Postgraduate Research Scholarship in Electrochemical Methane Oxidation
Highlights
| Value | Eligibility | Open date | Close date |
|---|---|---|---|
| $41,753 per annum for up to 3.5 years (2025 rate) |
|
16 October 2025 | 12 December 2025 |
How to apply
Apply .
Benefits
The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate per annum (indexed on 1 January each year) for up to 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
Who's eligible
You must:
- be a domestic sudentÌý
- have an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney
- undertake research in electrocatalysis and small molecule activation
- hold an Honours degree (First Class) or equivalent in a related field.Ìý
Please Note: Applicant without an unconditional offer of admission may apply and be selected, however, no scholarship offer will be sent until the applicant has an unconditional offer of admission.
Background
This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research within the School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science.
This Scholarship is funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC)Ìýthrough the ARC Centres of Excellence scheme for the project ‘ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation’ (The Centre) (ID: CE230100032).Ìý
Aim:
This project aims to advance effective green electrocatalysis involving partial methane oxidation.
Objectives:
To design, test and optimise gas diffusion electrodes in a 3-D printed reactor platform, for electrocatalytic conversions. To develop electrochemical processes for the coupled conversion of methane and ammonia to value-added chemicals through C-N bond formation.
Background:
Methane emissions represent one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time. Over a 20-year period, methane has a global warming potential 86 times greater than that of COâ‚‚ on a per-mass basis. In Australia, a significant portion of methane (CH4) emissions originate from fugitive sources at geographically dispersed and often remote sites, such as landfills and mining operations. Traditional CH4-conversion technologies, like steam reforming (SMR) and methanol synthesis, require large-scale infrastructure, making them impractical for the small, decentralized sources of CH4 found in these sectors. There is an urgent need for low-energy, cost-effective, and modular technologies that can operate efficiently at smaller scales and in remote locations. This need is particularly pressing given Australia's October 2020 commitment to the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce CH4 emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. Achieving this goal would be equivalent to eliminating all CH4 emissions from Australia's landfill sites. Despite this ambitious target, a viable technological solution to meet the pledge remains elusive. To address these critical challenges, we propose a highly innovative program to activate this 'decarbonised ammonia' for the coupled chemo-electrosynthesis of small molecules based on methane.
Our proposal is complementary to, and dovetails with, research programs which currently seek to use electrocatalysis for the fixation of nitrogen from various sources (e.g. NRR for atmospheric N2 and NOxRR for waste-water); and those which are directed towards capturing and oxidising CH4 using SMR technologies. For example, using bi-functional or sequential electrocatalysts in flow systems for coupling NH3 with a cascading reaction sequence involving CH4 and CO2: thus, linking electrosynthesised ammonia to the valorisation of fugitive methane emissions, and CO2 sequestration. This approach has the potential to generate a range of renewable chemicals including methylamine, ammonium carbonate, ammonium carbamate, urea; ammonium formate, and formamide. But catalysts alone are insufficient: they need to be integrated into a dynamically coupled reaction system, within a reactor that enables the kinetics to be systematically optimised to compete with the traditional process in terms of material and energy balance as well as yield. Hence, we will develop and showcase the use of a low-cost, 3-D printed reactor platform for the rapid testing and screening of catalytic gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs), which are not inherently limited by the gas solubilities in (aqueous) electrolytes, for the above electrochemical processes and make this platform available to any potential collaborators within the CoE.
1. Background
a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research within the School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science.
b. This Scholarship is funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) through the ARC Centres of Excellence scheme for the project ‘ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation’ (The Centre) (ID: CE230100032).
2. Eligibility
a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or being currently enrolled to study full-time in a PhD within the School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.
b. Applicant must be a domestic student.
c. Applicant without an unconditional offer of admission may apply and be selected, however, no scholarship offer will be sent until the applicant has an unconditional offer of admission.
d. Applicant must undertake research in electrocatalysis and small molecule activation.
e. Applicant must also hold an Honours degree (First Class) or equivalent in a related field.
3. Selection Criteria
a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:
I. academic merit,
II. area of study,
III. curriculum vitae, and
IV. a personal statement demonstrating their commitment and suitability for the role.
b. Preference will be given to applicants with a background in materials preparation, electrochemistry and standard physical characterisation techniques. Knowledge about flow chemistry is an advantage, but not essential.
c. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).
4. Value
a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend rate per annum (indexed on 1 January each year) for up to 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
b. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum duration of the Scholarship excluding any potential extension period.
c. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred without prior approval from the research supervisor.
d. The Scholarship cannot be transferred to another area of research.
e. No other amount is payable.
f. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.
5. Eligibility for Progression
a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.
6. Leave Arrangements
a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.
b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.
7. Research Overseas
a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.
b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.
8. Suspension
a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.
b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.
9. Changes in Enrolment
a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC, and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.
10. Termination
a. The Scholarship will be terminated:
I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis from the research supervisor,
IV. upon the recipient having completed the maximum candidature for their degree as per the University of Sydney (Higher Degree by Research) Rule 2011 Policy,
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).
b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:
I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,
II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or
III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.
c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.
d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.
11. Misconduct
a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct 2023 (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Student Charter 2020 and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.
b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.
12. Publications
a. All ARC-funded research projects must comply with the ARC Open Access Policy on the dissemination of research findings, which includes a requirement that publications arising from ARC funded research must be made openly accessible within a 12-month period from the publication date.
b. The recipient of this Scholarship must not use any trademark, trade name, logo or other designation of any party in any way in connection with the Centre or this research without that other party’s prior written consent.
c. The recipient of this Scholarship wishes to make public statement in connection with Centre or this research (such as distributing promotional or advertising material, appearing in television or radio programs, electronic media, issuing newsletters promoting the activities of the Centre or a Project) it must obtain the prior written consent.
d. The recipient agrees to provide a copy of any proposed publication to The University of Sydney and any other party in connection to this scholarship (as informed by their relevant research supervisor) at least 20 business days in advance of submitting for publication (review period). The other parties may provide comments and/or reasonable amendments to the publication to protect their confidential Information and/or Intellectual Property, including requesting removal or delay publication for a period not exceeding 3 months to allow appropriate registration of any registrable Intellectual Property. If The University of Sydney or any other party does not provide any comments within the review period, the recipient may publish the proposed publication.
13. Acknowledgements
a. The recipient of this Scholarship must acknowledge the ARC’s support for the Centre in all publications and any other promotional or advertising materials published in connection with this research in the form and manner advised by supervisor.
14. Intellectual Property
a. The recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.
15. Student Thesis
a. The recipient of this scholarship may have obligations under University statutes to deposit in the library a copy of their completed thesis or work submitted for a higher degree.
16. Confidentiality
a. The recipient agrees to not to disclose confidential information related to this research project without prior written consent unless required or authorised by law or Parliament to disclose.
17. Privacy
a. The recipient agrees to use any personal information collected or obtained in connection with the Centre only for the purposes of fulfilling its obligations under this scholarship/research and in accordance with any applicable Privacy Laws.
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