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Upskill and Lead Solutions to Climate-Driven Water Problems: $10,000 per annum top-up scholarships for industry-embedded PhD research in Brisbane and Sydney.  


Please contact us for a discussion:  Steven Kenway (UQ, s.kenway@uq.edu.au, 0419979468), Brian McIntosh (Griffith University, b.mcIntosh@griffith.edu.au) Pierre Mukheibir (UTS, Pierre.Mukheibir@uts.edu.au). We encourage First Nations people. 


The ARC Training Centre for Climate-Resilient Water is a new Australian-international collaboration with six universities and 22 partners. It is offering a unique PhD program designed to build research leadership, knowledge and skills to transform the Australian water sector by growing future leaders in climate resilient water supply, skilled in designing and delivering industry-relevant research. Climate change increases pressure on water quality, flooding, drought, energy use, and emissions. Our vision is to create a world-leading, industry-embedded, research and training centre producing the people and capability needed to catalyse Australia’s transition to climate-resilient, reliable, affordable, low-emissions water supplies. We will leave a national legacy and repository of training resources, tools, technology, policy, on-site innovations and real-time monitoring and treatment of water to improve the resilience and circular-economy water systems. 

There is a current lack of access to well-trained new staff, and existing staff need new capabilities to deal with major expected water supply and system challenges created by climate change. By 2070, water demand of some Australian cities is projected to double, and natural supplies will decline in quantity and be more impacted by volatile rainfall and warmer conditions. Energy demand and cost of water supply will grow, and greenhouse gas emission targets will strengthen.


Our research themes span social and physical sciences, addressing key questions: 


Collaborative Governance led by Professor Kelly Fielding (UQ): How do we transform our social and regulatory systems to enable adaptive climate-resilient water options to become mainstream?  

Reliable Water led by A/Professor Gilda Carvalho (UQ): How do we transform large supply systems to be more reliable given far greater climatic extremes, at less energy cost?  

Future Water Precincts: led by Professor Rodney Stewart (Griffith): How do we transform planning to create new localised resilient water supply, energy-positive precincts and systems at least cost and with greatest benefits? 

Description – the opportunity: The Centre will be offering top up scholarships for domestic students securing a Postgraduate Research Scholarship from UQ, Griffith or or UTS. We will be offering Scholarships for candidates at all three Universities. NOTE: Top up scholarships and full scholarships will also be offered for outstanding international applicants in a separate round. 


This is a leading national and international opportunity to complete a well-supported, well-funded PhD: 

  • Industry-embedded research: Work with industry partners to deliver research with real-world impact through being affiliated with the ARC Training Centre for Climate-Resilient Water (12 months of the PhD is hosted with an industry partner). 
  • Leading academic supervision: From UQ, Griffith University, UTS, University of Sydney, University of Colorado, and Eawag (ETH Zurich). 
  • Learn a wide range of cutting-edge social and empirical research methods including: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in water systems management, policy and industry assessment under uncertainty, human systems models, comparative analysis, communication message experiments, future climate scenarios, narrative evaluation, community response evaluation, digital visualisation, systems and infrastructure resilience assessment, treatment bioprocesses design and monitoring, Life Cycle Analysis, Quantitative Microbial Risk Analysis, Energy profiling, Choice Modelling, end use analysis, efficiency options trials, water-energy impact assessment, cost-benefit analyses for future water options and strategy development for least-cost carbon management and efficiency. 
  • National networks that open doors: Collaborate with leading industry partners including bulk water suppliers, utilities, Qld and NSW State Governments and national partners including WSAA, AWA, Engineers Australia, and private technology providers and consultants—supporting research uptake and career pathways. 
  • Cutting-edge technologies: Including real-time monitoring, new treatment solutions, eDNA tools (with industry partners EcoDetection, ARI Water and Blue Sky Laboratories), and AI-enabled approaches. 
  • A strong research cohort: Join 25+ PhD students and 25+ masters students supported by 28 partners, with access to: Collaborative “Design Challenges”, Core-skills, industry, and research training and mentoring including an active engagement and training program. 
  • Active Communities of Practice: Engage with national and state (Qld & NSW) networks that broaden your professional connections. 
  • Applicants supported by their organisation (eg with study leave or study support, or related work) are also encouraged. We aim to support as many industry-experienced as possible with a high industry-embedded program. 

    • UQ, Griffith University and University of Technology Sydney (with supporting universities) offer a vibrant PhD community with multiple professional development programs and access to multiple research centres all working on key aspects of the solution. 


    Qualifications: You will have a passion to work in areas relevant to climate-resilience and related social and physical sciences. Candidates should be prepared to engage innovatively with industry placement. Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a Bachelor’s degree with honours equivalent to first class honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree. Publications (research articles) would be advantageous. 


    The value of a Postgraduate Research Scholarship: The Centre’s partner Universities offer Scholarships with an annual stipend in 2026 of $35,000-$39,000/annum (indexed) for a period of up to three and a half years of full-time study. The top up scholarship to be offered by the Centre for Climate Resilient Water (to University Postgraduate Research Scholarship Holders) will be $10,000/annum for 3 years on top of the university scholarship. Both the Scholarship and Top-up are tax free. Full scholarship requires a full-time program (Details can be discussed). 


    Closing date for Expressions of Interest to the Centre: Is Thursday 22nd January 2026 for candidates wishing to start late 2026, early 2027. Full Centre Scholarships will also offered later in 2026. 

     

    Full Expressions of Interest will require: 

    • A statement addressing your suitability and interest 
    • An academic Curriculum Vitae (CV) (we can give advice on this) 
    • A copy of your academic transcript 
    • Names and emails of two referees 


    Draft Projects f and PhD topics are listed listed below. 


    Collaborative Governance (Theme A) 

    PROJECT 1 – Adaptive planning and management: A1 Multi-Objective Adaptive Planning; Managing uncertainty in water planning under multiple drivers and megatrends. A2 Data access, harmonisation and decisions and A3 Scenarios and climate-predictive tools 

    PROJECT 2– Promoting social licence: A4. From water to systems literacy using interactive digital engagement A5. First Nations Water Engagement

    PROJECT 3 – Innovative Policy and Regulation (Decision Authority). A6. Policy and collaboration for climate-resilient water economy. A7 Regulatory model innovation for climate-resilient water. A8. Regulatory and social enablers for potable stormwater harvesting. 

    Reliable Water (Theme B) 

    PROJECT 4 Responsive Management of Water Supply: B1. Drought - flood risks: system modelling and decision support. B2. Advanced bio-monitoring and early warning of source water quality. B3. Collaborative Town Water Risk evaluation and management. B4. Novel recycled water analysis 

    PROJECT 5: Eco-efficient Treatment Systems and Flexible Augmentation Options: RHD B5. Stormwater as supply – advanced monitoring and control, B6. Cost-effective surface water treatment technology. 

    Future Precincts (Theme C) 

    PROJECT 6 ‒ Planning and Design of Circular Resilient Precincts: C1 Planning and design of resilient circular water precincts, C2 Value engineering design for resilient circular water precincts, C3. New renewable energy integration in future-water precinct design 

    PROJECT 7 Maximising Efficiency and Savings in Water, Energy and GHG Emissions C4. Water efficiency and energy benefits, C5 Pathway to Scope 3 Net Zero Emissions for the water industry, RHD C6. Reducing losses to save water, energy, GHG and cost, C7. Collaborative investment for viable climate-resilient water solutions, C8. Circular economy water-energy performance analysis indicators, C9. Urban resilience design for water and energy, C10. Strategy and policy training needs for climate-resilient water.