The ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space is funded by Australian Research Council to support a full-time PhD student who is undertaking research on digital twin modelling for our innovative physical twins, to provide a fresh viewpoint on challenges for plant growth in controlled environments. In the ARC Centre of Excellence Plants for Space, research is underway to develop zero-waste and complete-nutrition crops for on-demand bioresource production. We will test their performance in our physical twin environments and feedback to our machine learning modelling to advance plant growth. They will be tested under the specific abiotic stress as common in extreme environments. The environmental setting concerns, foremost, plants grown in space, yet also plants under the harsher environment expected in future due to global warming ('weather 2050'). The research will utilise machine learning software as well as a licensed no-code, event-based software. Ideally, the student will have background in digital twin modelling and general knowledge on agriculture.

Eligibility: Applicants must be acceptable as candidates for a PhD degree at the University of Adelaide.

Stipend: The scholarship will be for 3.5 years and has a stipend of $40,000 per annum.  It is likely to be tax exempt, subject to Taxation Office approval. 

Enquiries:

Contact Person: Professor Volker Hessel

School:  Chemical Engineering

Tel: (08) 83139245

Email: volker.hessel@adelaide.edu.au  

Expression of interest

Expressions of interest should be submitted to Professor Volker Hessel by no later than 30 June 2024 with the name of scholarship in the subject heading. Please ensure you include all of the following documents:

• Evidence of Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or Australian permanent resident status (if applicable)
• Degree certificates (testamurs)
• Academic transcripts
• Translations of non-English documentation
• Evidence of English language proficiency
• Curriculum vitae