Understanding Critical Minerals: Niobium-Tantalum in Mount Weld Rare Earth Elements (REE) World-Class Deposit

This Project aims to better understand the formation of critical mineral deposits. The expected outcome is to develop more efficient detection and study methods. A potential benefit could be supporting Australia to become a key supplier of these elements globally, by detecting and exploring more critical mineral deposits.

Supervisory team

Primary location of student

CSIRO Kensington, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington WA 6151

Other potential locations

Australian National University, 142 Mills Road, Acton ACT 2601

Industry engagement component location

Mt Weld Mining, Level 4/1 Howard Street, Perth WA 6000

Ideal student skillset 

• Strong background in geochemistry and mineralogy with a focus on Critical Minerals (HFSE and REE).
• Proficiency in laboratory analytical techniques, including advanced microscopy technology and mineral mapping.
• Experience in geochemical approaches for mineral exploration and economic geology research.
• Field skills for mapping, sample collection, and stratigraphic understanding.
• Previous experience or coursework in mineral exploration.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Application Close Date 

Open until position filled 

Towards climate resilient crops: Understanding effects of changing climate on crop fungal disease resistance

Rust fungal diseases pose a constant threat to wheat production. Plant resistance genes for fungal diseases are an important and environmentally friendly method of disease control. Multipathogen or adult plant resistance (APR) genes can confer partial resistance to multiple pathogens and differ from classical immune receptor resistance genes. Abiotic factors are known to influence the expression and function of APRs, however, it is unknown how the current repertoire of wheat rust disease resistance genes perform under future predicted environmental conditions.

The proposed PhD project will explore relationships between elevated temperature, CO₂ and APR gene function in the broader context of developing climate resilient crops. The overall objective will be to characterise wheat rust interactions under high temperature and CO₂ for commercially important APR genes. Anticipated outcomes will be an understanding of effects of elevated temperature and CO₂ on APR gene expression and function. APR genes (or combinations) which prove to be effective under predicted future climatic conditions will be identified. The significance of this project relates to documented rises in atmospheric temperature and CO₂ levels. The effect of these environmental factors on some plant processes are well characterised, but knowledge for resistance genes in this context is lacking. Expected impacts will be to provide important information into the utility of resistance genes into the future.

Supervisory team

Primary location of student

Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200

Other potential locations

CSIRO Black Mountain, Acton, ACT 2601

Industry engagement component location

Australian Grain Technologies, Roseworthy SA 5371

Ideal student skillset 

Essential:

• Undergraduate degree in biology, Honours/Masters in biological research, preferably plant biology and/or molecular biology.

Desirable:

• Experience working with wheat and/or plant-pathogen interactions

Application Close Date 

Open until position filled 

Domesticating Australian native bees for use as alternative pollinators

Australian agriculture is facing an existential threat in the form of Varroa mites, honeybee ectoparasites that will likely cause widespread colony collapses and disruptions to pollination. To address the urgent challenge posed by the establishment of Varroa mites in Australia, we aim to domesticate native Australian bees to use as an alternative pollinator. This project leveraging Australia's unique biodiversity to come up with an alternative solution. The anticipated outcomes could revolutionize Australia's agriculture, by offering a more resilient pollinations and opening new economic avenues for beekeepers.

Supervisory team

Primary location of student

Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200

Industry engagement component location

Field work (industrial pollination services in NSW, Victoria and Queensland)

Ideal student skillset 

Essential:

• Strong knowledge in entomology, particularly in bee biology, genetics, and behaviour.

• Foundational understanding of breeding techniques and genetics, coupled with hands-on experience in beekeeping

Desirable:

• Quantitative and computational skills to handle large data files in a rigorous manner and in a UNIX environment.

Application Close Date 

Open until position filled.

Compostable plastics

This Project aims to design and develop compostable plastics. The expected outcome is to produce new materials and compositions from sustainable sources to make plastics. This could benefit Australia to find new ways to make plastics that are sustainable and circular.

Supervisory team

Primary location of student

Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200

Other potential locations

CSIRO Clayton, Research Way, Clayton VIC 3168

Industry engagement component location

Sprout Materials, Stone & Chalk Adelaide Startup Hub, Marnirni-apinthi Building, Lot Fourteen, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Ideal student skillset 

• Chemistry, chemical engineering or related degree
• Degree must be a minimum of 4 years with a substantial research project embedded  
• Previous industry and polymer chemistry experience is desired

Application Close Date 

Open until position filled 

Understanding Critical Minerals: the Rocha da Rocha Rare Earth Element-Niobium-Scandium Deposits in Northeast Brazil

This Project aims to better understand the formation of critical mineral deposits. The expected outcome is to develop more efficient detection and study methods. A potential benefit could be supporting Australia to become a key supplier of these elements globally, by detecting and exploring more critical mineral deposits. 

Supervisory team

Primary location of student

Australian National University, 142 Mills Road, Acton ACT 2601 

Other potential locations

CSIRO Kensington, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington WA 6151

Industry engagement component location

• Brazilian Rare Earths, Level 1, 139 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
• Potential international travel to São Paulo, Brazil

Ideal student skillset 

• Strong background in geochemistry and mineralogy with a focus on Critical Minerals (REE).
• Proficiency in laboratory analytical techniques, including advanced microscopy technology and mineral mapping.
• Experience in geochemical approaches for mineral exploration and economic geology research.
• Field skills for mapping, sample collection, and stratigraphic understanding.
• Previous experience or coursework in mineral exploration.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Application Close Date 

Open until position filled 

Bioleaching of hyper-enriched black shales (HEBS)

This project will explore the technical and economic feasibility of bioleaching hyper-enriched black shales from basins. The expected outcome is increased understanding on the feasibility of biomining the black shales to extract the critical and base metals in the basin. This could benefit Australia’s critical and base metal resource security. 

Supervisory team

Primary location of student

CSIRO Waterford, 7 Conlon Street, Waterford WA 6152

Other potential locations

Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2600

Industry engagement component location

Bellavista Resources Ltd, Level 2, 8 Richardson Street, West Perth WA 6005

Ideal student skillset 

Essential:

• MSc or BSc (Honours) degree in a relevant field: microbiology; biotechnology; chemistry; chemical or environmental engineering, environmental science, hydrometallurgy, minerals engineering or similar.
• Knowledge in designing and conducting experiments, conducting chemical analyses for samples, analysing data, preparing reports/ journal manuscripts, and delivering outcomes in agreed time frames, and ability to work independently and effectively as a team member towards driving project outcomes.

Desirable:

• Knowledge in operating bioreactors or columns or other laboratory-scale processes, experience with working with environmental microbes, good analytical and problem-solving skills

Application Close Date 

Open until position filled 

Prediction of molecular interactions with RNA using AI for basic research and therapeutic discovery

This Project will develop deep-learning models to predict interactions of ribonucleic acid (RNA) with other molecules. The expected outcomes are to improve prediction capabilities to decode RNA interactions in disease mechanisms, identify novel therapeutic modalities, and improve existing therapies for targeting RNA. This could result in enhanced capacity to design new therapies and potential to optimise RNA targeting molecules for therapeutic applications. 

Supervisory team

Primary location of student

The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Acton ACT 2601, Canberra

Other potential locations

CSIRO Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, Clunies Ross Street, Acton ACT

Industry engagement component location

RNAfold.AI Pty Ltd, RNA Institute at University of New South Wales, 223 Anzac Parade, Kensington NSW 2033

Ideal student skillset 

Essential:

• Capacity of critical thinking and logical design of research plans
• Ability to develop new theoretical approaches, implement them into working computer code, and test them with real datasets
• Keen interest in applying new ideas to solve real world problems, and in the translation of academic research into applied and commercial environments.

Desirable:

• A double degree combining experience in Computer Science, Mathematics, Data Science or related subjects with Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or related areas
• Hands-on knowledge of Machine Learning and its underlying mathematical formulations, in particular applied to molecular problems.

Application Close Date 

Open until position filled