Fully Funded PhD Positions in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNSW Sydney, Australia – January 2027 Intake

Australia’s Dam Safety Future Starts Here: Fully Funded PhD Opportunities at UNSW Sydney

The UNSW Sydney Civil and Environmental Engineering is inviting applications for fully funded PhD positions under the Australian Government Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) titled “Smart Tech for Safer Dams: Tackling Erosion with Innovation.”

Job Title: Fully Funded PhD Researchers – Smart Tech for Safer Dams Project
Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Closing Date: 3 July 2026
Contract Type: Fully Funded PhD Scholarship
Start Date: January 2027

This exciting research initiative aims to improve the safety and resilience of Australia’s dams by developing innovative technologies to model and assess erosion risks under extreme climate conditions.

Successful candidates will join a multidisciplinary research team and work on industry-focused projects that address real-world infrastructure challenges.

The positions offer a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with leading academic researchers and industry partners while contributing to critical advancements in dam safety and engineering resilience.

Research Areas Available
PhD researchers will contribute to one of the following project areas:

Automated 3D Digital Models for Rock Erosion Assessment
Develop advanced digital technologies and methodologies to assess erosion processes affecting dam infrastructure.

CFD-Informed Erosion Interpretation and Comparative Design Methods
Apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools to improve understanding of erosion mechanisms and support innovative engineering design approaches.

Coupled Computational Modelling of Spillway Erosion
Develop integrated computational models to simulate and predict spillway erosion under extreme hydraulic and climatic conditions.

Research Supervision and Industry Collaboration
Candidates will work under the supervision of:

Adnan Sufian,
Stefan Felder,
Kurt Douglas
The project also provides opportunities to collaborate with industry partners including:

Pells Consulting
Sunwater
Researchers will gain valuable experience working on practical engineering challenges while engaging directly with industry stakeholders.

Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants will receive:

Full PhD scholarship funding
Opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research at UNSW Sydney
Access to a multidisciplinary research environment
Direct collaboration with leading industry partners
Exposure to real-world infrastructure and dam safety challenges
Professional development opportunities within academia and industry
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should possess:

A First-Class Honours degree in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Engineering Geology, or a related discipline
Strong interest in dams, hydraulics, geotechnics, engineering geology, or computational modelling
Excellent analytical and computational skills
Strong written and verbal communication abilities
Enthusiasm for applied research that delivers industry impact
Ability to work effectively in collaborative university and industry environments

Desirable Skills and Experience
Preference may be given to candidates with interest or experience in:

Fieldwork and site investigations
UAV and USV data collection and analysis
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Discrete Element Modelling (DEM)
Programming and coding
Geological modelling techniques
Why Join UNSW Sydney?
UNSW Sydney is recognised globally for excellence in research, innovation, and industry engagement.

Through this CRC-P funded initiative, doctoral researchers will contribute to nationally significant infrastructure research while developing expertise in emerging technologies designed to address climate-related engineering challenges.

This opportunity is ideal for ambitious graduates seeking to make meaningful contributions to dam safety, environmental resilience, and engineering innovation.

Application Process
Interested candidates are encouraged to review the official postgraduate research application guidelines before submitting an application.

Applicants can access the postgraduate research application guide at:
https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/study-with-us/postgraduate-research/application-guide

For further information about the research project and PhD opportunities, prospective applicants may contact:

Dr Adnan Sufian
Email: a.sufian@unsw.edu.au