PhD Scholarship Opportunity – Safe and Sustainable Electrolytes for Next-Generation Rechargeable Metal Batteries

Monash•Clayton, NC

19h•$37,145•Onsite

About The Position

Applications are sought from outstanding candidates for PhD study in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering, Monash University. We are seeking highly motivated PhD candidates to undertake research on the design and development of safe and sustainable electrolyte materials for advanced energy storage systems. The project addresses key challenges in post-lithium battery technologies and focuses on the development of innovative electrolyte materials for next-generation rechargeable metal batteries. The successful candidate will employ synthetic chemistry, advanced materials characterisation, and electrochemical evaluation to establish structure-property relationships and develop high-performance battery systems. The project is conducted within a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and internationally connected research environment at Monash University.

Requirements

Hold (or be close to completing) a Bachelor Honours (H1 or equivalent) and/or Master's degree with an excellent academic record.
Demonstrate excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
Show the ability to conduct independent, self-motivated research while working effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
Candidates who are in the process of completing their H1 degree will be considered.
Applicants who already hold a PhD degree will not be considered.

Nice To Haves

Chemistry
Materials Science
Chemical Engineering
Polymer Science
Electrochemistry
Energy Storage or closely related disciplines
Battery electrolytes, ionic liquids or solid polymer electrolytes
Organic synthesis and/or polymer chemistry
Electrochemical testing and analysis
Materials characterisation techniques
Strong scientific writing and communication skills

Responsibilities

Advanced electrolytes for rechargeable multivalent batteries: Development of low-cost electrolyte systems for multivalent and emerging battery chemistries, including calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn). Investigation of electrolyte formulations that enable stable metal cycling, minimise interfacial passivation, and improve energy density and cycling performance.
Polymer electrolytes for solid-state metal batteries: Design and synthesis of novel solid polymer electrolytes. Improving interfacial stability, suppressing dendrite formation, and enabling high-performance solid-state metal batteries.
Employ synthetic chemistry, advanced materials characterisation, and electrochemical evaluation to establish structure-property relationships and develop high-performance battery systems.