Green PhD scholarship on offer

An intermittent aerated wastewater treatment plant. Photo courtesy John Court.

A PhD scholarship is being offered within the Division of Environmental and Life Sciences at Macquarie University – but get in fast as applications close soon.

The scholarship, which is based within the Division’s Graduate School of the Environment, will fund doctorate research into sustainable management options for use of sewage sludge wastes.

Waste water treatment processes produce a significant quantity of waste or sewage sludge. However, sludge materials can be converted into a range of valuable products and resources such as fertiliser or energy, says lecturer, Dr Vladimir Strezov, who is overseeing the project. The successful applicant would be looking at potential alternatives for how sewage sludge can be used in order to provide sustainable waste management control.

“We want to look at the best and most feasible options to convert it to a valuable product or material,” Strezov says.

Scholarship details
Applicants should have completed a four-year undergraduate degree with first class honours or an equivalent qualification in environmental studies, science, engineering or a similar background.

The award is available to Australian and international citizens. The tenure is for three years for PhD candidates subject to satisfactory progress. The award stipend is currently $18,837 per annum tax exempt in line with the Australian Postgraduate Award rate. Further information about the project can be obtained from Dr Vladimir Strezov at vstrezov@gse.mq.edu.au or on (02) 9850 7987.

The application closing date is 9 December, 2005. Application forms and conditions of award are available from the Higher Degree Research Unit at (02) 9850 7987 or by emailing pgschol@mq.edu.au. The application form can also be downloaded online from www.ro.mq.edu.au/hdru/scholar.htm

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