HDR Scholarship - Circular water

Location

Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

Research topic

Circular water is critical to supply water for communities, industry, agriculture and for the environment. Access to fresh water that is safe and suitable for these uses depends on rainfall refilling our surface waters and groundwater storages. This research focuses on circular water from rainfall to infiltration through soil and rock to underground spaces and aquifers that are a strategic water source during dry periods.

Multiple sensor systems for tracing rainfall and groundwater are deployed in this research. Drip sensors are deployed in underground spaces including lava caves, limestone caves, tunnels and mines. Water pressure sensors are deployed in groundwater bores. Combined with meteorological data, advanced data analysis can reveal how much water circulates below the surface. The research is revealing how water underground responds to changes in rainfall events. Read the story so far.

The research leverages the National Groundwater Recharge Observatory that was established with infrastructure funding from the Australian Research Council, and support from various partners in water management agencies and mine sites across Australia. The Deakin University research team collaborate with UNSW, Flinders University and the CSIRO Drought Resilience Mission.

Project aim

The PhD aims would be refined based on the applicant’s interests and with our research collaborators.

Discover how much rainfall is needed to generate water circulating through soil and rock and provide insights for sustainable pumping of water from aquifer sources.
Select suitable field study sites, with local collaborators such as: water dependent World Heritage sites and high priority catchments for water sources.
Deploy drip sensors and high-pressure sensors, with the possibility of additional environmental sensors, hydrochemical and isotopic water tracers at suitable field sites.
Develop advanced data analysis, codes and models that explore the relationships between increasing variability of rainfall events and availability of soil water and groundwater to support ecosystems and water supply needs.

Important dates

Applications close 5pm, Sunday 6 October

Benefits

This scholarship is available over 3 years.

Stipend of $34,400 per annum tax exempt (2024 rate)
Relocation allowance of $500-1500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible you must:

be a domestic candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship
meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
be enrolling full time and hold an honours degree (first class) equivalent standard Master's degree with a substantial research component
educational training and experience that is relevant to the research program (e.g. water or environmental or geotechnical engineering, or hydrogeology or hydrology or meteorology or physical sciences etc).

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.

Additional desirable criteria include:

aptitude for data analytics and coding and modelling, aptitude for fieldwork and underground site visits, authorship of technical reports or conference paper or journal paper.

How to apply

Please email a CV and cover letter to Prof Wendy Timms. The CV should highlight your skills, education, publications and relevant work experience. If you are successful you will then be invited to submit a formal application.

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