Civil Engineering News

PhD Research Opportunities

Position 1: REMOVAL OF NITROGENOUS POLLUTANTS IN ENGINEERED WETLANDS

Nitrogen cycle in natural environment (from dinitrogen gas, to organics, to dissolved nitrogen in aquatic environment, then back to gaseous form) is an essential element of life. When nitrogen carried by stormwater or wastewater is released into the aquatic environment, the amount often exceeds the bio-degradation ability of receiving waters, thereby causing pollution. The traditional technique for removing nitrogen from wastewater (first reported in 1890) is a dated, energy intensive process. This project will investigate novel pathways of nitrogen biotransformation in engineering wetlands, based on recent discoveries (e.g. Nature 2006, 440: 918-921; Nature 1999, 400: 446-449). This project provides a good opportunity to explore the frontier of an emerging research field in water engineering.

• Annual tax free stipend of $19,231 for three years (HECS exempt)
• Opportunity of further earning through assistance in undergraduate teaching

Both domestic and international students are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicant must have completed, or will soon complete, an undergraduate study in Civil or Chemical Engineering, or Environmental Microbiology. The applicant should have an overall grade equivalent to Honours 1 for first degree, but applicants with Honours 2 and relevant work/research experience will also be seriously considered. A record of publications is not essential but will be advantageous. Qualified international applicants will be asked to apply for a tuition fee scholarship (IPRS or MIPRS), in additional to the stipend being offered. For international applicants (if English is not first language), recent (within two years) IELTS or TOEFL test results will be required.

Applicants should send curriculum vitae, transcripts, and contact details of two referees to Jenny Manson before 22 September 2006, quoting reference number: 1055.

Position 2: AN INTEGRATED AND QUANTITATIVE MODEL FOR TREATMENT WETLANDS

Wastewater treatment wetlands are essentially complex bioreactors, where a variety of physiochemical and biological processes contribute to the removal of pollutants. Effectively, the wetlands produce more diverse activities than conventional treatment systems. Current wetland designs are based on varied guidelines in different countries, and simple equations, which only correlate the input and output values of individual pollutants. A integrate and quantitative model will be developed in this project. The model will cross-link various key pollutants, and incorporate more accurate descriptions of wastewater flow pattern in gravel based wetlands. It is expected that the model will be used for more accurate wetland design, and help to advance research in this field beyond conventional ‘black-box’ approach.

• Annual tax free stipend of $19,231 for three years (HECS exempt)
• Opportunity of further earning through assistance in undergraduate teaching

Both domestic and international students are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicant must have completed, or will soon complete, an undergraduate study in Civil Engineering or Hydrology. The applicant must have an overall grade equivalent to Honours 1. A record of publications is not essential but will be a unique advantage. Qualified applicants may be asked to apply for a tuition fee scholarship (IPRS or MIPRS) and stipend scholarship (MGS). For international applicants (if English is not first language), recent (within two years) IELTS or TOEFL test results will be required.

Applicants should send curriculum vitae, transcripts, and contact details of two referees to Jenny Manson before 22 September 2006, quoting reference number: 1056.