Project & industry research scholarships

Performance failure remains a predominant contributing factor to adverse mental health in sport, and is associated with increased depressive symptoms and maladaptive behaviours in athletes. Recent VU quantitative research indicates that 10% of high-level athletes considered suicide after performance failure. 

The objective of this PhD project is to investigate the mental health difficulties that athletes experience after performance failure and to develop mental health support services for athletes who struggle with performance failure. The research team consists of sport and psychology experts who are eminent researchers in performance failure and choking under pressure and work with athletes to enhance performance and mental health. 

Students who have at least an honours degree in psychology or sport psychology are encouraged to apply. A passion for improving athletes’ mental health support structures is essential. Willingness to undertake (or have already obtained) Mental Aid First Aid training (or equivalent) is desirable.

Supervisors: Dr Christopher Mesagno, Professor Michael Spittle, Dr Peter Gill

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Christopher Mesagno, [email protected]  

Executive function refers broadly to the organization and management of thoughts and behaviours, and is a neurocognitive process thought to underpin eating disorder psychopathology. Generally, behavioural outcomes and associated neurobiological correlates indicate that performance on such tasks is typically compromised in participants with eating disorders. 

However, when disorder salient (i.e., high-calorie food) stimuli are presented, participants with anorexia nervosa show superior performance, demonstrating an increased sensitivity to the potential for weight gain. This raises questions regarding the role of “hot” (i.e. emotive or rewarding) and “cool” (i.e. purely cognitive) executive function in eating disorder psychopathology, which will be the focus of the present project. 

The research team have internationally recognised expertise in the fields of clinical/cognitive psychology and neuroscience, combined sharing over 50 peer-reviewed publications in relevant fields. Students who have at least an honours degree in psychology (or related field) with an interest in neuropsychology are encouraged to apply.

Supervisors: Dr Melissa Kirkovski, Dr Jessica Scarfo

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Melissa Kirkovski, [email protected]  

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a sensory and perceptual phenomenon, often elicited by certain audio-visual “triggers” (e.g., whispering, hand movements, tapping). These triggers induce a “tingling” sensation across the scalp and spine, often resulting in a state of relaxation or calmness. 

Research suggests those with heightened sensory sensitivity may experience ASMR more intensely, and that interoceptive awareness might facilitate this. Sensory sensitivity is a classic characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (autism), however, seemingly counterintuitively, autistic individuals often demonstrate poorer interoceptive ability and respond with hyporeactivity. This project will explore the link between ASMR, sensory sensitivity, interoception, and autism. 

The research team have internationally recognised expertise in the fields of clinical/cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and autism research; combined sharing over 50 peer-reviewed publications in relevant fields. Students who have at least an honours degree in psychology (or related field) with an interest in neuropsychology are encouraged to apply.

Supervisors: Dr Melissa Kirkovski, Dr Jessica Scarfo

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Melissa Kirkovski, [email protected]  

The broad topic of the proposed project is the interaction of load inside and outside football academy training and its effect on performance and injuries, in the context of biological maturation. 

The aim is to understand whether the complex interaction of different sources of load has an influence on young players’ performance and wellbeing. External load, internal load (sRPE), injury records, and biological maturation data will be collected and analysed for U14-15-16 academy players inside and outside of club activities (including training, matches, school activities, PE classes, state rep games etc). 

The Master’s student (either enrolled in an 18-month Master of Research or 24-month Master of Applied Research) will embedded at Melbourne Victory FC where they will assume the role of Academy sport scientist, assisting with the training and match activities that support the data collection for the project. 

Broadly, the main study that will form part of the project will aim at investigating: 

• The characterisation of external and internal load inside and outside formal academy training 
• How does the load imposed on the players outside academy training affect performance during formal training?
• How does overall load associates with injury occurrence in the context of biological maturation?

The successful candidate will receive a stipend of $34,320 per annum and will have the tuition fees waved by Victoria University. Note: both Masters degrees involve an initial semester of coursework.

Eligibility: This scholarship is for Domestic Masters by Research applicants only

Funded by: Industry

For more information please contact: Dr George Elias, [email protected]  

Skeletal muscle is essential movement, health and to resist chronic disease. The loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is debilitating, chronically impacts quality of life and increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. Muscle wasting caused by primary myopathy is typically fatal because there are few effective treatment strategies. Interventions to mitigate skeletal muscle dysfunction and wasting are urgently required.

Our team is passionate about developing new treatment strategies against muscle dysfunction and wasting. Following significant international and philanthropic funding, we have demonstrated three emerging therapies, adenylosuccinic acid, dimethyl fumarate, and faecal microbiota transplantation, that mitigate skeletal muscle dysfunction and wasting in pre-clinical animal models, all of which act through immuno-metabolic signaling. 

This project will continue our world-class research using pre-clinical animal models of neuromuscular disease and techniques, including clinically-compatible function testing, histology, immunometabolic assays and multi-omics, to realise our aim of progressing these therapies into the clinic.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Emma Rybalka, Dr Cara Timpani

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Associate Professor Emma Rybalka, [email protected]  

Maribyrnong Sports Academy (MSA), a State Government Funded Specialist Sports School Program, provides a unique training and education environment for aspiring athletes in Melbourne’s inner west. Currently, it consists of 575 enrolled students making it the largest and most prominent school-based sporting academy in Australia. 

A key challenge in this environment, is understanding the multi-disciplinary nature related to holistic youth athlete development (e.g., physical preparation; skill development; coaching environment; injury prevention; rehabilitation; mental well-being; and academic performance). 

This research project will attempt to address ‘real-world’ challenges faced with the provision of safe, supportive environments which will have a positive impact on the youth athlete’s performance, health and well-being. To address this, the project will attempt to understand the importance of youth athlete assessment and monitoring systems with the aim of improving current practice to enhance current and future athlete performance.

Supervisors: Dr Paul Larkin, Professor Michael Spittle

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Paul Larkin, [email protected]

Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LBTI) women are increasingly recognised as a high-risk group for body dissatisfaction and eating disorders (EDs). However, no body image/ED interventions specifically for LBTI women exist at any level of prevention, promotion, or intervention. 

The student working on this project will develop, evaluate, and disseminate a co-designed online intervention to improve body image and reduce ED symptoms in LBTI women. The project will incorporate a co-design approach, centring the lived experiences of LBTI women with body image concerns.

We are seeking a PhD student with a background in psychology, with preference given to those with relevant lived experience. Supervised by Dr Jo Doley, the student will collaborate with our research team at Victoria University to develop community and stakeholder engagement skills through interacting with partnering ED, mental health and LGBTQIA+ organisations.

Supervisors: Dr Jo Doley, Dr Linda Chiodo, Dr Imogen Rehm, Dr Amy Quayle

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Jo Doley, [email protected]

How humans learn to actively explore, adapt to, and affectively relate with their surrounds is a question of fundamental importance asked across many disciplines. Though, in our current geopolitical era, finding space supportive of exploratory, varied and adaptive movement in the community is of concern for a variety of reasons. 

Notwithstanding, declines in opportunities to engage in exploratory movement go hand-in-glove with global declines in physical and ecological literacy of people across the lifespan. 

In offering an innovative way to think-with this societal challenge, the notion of 'leftover spaces' in urban environments has been recently espoused. These are defined as spaces with no assigned function, which are juxtaposed against those with pre-determined functions. Examples include spaces in-between building allotments, areas beneath bridges, and abandoned piers or jetties. 

Our project aims to investigate how spaces leftover can be redesigned to solicit opportunities for exploratory, varied and adaptive movement in the community.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Carl Woods, Professor Camilla Brockett

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Associate Professor Carl Woods, [email protected]

The population is ageing, and thus the focus in healthcare needs to shift to improving quality of life and health rather than only treating disease and delaying mortality. 

In this WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing, post-Covid there is a concern that poor musculoskeletal health is occurring at earlier ages, and along with other diseases is leading to poor quality of life at earlier life stages. 

This prospective study aims to investigate musculoskeletal health in middle aged adults to determine the incidence and risk of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, and determine the physical, biological, social and lifestyle factors that are contributing to these conditions across the West of Melbourne. 

Supervised by Professor Alan Hayes, Professor Itamar Levinger and Associate Professor Fiona McLachlan, the PhD candidate will organise self and others, be able to build and maintain relationships and have an interest and skills in quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

Supervisors: Professor Alan Hayes, Professor Itamar Levinger, Associate Professor Fiona McLachlan

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Professor Alan Hayes, [email protected]

Performance failure in sport has been researched primarily through self-report questionnaires and interviews, but limited knowledge is known about the objective measures of eye tracking and brain functioning when performance failures occur. 

The objective of this PhD project is to investigate the eye tracking and brain functioning metrics associated with performance failure. The research team consists of sport psychology, sport science, and neuroscience experts who are eminent researchers in performance failure, eye tracking, and neuroscience. 

Students who have at least an honours degree in psychology or sport psychology are encouraged to apply. An understanding of the mechanisms behind performance failure and choking under pressure with a keen willingness to understand eye tracking and EEG equipment are essential. Willingness to undertake (or have already obtained) eye tracking training and a basic knowledge of the use of EEG equipment are also essential.

Supervisors: Dr Christopher Mesagno, Professor Michael Spittle, Dr Melissa Kirkovski

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Christopher Mesagno, [email protected]

This project aims to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of family and friends caring for people living with dementia, and support the next generation of psychologists to work effectively with older adults and their families. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Imogen Rehm and clinician academics with expertise in clinical and neuropsychology to:

1. Develop a telehealth group-based intervention for family and friends caring for people living with dementia in partnership with carers and carer advocates, relevant healthcare professionals, and experts in geropsychology.

2. Support trainee psychologists to develop their skills to deliver the intervention to dementia carers.

3. Use mixed-methods research procedures to evaluate the intervention with regards to: (a) effects upon carers’ psychosocial outcomes; and (b) effects upon trainee psychologists’ knowledge, skills, and confidence.

We encourage mental health clinicians and/or those with a background in psychology and interested in dementia care to apply.

Supervisors: Dr Imogen Rehm, Dr Monika Coceski, Dr Bruce Walmsley

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Imogen Rehm, [email protected]

Mitochondria are often described as the energy-producing “powerhouses” of the cell. Given their pivotal role in providing energy, it is unsurprising that mitochondrial defects have been associated with poor health and impaired skeletal muscle function. 

This project aims to use state-of-the-art techniques (e.g., proteomics, transcriptomics, advanced bioinformatics, and three-dimensional imaging) to better understand how mitochondria adapt to the stress of different types of exercise. Our team has published many highly cited papers on this topic in high-impact journals (e.g., Nature Communications, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, Nature Reviews Endocrinology, and the Journal of Physiology), and we are looking to expand on this work with this project. To do this, we are looking to recruit a PhD student with a background in molecular biology and/or bioinformatics. 

Ultimately, our goal is to improve the prescription of exercise to optimise mitochondrial adaptations important for health and human performance.

Supervisors: Professor David Bishop, Dr Nick Saner

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Professor David Bishop, [email protected]  

This project offers an opportunity to improve Australian mental healthcare professionals’ skills, knowledge, and confidence to provide safe and evidence-informed care to people seeking support for body dissatisfaction and related concerns. This project seeks to:

1. Use co-design and participatory research methods that centre the lived experience of people with diverse body image experiences to develop accessible training programs and resources for upskilling the mental health workforce, in collaboration with experts by training, research, and industry partners. 

2. Deliver the training to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and allied mental healthcare professionals; and evaluate its impact upon participants’ adoption of best-practices for supporting people with body dissatisfaction and related concerns.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Imogen Rehm and clinician academics with expertise in co-design, program evaluation, body image, and eating disorders. Candidates with backgrounds in psychology, multi-disciplinary settings, and interest in body image/eating disorders are encouraged to apply.

Supervisors: Dr Imogen Rehm, Dr Jo Doley, Dr Linda Chiodo, Dr Amy Quayle

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Imogen Rehm, [email protected]

Maribyrnong Sports Academy (MSA), a State Government Funded Specialist Sports School Program, provides a unique training and education environment for aspiring athletes in Melbourne’s inner west. Of the 575 enrolled students, 45% are female. 

Research into female talent identification and development is sparse hence practitioners working in talent development environments have limited knowledge of the physical, psychological, technical and tactical markers that progress into high performance for female athletes. 

This project will attempt to determine factors affecting talent development in female athletes using a multi-disciplinary approach. In an Australian first, MSA recently launched the Maribyrnong Sports Academy Research Centre (MSARC) in partnership with Victoria University, a multi-disciplinary research centre embedded within the sports academy.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with a supervisory team consisting of academics and practitioners, who are experts in developing physical, psychological, technical and tactical excellence in youth athletes.

Supervisors:  Dr Paul Larkin, Associate Professor Carl Woods

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Dr Paul Larkin, [email protected]

There are multiple risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis (OA), with the most common of these being increased body weight and decreased muscle mass. Not only is the risk for developing OA increased with increasing body weight, pre-surgical obesity is also associated with worse clinical outcomes of hip or knee arthroplasty in terms of pain, disability and complications. 

The aim of this PhD project is to determine nutrition knowledge, weight and dieting history and the nutritional intake in patients awaiting knee or hip arthroplasty and their correlation to clinical outcomes, pre and post surgery. It will also investigate dietary interventions to improve clinical outcomes in this cohort. 

This project, to be completed in collaboration with Western Health Orthopaedic Department, would be well suited to a PhD candidate who is a dietitian who has a passion for research and is looking to enhance their training and expertise.

Supervisors:  Professor Andrew McAinch, Professor Phong Tran (Western Health), Dr Lannie O’Keefe

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Professor Andrew McAinch, [email protected]

Our research team is situated within the Safety and Wellbeing in Sport research group, within the Institute for Health and Sport. Our overarching aim is to ensure sporting environments are safe (equitable, inclusive, respectful and free from abuse) for all so that the physical, mental, and social health benefits of sport participation can be actualized. 

Our research explores issues of safety and wellbeing in sport that range from normative violence and abuse, to governance and regulation and safeguarding interventions. 

We are looking for someone passionate about the field of safe sport and welcome applicants from a diverse range of relevant disciplines (sport science, psychology, sport management, sociology etc).

Supervisors:  Dr Mary Woessner, Professor Alex Parker, Associate Professor Fiona McLachlan, Aurelie Pankowiak

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Dr Mary Woessner, [email protected]  

This project seeks to chart the intersections between impactful images of sport, art, healing, and communal justice. More broadly it is interested in how forms of art (such as visual art, theatre, and music) can help make sport a place of truth-telling around racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. 

The project will be supervised by Associate Professor Matthew Klugman and Professor Christopher Sonn. It will also be linked to A/Prof Klugman’s Australian Research Council Future Fellowship, Representing, Debating & Protesting the Nation: The Visual Legacy of Sport.

Supervisors:  Associate Professor Matthew Klugman, Professor Chris Sonn

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Associate Professor Matthew Klugman, [email protected]

Bone may play an important role in muscle health, however, this role may be different between men and women. In addition, the mechanisms of action of bone peptides in muscle is largely unknown. This project aims to uncover whether the bone peptides function in muscle is sex and/or age specific. 

This project will lead to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of bone-muscle interaction and the functional and clinical implications of such interaction. The benefits of this include the development of future health interventions to improve muscle mass and strength so Australians can age healthier.

Supervisors:  Professor Itamar Levinger, Professor Alan Hayes, Associate Professor Emma Rybalka

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Professor Itamar Levinger, [email protected]

The Aboriginal History Archive Research Scholarship are granted to candidates with a strong understanding of the nature of community control to conduct independent and team-based research, which will contribute to the research project - Resetting the Record: Indigenous History, Truth and Justice - funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation.

Led by Professor Gary Foley, the overarching aim of the project is to unearth Indigenous history, stories, alternative narratives and learnings from the past, to engage communities, present into the public debate, provide materials for curricula, and, most importantly, make submissions to the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission in Victoria.

Participation in this project provides a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful research in Indigenous history, truth and justice.

Data sharing has become a driving force for many businesses in industrial sectors. This project aims to develop a privacy preserving network data publishing system that can preserve user privacy in a personalised way while maintaining maximal utility of the published data. To make accurate privacy preservation, this project will design novel learning models to derive accurate users’ correlation and their privacy intention, develop efficient privacy preserving algorithms to deal with static and dynamic network data sharing. The success of this project will benefit many industries and government agencies to reduce users’ privacy breaches, avoid illegal consequences of sharing data, and enhance these service providers’ service quality.

Refer to the 2024 Guide to Applicants for further details.

Incorporating employment equity and diversity into the evolving HRM framework is crucial for fostering an inclusive digital workplace. This research emphasises the integration of diverse talents and equitable opportunities in the human-robot collaboration era. By focusing on equity and diversity, HRM can ensure that all employees, regardless of background, have equal opportunities to upskill and adapt to new technologies. 

The study will explore strategies for creating a diverse workforce where varied perspectives enhance innovation and problem-solving. It will also address the equitable recruitment and development of both human and robotic workers, ensuring that the transition towards a technologically advanced workplace is inclusive and respects the diversity of the workforce. This approach aligns with the broader organizational goals of fostering an inclusive culture that values and leverages differences for competitive advantage.

Supervisors:  Dr Nilufa Khanom, Dr Omid Ameri Sianaki, Associate Professor Himanshu Shee, Dr Ranjith Ihalanayake

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Dr Nilufa Khanom, [email protected]  

In the rapidly evolving digital arena, Generative AI (GAI) is becoming a cornerstone for innovative entrepreneurial and business strategies, driving a new wave of process re-engineering and agile change management. 

This proposal outlines a study to craft a strategic framework that integrates GAI within the digital ecosystems of both start-ups and established firms, aiming to redefine business processes and management tactics for optimal efficiency and innovation. The focus is on harnessing GAI's potential in a manner that is ethically sound, strategically robust, and conducive to fostering agility and competitive advantage. 

By developing a comprehensive framework, the study seeks to guide entrepreneurs and businesses in leveraging GAI to enhance their operations and maintain market leadership, ensuring that the adoption of these advanced technologies leads to sustainable growth and innovation in the digital age.

Supervisors:  Dr Omid Ameri Sianaki, Associate Professor Himanshu Shee, Dr Nilufa Khanom, Dr Ranjith Ihalanayake, Nilusha Gallage, Scott Bingley, Afrooz Purarjomandlangrudi

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Dr Omid Ameri Sianaki, [email protected]

Phenolic foam (PF) is a versatile material widely used across the globe to manufacture panels for insulation in buildings. Manufacturing these panels however leads to vast quantities of phenolic off-cuts which are either discarded in landfill sites or incinerated for energy recovery. Additionally, insulation panels installed in buildings are not recycled at end-of-life. As a thermoset composite, phenolic plastic cannot easily be repossessed or reformed. 

Recycling insulation panel waste can provide a sustainable source of raw materials for the construction industry. PF features valuable material properties including high thermal performance, fire resistance and low density. Hence upon proper treatment, PF waste can be used to develop novel building materials that feature energy-efficient and fire-retardant properties and reduced environmental impacts. This project aims to investigate the feasibility of using recycled PF waste from insulation panel manufacturing to develop environmentally sustainable building materials including recycled insulation panel boards and cement-based insulating mortars.

Supervisors: Dr Yanni Bouras, Dr Le Li

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Yanni Bouras, [email protected]

This study creates a dual focus on energy efficiency and optimal indoor air quality in Net-Zero corridors, incorporating a Personalised Comfort Model. Net-Zero Corridors (NZC), like a university campus, are designated zones where the total carbon emissions are offset by renewable energy generation and sustainability measures. 

NZC designs often focus on energy balance and overlook the dynamic nature of indoor environments, leading to either energy wastage or compromised IAQ. We aim to adapt IAQ control strategies and ventilation systems to individual comfort preferences, real-time occupancy, and environmental data. 

Led by Dr Nima Izadyar and Associate Professor Elmira Jamei, we combine expertise in building energy efficiency, sustainable built environments, indoor environment quality, thermal comfort, environmental urban planning, and green energy sources. 

We seek collaborators and researchers passionate about pioneering sustainable building solutions, aiming to create intelligent, responsive buildings that optimise comfort and energy efficiency, contributing to healthier, more sustainable living spaces.

Supervisors: Nima Izadyar, Associate Professor Elmira Jamei

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Nima Izadyar, [email protected]

Fire events such as tunnel fires, building fires, and mine fires have become increasingly common in the recent past, exposing the surrounding environment to elevated temperatures. 

This research project aims to investigate the post-fire creep behaviour of geological media (rocks and soils) to enhance infrastructure risk management near fire-prone areas. By studying how geological materials behave under sustained loading following exposure to fire, the project seeks to understand the long-term implications for infrastructure stability and resilience. 

Through laboratory experiments and numerical modelling, the research will assess factors influencing post-fire creep, such as temperature exposure, moisture content, and material composition. The findings will provide valuable insights into the deformation mechanisms of geological media after fire events, informing risk assessment and mitigation strategies for critical infrastructure located in fire-prone regions. 

Ultimately, this research contributes to improving the resilience of infrastructure systems and enhancing their ability to withstand the impacts of fire hazards.

Supervisors: Dr Wasantha Liyanage, Professor Maurice Guerrieri

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Dr Wasantha Liyanage, [email protected]

This project aims to develop an industry-ready asphalt mix design by incorporating waste materials from water industries, diverting them from landfills. 

Supervised by experts Yaghoubi and Sandanayake in green construction materials, asphalt mixtures, life cycle assessment, and infrastructure modelling, the study addresses sustainability challenges in waste management as well as commercialisation of green asphalt pavements. 

By repurposing waste materials from water industries, in particular, VU’s major partner Greater Western Water, the project aims to reduce environmental impact and offer a practical solution for the construction industry. Through advanced modelling and performance testing, innovative asphalt mixtures will be developed and evaluated, promoting sustainable practices within the transportation sector. 

The mechanical and modelling studies will be complemented with a life cycle assessment to make the outcomes more attractive for the construction market. VU’s advanced pavement and Bitumen laboratory is a valuable asset for a successful delivery of this project.

Supervisors:  Associate Professor Ehsan Yaghoubi, Associate Professor Malindu Sandanayake

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Associate Professor Ehsan Yaghoubi, [email protected]  

This project focuses on creating a new, sustainable cement mortar mix that replaces 40% of traditional cement with treated water treatment sludge. This innovative product offers a double win: it diverts significant amounts of this non-hazardous waste from landfills and reduces reliance on energy-intensive virgin cement production. 

In Australia, water treatment plants generate an average of 40,000 tons of annual sludge, a non-hazardous waste currently disposed of in landfills. The challenge lies in transforming this waste into a valuable resource while achieving environmental and economic benefits. 

This project aims to address this challenge by developing a value-added product within a circular economy framework.

Supervisors:  Associate Professor Shobha Muthukumaran, Associate Professor Malindu Sandanayake, Associate Professor Paul Joseph

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Associate Professor Shobha Muthukumaran, [email protected]  

This project explores the capabilities of in-service and pre-service teachers to provide LGBTQI+ inclusive education amidst rising governmental oversight and societal intolerance. In an era marked by a resurgence of conservative policies and an increasingly polarized social climate, educators face significant challenges in fostering inclusive environments for all students. 

The study aims to assess the preparedness, resources, and support available to teachers to implement LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula and practices effectively. Through 100 national surveys, 20 interviews with preservice teachers, and 10 classroom observations with in service teachers, the research will identify the barriers educators encounter, including legislative restrictions, lack of training, and community resistance. It will also highlight innovative strategies and best practices developed by teachers to navigate these challenges. 

The project's ultimate goal is to inform policy recommendations, ITE programs, and support educational research to enhance the inclusivity of educational settings, ensuring that all students, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, receive a respectful and affirming learning experience.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Mark Vicars, Dr Janine Arantes

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact: Janine Arantes, [email protected]

VU Early Childhood Education has a research focus on play, the ethics of play, and play in urban places. This project on risk and safety identifies and analyses how risk is perceived and understood in different contexts. it explores how these understandings of risk, hazard and safety in Early Childhood contexts shape the way we think about children and communities, and consequently influence policy. 

As a society, our ideas of risk are often uncritically accepted, yet influence the development of playgrounds and public spaces and children's and families' opportunities to access experiences. This project provides a close analysis of what shapes our views of risk, and a deep analysis of what risk is and how it impacts children's growth and development.

Supervisors:  Professor Mary-Rose McLaren, Professor Valerie Margrain

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Professor Mary-Rose McLaren, [email protected]

Data sharing is becoming a driving force for many businesses in industrial sectors and government organisations. However, in practice, the wide application of data sharing has caused huge concerns of privacy breaches, which could lead to severe financial, reputation and legal consequences. 

This project aims to develop a Federate Learning system that can preserve user privacy in a heterogeneous way while maintaining maximal utility of the published data. The outcomes of the project will greatly advance the research frontiers of privacy preservation and data analytics, and help industries and government agencies enhance their business efficiency, reduce costs, increase revenue and identify new business opportunities.

Supervisors:  Professor Hua Wang, Dr Yongfeng Ge, Dr Jiao Yin

Eligibility: Open to Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents

For more information, please contact:  Professor Hua Wang, [email protected]