The University of Adelaide is offering four fully-funded PhD scholarships through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Battery Recycling. These prestigious opportunities are designed for researchers passionate about advancing sustainable battery technologies and recycling processes.
Scholarship Overview
The scholarships provide financial support for up to 3.5 years with an annual stipend of $35,300 (indexed annually), which is likely to be tax-exempt subject to Taxation Office approval. These opportunities are available in the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology (SET) at the University of Adelaide.
Research Projects
The scholarships will support research in two key project areas:
Project 1: Development and Optimisation of DES Battery Recycling Process (2 PhD positions)
These projects aim to enhance Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES)-based battery recycling processes by:
Investigating the impact of metallic impurities in black mass on the DES 2.0 process
Upgrading the DES 2.0 by developing new hydrophobic DESs with high selectivity
Project 2: Design and Synthesis of High-Quality Battery Precursors and Materials (2 PhD positions)
These projects focus on advancing DES-based battery recycling processes toward producing high-purity, battery-grade materials by:
Developing refinement processes to purify the obtained Li/Co/Ni/Mn salts from DES 2.0 to battery-grade precursors
Using refined Li/Co/Ni/Mn salts to synthesize high Ni-containing NCM cathode materials
Regenerating single cathode materials from black mass with high electrochemical performance
Eligibility Criteria
The scholarships are open to:
Australian citizens
Australian permanent residents
New Zealand citizens
Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders
International students
All applicants must be acceptable as candidates for a PhD degree at the University of Adelaide.
Application Process
Expressions of interest should be emailed to Associate Professor Jianfeng Mao and Dr. Jingxiu Wang by June 30, 2025. Your application must include:
Evidence of Australian or New Zealand citizenship, or Australian permanent resident status (if applicable)
Degree certificates (testamurs)
Academic transcripts
Translations of non-English documentation
Evidence of English language proficiency
Curriculum vitae
Important Dates
Applications Open: April 2025
Application Deadline: June 30, 2025
Contact Information
For inquiries and application submissions, please contact:
Associate Professor Jianfeng Mao
Email: jianfeng.mao@adelaide.edu.au
Dr. Jingxiu Wang
Email: jingxiu.wang@adelaide.edu.au
School of Chemical Engineering / Discipline of Materials Engineering
University of Adelaide
This opportunity represents an excellent chance for researchers to contribute to sustainable energy solutions while advancing their academic careers with full financial support.
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