This exciting project funded by the Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI) focuses on the development of a new generation of low-cost green hydrogen production technologies, employing a hybrid between concentrated solar thermal energy (CST) and electrolysis.  The project will provide new understanding to support the development of a novel solar hybrid sulphur cycle technology to thermo-catalytically dissociate SO3 using molten metal catalysts in a bubbling environment to achieve high rates of heat and mass transport. This will build on the novel solar bubble receiver/reactor (SBRR) technology recently demonstrated at the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Energy Technology. The project will be undertaken in partnership with DLR (German Aerospace), CSIRO and BHP and is expected to include an international research visit. It will suit graduates from Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Physics and will be supervised by Prof Graham ‘Gus‘ Nathan and Dr Mehdi Jafarian.

Eligibility:

Eligible candidates must:

• Have completed a relevant Bachelor degree with First Class Honours, or a Masters degree that contains a significant (and relevant) research component with equivalent academic performance.  Students who hold an Honours degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Physics will be considered favourably.
• Be interested in the Heat transfer, Reaction Engineering, Thermo-fluids, Concentrated solar thermal research.
• Fulfil the minimum English language requirement (for international applicants).
• Be assessed by the Adelaide Graduate Research School as meeting all conditions for admission to the Doctoral program.
• Be willing to provide your personal details to ASTRI by way of a Student Deed Poll
• Be living in or able to relocate to Adelaide, South Australia, for the duration of the scholarship.
• Not hold a qualification at the same or at a higher level than the research higher degree program you are undertaking.
• Not be receiving a living allowance award, scholarship or salary providing a benefit greater than 75% of the RTP Scholarship living allowance rate to undertake the research higher degree program.

Stipend:  The scholarship will be for 3 years and has a stipend of $27,596 per annum (indexed annually). It is likely to be tax exempt, subject to Australian Taxation Office approval.  Full details are available here.

Enquiries:

Please contact Dr Mehdi Jafarian for further information relating to the project. Email:  Dr Mehdi Jafarian

Adelaide Graduate Research School Tel (08) 8313 5882 or email research.scholarships@adelaide.edu.au

Applying:

Please address the eligibility criteria and email a copy of your CV, proof of qualification and a cover letter explaining why you are interested in applying for this scholarship to Dr Mehdi Jafarian. (E: mehdi.jafarian@adelaide.edu.au)

Further information on the formal application process, entry requirements for Higher Degrees by Research and admission and scholarship deadlines, please visit the Adelaide Graduate Research School website.