PhD scholarship opportunity in Materials Science and Engineering: NO production by plasma bubble reactor

PhD scholarship opportunity in Materials Science and Engineering: NO production by plasma bubble reactor

Job No.: 697669

Faculty/Portfolio: Faculty of Engineering

Location: CSIRO Clayton, Victoria

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 4-years

Remuneration: $48,071 per annum (2026 rate)

The Opportunities

The project is under the CSIRO’s Industry PhD (iPhD) Program that brings together an industry partner, a university (Monash University for this project) and CSIRO to co-develop a four-year industry-focussed PhD project. You will receive a four-year scholarship package of $48,071 annually (2026 rate) if successful. To be eligible, you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident. Please see other eligibility requirements and other details at the following link.

https://research.csiro.au/iphd-opportunities/no%e2%82%93-production-by-plasma-bubble-reactor/

The current project is titled “NO production by plasma bubble reactor”. This project explores a plasma bubble reactor, where tiny plasma‑filled bubbles are injected into water to create nitrogen oxides (NO) directly from the air. Because the bubbles are so small, they provide a large contact area, making the process highly efficient at room temperature and without any fossil fuels. 

NO is a key building block for producing green ammonia: a clean fuel and essential fertiliser. Traditional methods for ammonia production are energy‑intensive and carbon‑heavy. This plasma‑based approach is modular, renewable‑powered, and suitable for decentralised applications, opening doors to sustainable agriculture and future clean‑energy systems. 

The student will gain hands‑on experience with plasma science, reactor design, chemical analysis, and renewable‑energy technologies. It’s an opportunity to contribute to real‑world climate solutions while developing valuable skills for careers in clean energy, environmental engineering, and advanced manufacturing. 

Candidate requirements

 The student must:

1. Be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident, or a New Zealand citizen.  
2. Meet participating university PhD admission requirements.
3. Meet university English language requirements.
4. Not have previously completed a PhD.
5. Be able to commence the Program in the year of the offer.
6. Enrol as a full-time PhD student. Part-time arrangements may be considered if approved by the supervisory team and in accordance with university policy.
7. Be prepared to be located at the project location(s) that the host university has approved and, if required, comply with the host university’s external enrolment procedures.
8. Be prepared to undergo onboarding to CSIRO, which will include passing mandatory government background checks (allow for between 4 to 8 weeks) and complete any other CSIRO requirements.

Applications

1. Applicants are required to submit an admission-only application via my-app portal following the instructions detailed on the university’s webpage or by contacting the university supervisor directly via email.
2. The application is assessed by the supervisory team and shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
3. The supervisory team nominates a preferred applicant and informs iPhD office and the University’s GRS (or equivalent).

Enquiries:

Professor Aijun Huang (Monash University: 

aijun.huang@monash.edu

Dr Yunxia Yang (CSIRO):

yunxia.yang@csiro.au

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