capacity, selectivity, regeneration, and performance under realistic processing conditions. The expected outcomes will support the development of scalable, low-cost, and environmentally responsible technologies for critical mineral recovery, and position the PhD Candidate contributing to circular economy approaches and strengthening sovereign supply chains.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Chemistry and Minerals (Training can be provided)

Investigation into Advanced Zinc-Bio-polymer Materials for Novel Sustainable Battery Technology

This PhD project will investigate advanced zinc–bio-polymer materials for the development of novel, sustainable battery technologies. Zinc-based batteries offer a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion systems due to their abundance, low cost, improved safety, and environmental compatibility. However, challenges such as limited cycle life, electrode degradation, dendrite formation, and electrolyte instability remain major barriers to large-scale adoption. This research will focus on designing, synthesising, and characterising bio-polymer-based functional materials that can enhance zinc ion transport, stabilise electrode interfaces, and improve battery performance. Renewable bio-polymers will be explored as binders, electrolytes, separators, or protective coatings to reduce reliance on synthetic and petroleum-derived components. The project will combine materials synthesis, structural and electrochemical characterisation, and performance testing to establish structure–property relationships. The expected outcomes will contribute to safer, lower-cost, and more sustainable energy storage systems suitable for future renewable energy and circular economy applications.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Basics Chemistry and Physics knowledge is preferable

Investigation of New Class of Solar Materials (non-Silicon) and its performance in Australian Conditions

This PhD project will investigate a new class of non-silicon solar materials and evaluate their performance under Australian environmental conditions. While silicon photovoltaics dominate the global solar market, emerging materials such as perovskites, organic semiconductors, chalcogenides, and quantum-dot-based systems offer exciting opportunities for lightweight, flexible, low-cost, and high-efficiency solar technologies.

However, their long-term stability, scalability, and performance under high irradiance, elevated temperatures, dust exposure, and variable humidity remain critical challenges, particularly in harsh Australian climates. This research will focus on the synthesis, fabrication, and characterisation of selected non-silicon solar materials, followed by systematic testing under controlled laboratory conditions and simulated Australian operating environments. Key performance indicators will include power conversion efficiency, thermal stability, degradation behaviour, spectral response, and durability.

The expected outcomes will advance understanding of next-generation solar materials and support the development of sustainable photovoltaic technologies suited to Australia’s renewable energy needs.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Basic Chemistry and/ior Physics (training will be provided)

Bioengineering novel Functionalised Anodic Aluminium Oxide Membrane for Wound Healing

This PhD project will investigate the bioengineering of novel functionalised anodic aluminium oxide membranes for advanced wound healing applications. Chronic and complex wounds remain a major clinical challenge due to delayed tissue regeneration, infection risk, poor oxygenation, and insufficient control over the wound microenvironment. Anodic aluminium oxide membranes offer a promising platform due to their highly ordered nanoporous architecture, tunable pore size, mechanical stability, and capacity for surface functionalisation.

This research will focus on designing and modifying these membranes with bioactive molecules, antimicrobial agents, and biocompatible surface chemistries to enhance cell attachment, fluid management, controlled therapeutic delivery, and tissue repair. The project will combine membrane fabrication, physicochemical characterisation, biological assessment, and wound-healing performance evaluation to establish relationships between membrane nanoarchitecture, surface functionality, and biological response. The expected outcomes will contribute to the development of innovative, scalable, and multifunctional biomaterial platforms for next-generation wound dressings and regenerative medicine applications.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Basics Chemistry and Physics knowledge is preferable

Developing Self-Powered Fabric with NanoMagnetite Technology

This PhD project will investigate the development of self-powered fabrics incorporating nano-magnetite technology for next-generation wearable and sustainable energy systems. As demand grows for smart textiles, remote sensing, health monitoring, and low-power electronic devices, there is an increasing need for flexible materials capable of generating, storing, or harvesting energy without reliance on conventional external power sources.

Nano-magnetite offers attractive functional properties, including magnetic responsiveness, high surface activity, environmental compatibility, and potential integration with conducting fibres, polymers, or textile coatings. This research will focus on designing and fabricating nano-magnetite-enabled fabrics that can convert mechanical motion, environmental stimuli, or electromagnetic interactions into usable electrical energy.

The project will involve materials synthesis, textile functionalisation, structural and magnetic characterisation, durability testing, and evaluation of energy-harvesting performance. The expected outcomes will contribute to the development of lightweight, washable, and scalable smart fabrics for applications in wearable electronics, biomedical monitoring, defence, environmental sensing, and sustainable technologies.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Basics Chemistry and Physics is preferable

Engineering a Mineral Trap for “Forever Chemicals”: Nano-Functionalised Hydroxyapatite for Selective PFAS Capture and Sustainable Water Remediation

PFAS are persistent contaminants that require effective capture from complex water matrices before secure disposal or further treatment. This PhD project will develop nano-engineered hydroxyapatite (HAp) adsorbents with tailored surface chemistry for selective PFAS removal without claiming degradation.

HAp nanoparticles will be functionalised with cationic and hydrophobic biopolymer or carbonaceous domains to combine electrostatic attraction to anionic PFAS head groups with affinity for fluorinated chains. Materials will be characterised for composition, crystallinity, porosity, surface charge and functional groups. Batch and flow-through experiments will quantify adsorption kinetics, isotherms, selectivity and competition across PFAS chain lengths, concentrations, pH, ionic strength, dissolved organic matter and co-contaminants.

Performance will then be validated in realistic contaminated-water matrices. Regeneration, leaching, ecotoxicity, lifecycle considerations, and secure management of PFAS-loaded adsorbents will also be evaluated. Outcomes will establish design rules for scalable HAp-based sorbents and support safer, circular, and sustainable advanced water-remediation technologies.

Pre-requisite or knowledge: Basics Experimental Skill can be provided

‘Kiwicat’ – a novel lure for feral cats

Interested in analytical chemistry, natural products, and wildlife conservation?
We are recruiting a PhD candidate to investigate a novel plant-derived lure for invasive cat management. This interdisciplinary project combines phytochemistry, analytical chemistry, animal behavioural science, and field ecology and is conducted in partnership with Critter Solutions Ltd (New Zealand).

The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience in chemical analysis of natural products, formulation and conservation science while contributing to the development of innovative strategies that help protect Australia's native wildlife.

Candidates with backgrounds in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, or natural-products chemistry with a keen interest in applied conservation research are particularly encouraged to apply. See website for more details: https://westernweb.net/potential-projects-2/

Candidate Requirements:

• An Honours or Master's degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry or other related discipline
• Interest in interdisciplinary research linking chemistry and biology
• Strong laboratory skills and scientific communication abilities
• Experience in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, or natural-products chemistry

Desirable skills:

• Chromatography and mass spectrometry
• Structural elucidation of organic compounds
• Formulation chemistry
• Ecology, botany, animal behaviour, or conservation science.

Unveiling design significance with holistic, human-centred design

The field of design has continually evolved to encompass a wide scope of practices that

• can be incorporated into all stages of industry projects. Globally, these unique design practices
• have been recognised for their significance. Their applications to a broad spectrum of large-scale
• business and community sector initiatives has been widely identified.

Research into how these methodologies are practically applied however, appears to be missing. This research looks to develop a text book for publication which, when used by local industries, could be used a manual or guide for design practitioners.

Particularly, it will showcase a case study, as practitioner example, of a project which aims to to enhance the livelihoods of a group of impoverished Indonesian people by addressing their education systems through human centred design. The research project is to commence in 2027 and should take 2-3 years to complete.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: This PhD would suit someone in education, design or even environmental sustainability.

From Curriculum to Capability: Exploring Design Thinking as a Pedagogical Framework for Future-Focused Learning in Secondary Education

This PhD project will investigate how design thinking can help secondary school teachers develop the capabilities increasingly valued in contemporary education, including creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, empathy, adaptability, and problem-solving. While curriculum and assessment frameworks such as the OECD Learning Compass and New Metrics emphasise these capabilities, many teachers report uncertainty about how to teach them effectively in everyday classroom practice. This research will explore design thinking as a practical pedagogical framework that can bridge the gap between policy aspirations and classroom implementation. Working collaboratively with teachers, the study may involve the co-design, trial, and evaluation of design thinking activities within project-based learning environments across different subject areas. The project aims to identify how design thinking methods support student capability development, what challenges teachers encounter during implementation, and how these approaches can be adapted for diverse school contexts. Findings will contribute to future-focused teaching, learning, and assessment practices.

Feminist Development in the Anthropocene: Gender, Power and Transformative Change

The Anthropocene has prompted renewed debate about how societies respond to interconnected challenges including climate change, environmental degradation, resource extraction, food insecurity, social inequality and rapid technological transformation. Much of this debate has been dominated by technical and managerial approaches to environmental governance. Yet feminist scholars have long argued that environmental change is experienced unevenly and that sustainable futures cannot be achieved without addressing the gendered power relations that shape access to resources, decision-making, wellbeing and development opportunities.

This project explores how feminist thinking in Gender and Development contributes to understanding and responding to contemporary social-ecological challenges. Drawing on traditions of feminist political ecology, Gender Transformative Approaches (GTAs), participatory research, and development anthropology, the project examines how gendered relationships, knowledges and forms of collective action shape pathways towards more just and sustainable futures. The project is informed by emerging work that positions GTAs and Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) as practical and conceptual tools for responding to the inequalities and environmental disruptions that characterise life in the Anthropocene.

Applicants may focus on a wide range of empirical settings and development challenges, including climate adaptation, rural livelihoods, agriculture and food systems, infrastructure development, energy transitions, extractive industries, water governance, disaster resilience, or community-led sustainability initiatives.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: This project would suit applicants from development studies, anthropology, geography, environmental studies, gender studies, sustainability, political ecology, international development, sociology or related disciplines.

Anthropocene Feminism: Gender, Development and Climate

Climate change, environmental degradation, humanitarian crises, and growing social inequalities are reshaping development challenges around the world. Feminist scholars have long argued that these changes are experienced differently according to gender and that sustainable development requires attention to power, relationships and social justice. Drawing on perspectives from Gender and Development, feminist political ecology, and participatory methodologies, and/or the anthropology of development, is inspired by emerging scholarship that considers how feminist thinking can inform development practice in an era of poly crisis and uncertainty. The research will explore how gendered experiences, knowledges and power relations shape responses to issues such as climate change, rural livelihood transformation, sustainability transitions and environmental governance.

Anthropocene Feminism

How can feminist thinking help us understand and respond to contemporary environmental and rural livelihood challenges? This research examines the relationship between gender, development and environmental change in the context of the Anthropocene. It considers how gendered experiences, knowledges and power relations shape responses to issues such as climate change, rural livelihood transformation, sustainability transitions and environmental governance. Projects may draw on feminist political ecology, Gender Transformative Approaches, Feminist Participatory Action Research and the Anthropology of Development.

Gendered Futures: Imagining Just Transitions in the Anthropocene

How do women and marginalised groups imagine development futures amid accelerating ecological change? This research explores grassroots visions of justice, sustainability and wellbeing in places facing social and environmental transformation. Research themes include Just transitions, Decolonial futures, Feminist theory, Climate justice.

Mega-Infrastructure and the Transformation of Rural Moral Economies

Large-scale infrastructure projects alter landscapes, livelihoods, resources, and social relations. This research examines how communities negotiate, resist and accommodate infrastructure-led development and how these processes affect gendered power relations. It investigates how women negotiate resource access and authority under conditions of social and economic transformation and considers what women's lived experiences of development change can reveal about power, justice, and sustainability in rural development. What happens to rural moral economies affected by large infrastructure development. This project can include studies of resistance, adaptation, social licence, gender and development, social reproduction.

Testing the thermal load sensitivity framework

Traditional measures of thermal tolerance, such as CTmax, provides unrealistic predictions an animal’s ability to survive heat stress in the wild because they do not account for the complex patterns of temperature exposure animals experience. Survival depends not only on the intensity of heat stress, but also on its duration, frequency, and the organism’s capacity to acclimate and repair heat-induced damage.

This project will use the thermal load sensitivity framework, which combines experiments across a range of temperatures and exposure times to create tolerance landscapes that better predict survival under natural conditions. Using model organisms, the candidate will investigate how abiotic factors, including drought, pollutants, and pathogens, as well as biotic factors such as adaptation and life stage, influence thermal sensitivity. Experimental findings will be integrated with microclimate data to improve predictions of overheating risk and enhance our understanding of animal vulnerability to climate change in Western Australia.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: Experience with experimental research and maintaining invertebrates in the lab.

From Storm to Bloom: Unravelling Phytoplankton Responses to Tropical Cyclones on Ningaloo Reef

Tropical cyclones can dramatically reshape coastal oceans by transporting water, nutrients, and plankton over large distances. As climate change alters cyclone intensity and frequency, understanding their impacts on reef ecosystems is increasingly important.

This PhD will investigate the response of Ningaloo Reef to Tropical Cyclone Narelle, using a unique dataset collected aboard the R/V Investigator. During a five-week research voyage, physical, biogeochemical, and biological observations were collected before and after the cyclone, revealing major changes in water masses and increased phytoplankton productivity. The project will uncover why phytoplankton increased after the cyclone and what this means for reef ecosystems, combining high-resolution bio-optical measurements with biological and oceanographic observations. This is an exciting interdisciplinary opportunity spanning oceanography, marine biogeochemistry, phytoplankton ecology, and bio-optics.

Where did the Argentine ants go? Unravelling the decline of a global invader

The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is one of the world’s most successful invasive ants. In Western Australia, it has dominated invaded habitats and, in some urban areas, once accounted for more than 90% of ants while dramatically reducing native ant diversity. But Argentine ants are now rarely detected at many sites where they were once abundant.

This project will revisit historical Argentine ant infestation sites across the Perth metropolitan area, combining decades of distribution records with contemporary field surveys to map how the invasion has changed over time. By comparing past and present distributions, the project will provide rare empirical insight into the later stages of an invasion—when a highly successful invasive species appears to decline or disappear.

The project will further investigate competing hypotheses for this decline, including changes in habitat, climate, competition, pathogens and other ecological or landscape factors. The research will help reveal why invasive populations sometimes collapse—and whether their apparent disappearance represents true decline, redistribution or simply a shift in where they can persist.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: Must have a drivers licence, enjoy fieldwork, and working with insects.

Switching strategies: reproductive flexibility in an introduced millipede

The Portuguese millipede (Ommatoiulus moreleti) is native to Portugal and Spain, but has been introduced far beyond its native range, including to Western Australia, where it can occur in enormous numbers around Perth. It also has a remarkable—and poorly understood—biological trait: males can repeatedly switch between sexually mature and immature states following moulting.

This PhD will investigate why this unusual flexibility has evolved and whether it gives Portuguese millipedes an advantage over other species. The project will examine how environmental conditions and resource availability influence reproductive investment, and the physiological mechanisms that allow males to repeatedly alter their reproductive state.

By combining evolutionary biology, physiology, ecology and invasion biology, this project will test scientific models of life-history evolution and reproductive plasticity, and investigate whether reproductive flexibility provides an advantage that my contribute to the success of this species in its introduced range.

BlueDrop NanoClean: Engineering Integrated Nanomesh Technology for Detoxification and Water Conservation in Dye-Laden Batik Wastewater

This PhD project will investigate the development of BlueDrop NanoClean, an integrated nanomesh technology for the detoxification and reuse of dye-laden wastewater generated by batik and textile production. Batik wastewater commonly contains synthetic dyes, salts, surfactants and organic additives that can reduce water quality, inhibit light penetration and affect aquatic ecosystems if discharged untreated.

This research will focus on engineering multifunctional nanomesh membranes incorporating nano-adsorbents, catalytic nanomaterials and bio-derived carbon phases to capture, degrade or immobilise dye molecules while maintaining high water flux and operational stability. Materials will be characterised for morphology, surface chemistry, porosity, wettability, mechanical durability and antifouling behaviour. Treatment performance will be assessed using representative anionic, cationic and azo dyes under realistic water conditions, followed by toxicity reduction, colour removal, regeneration and reuse studies. The expected outcomes will support low-cost, scalable and sustainable water-conservation technologies for craft-based and industrial batik communities.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: Basic Training can be provided.

Exercise Physiology in Burn Injury Rehabilitation: Body Composition, Resistance Training and Thermoregulation

Burn injury triggers rapid muscle catabolism, altered thermoregulation, and complex wound-healing demands, yet exercise-based rehabilitation strategies remain under-evidenced in this population. This project offers flexible research opportunities across three complementary strands:

1. validating InBody bioelectrical impedance against DEXA to track body composition and wound-healing trajectories in acute burn recovery;
2. evaluating strength-, hypertrophy-, and power-focused resistance training protocols for feasibility, safety, and functional efficacy during acute inpatient rehabilitation; and
3. characterising thermoregulatory responses to exercise across environmental conditions in non-severely burned adults.

Students will contribute to a multidisciplinary burns rehabilitation research program spanning body composition, exercise prescription, and thermal physiology, working alongside clinical and academic teams at Murdoch University and affiliated burns units. Projects can be scoped to suit Masters or PhD level, with scope for laboratory-based physiological testing, clinical data collection, and applied translation into practice.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: Background in exercise physiology or a related allied health discipline; interest in clinical/hospital-based research; strand-specific skills helpful but not required, e.g. familiarity with body composition assessment (InBody/DEXA), resistance training prescription, or thermal physiology and VO₂ testing. Candidates will select or be guided toward one strand based on interest and prior experience; co-supervision arranged accordingly.

Using systemic hypoxia (i.e., simulated altitude) and localised hypoxia (i.e., blood flow restriction) to enhance athletic development

Several projects are available for PhD or Masters, including specific topics such as:

• Repeated sprint training with systemic or localised hypoxia
• Sport-specific training with systemic of localised hypoxia
• Resistance training with systemic or localised hypoxia.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: Must hold a Bachelor Degree with 1st Class Honours or a research Masters in Sport/Exercise Science or a related field.

Role of Emotion Regulation in Climate Action

Emotion regulation is defined as a combination of processes to alter frequency, duration and types of emotions. An individual can regulate their emotions in various ways by applying myriad of strategies. Cognitive reappraisal and distraction are two of such strategies. It is proposed that cognitive reappraisal is more beneficial to wellbeing for the long term whereas distraction is useful in short term. Nevertheless, it is not clear how applying cognitive reappraisal or distraction after alter our behaviour tendency. In particular, it is not clear when we face with negative emotions posed by climate change, whether looking away (distraction) or finding a different meaning (cognitive reappraisal) will help us to get into action. This project will used various methods including experimental method and Experience Sampling Method (ESM) to answer this research question.

Microbial ecology and antimicrobial resistance in canine otitis externa in Australia: implications for evidence-based treatment strategiesMicrobial ecology and antimicrobial resistance in canine otitis externa in Australia: implications for evidence-based treatment strategies

Canine otitis externa is a common, often recurrent condition in dogs, with treatment complicated by diverse microbial populations and rising antimicrobial resistance. This PhD project will investigate the microorganisms associated with canine otitis externa in Australia, characterise their antimicrobial susceptibility and explore factors associated with treatment response and disease recurrence. The project will combine systematic review, clinical sampling, microbiological and laboratory investigations, and evaluation of potential therapeutic approaches to improve understanding and management of canine ear disease. The research will contribute to evidence-based treatment strategies and support more effective and sustainable management of canine otitis externa.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: An interest in veterinary microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, and infectious diseases is desirable. Basic laboratory skills and an understanding of microbiology are advantageous. Experience with bacterial culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular techniques, or biofilm research would be useful. The project will provide opportunities to develop relevant research and laboratory skills.

Development of a Biofilm-Targeted Therapy for Recurrent Canine Otitis Externa

Canine otitis externa (ear disease) is common in dogs and can be difficult to manage when infections recur. Bacteria can form biofilms within the ear canal, which may protect them from antimicrobial treatment and contribute to persistent or recurrent disease.

This PhD project will investigate the role of bacterial biofilms in recurrent canine otitis and develop a biofilm-targeted topical treatment. The project will investigate clinical isolates from dogs with otitis, examine their ability to form biofilms, and evaluate compounds and formulations that can disrupt biofilms and improve antimicrobial activity.

The research will include microbiological and biofilm studies, evaluation of candidate treatments against clinical isolates, formulation development, and laboratory testing using ear-relevant models. The project will also investigate whether biofilm-targeted treatment can enhance the activity of existing antimicrobial therapies.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: An interest in infectious diseases, veterinary microbiology, antimicrobial resistance, or biofilm research is desirable. Basic laboratory skills and an understanding of microbiology are advantageous. Experience with bacterial culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, biofilm assays, molecular techniques, or formulation development would be useful.

Economically important viral diseases in pigs

Australia’s pig industry faces significant economic impacts from viral diseases affecting animal health, welfare, and productivity. Key diseases include porcine circovirus diseases, and porcine rotavirus infections. Australia’s freedom from several major exotic pig diseases provides a significant biosecurity advantage. However, endemic and emerging viruses can still cause substantial production losses, particularly through reproductive, respiratory, and enteric disease and co-infections. Effective surveillance, diagnostics, biosecurity, and vaccination are essential to protect Australia’s pig industry.

Pre-requisite or prior knowledge: Relevant research experience and track record.