If you would like more information or have any questions about this scholarship, please contact the project supervisors.
Forming and fracture performance of ultra-high strength steel for automotive applications
Applications will remain open until a candidate has been appointed
Supporting a PhD candidate to bring advanced experimental mechanics, microstructure science, and industrial steel innovation together while delivering both scientific breakthroughs and real-world impact.
Key details
Project supervisor
Deakin school and faculty
Additional supervisors
Location
Geelong Waurn Ponds
Value and duration
This scholarship is available over three years and offers:
- a stipend of $35,000 per annum tax exempt
For international students, the awardee will also receive:
- tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
- single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.
Research aim
Are you ready to unlock the micro mechanisms of fracture in ultra-high strength steels (UHSS) and shape the next generation of automotive steels? We are offering a fully funded PhD position to develop a new in-situ testing technology that links steel microstructure evolution directly to fracture mechanisms during metal forming.
What you’ll do
- develop and implement a novel in-situ testing procedure that links microstructural characteristics of ultra-high strength steels (UHSS) to fracture mechanisms.
- design and optimise dedicated specimen geometries to impose well-defined strain path conditions representative of industrial forming operations.
- conduct combined in-situ microstructure characterisation and deformation tracking to quantify how phase distribution, morphology and evolution influence fracture initiation and propagation.
- establish direct correlations between strain path, microstructure evolution and fracture behaviour to support advanced micro-structure design and forming process optimisation.
Target deliverables
- a robust experimental framework for in-situ tensile testing in an scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that enables systematic analysis of microstructure evolution and fracture mechanisms.
- fundamental understanding of microstructure effects on fracture that can be directly implemented in industrial Research and Development (R&D) environments for future UHSS microstructure design and optimisation.
Why this project is unique
- industry-embedded research with global impact through collaboration with Baosteel, one of the world’s leading steel producers.
- direct pathway to industrial implementation, with outcomes designed for immediate integration into advanced UHSS development programs.
- rare integration of mechanics and microstructure science, combining controlled strain-path material testing with in-situ microstructural analysis.
- strategic relevance to electric vehicle lightweighting, supporting the safe and widespread application of next-generation UHSS in future EV structures.
- strong career development opportunities, positioning the candidate at the interface of experimental mechanics, materials modelling, and industrial metal alloy innovation.
Background information
Ultra-high-strength steels (UHSS) are essential for lightweight and crashworthy Electric vehicle (EV) structures. However, fracture in forming remains a critical barrier. The fundamental relationship between microstructural constituents, their evolution under deformation, and fracture initiation is still not fully understood. To bridge this knowledge gap advanced in-situ test techniques must be developed that can simultaneously track microstructural changes and fracture initiation for precisely controlled forming strain paths.
In partnership with Baosteel, this project will develop a novel experimental platform that imposes well-defined strain path conditions when tensile testing steel samples in an scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The approach will enable real-time microstructure characterisation during deformation and provide unprecedented insight into how microstructural features drive fracture initiation.
The outcomes of this project will establish a fundamental platform for next-generation microstructure modelling of UHSS required to support the accelerated development of new steel variants tailored for advanced forming behaviour and in-service performance. The methodology will be directly transferable to industrial Research and Development (R&D) workflows, enabling rapid deployment within Baosteel’s steel development programs for future electric vehicles.
This PhD will play a central role in bridging advanced experimental mechanics, microstructure science, and industrial steel innovation — delivering both scientific breakthroughs and real-world impact.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible you must:
- meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
- enrol full time
- hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard masters degree with a substantial research component
- be an international or domestic student candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency, or New Zealand Citizenship.
Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.
Additional requirements:
We are seeking highly motivated applicants with a background in mechanical engineering, materials (metal) engineering, manufacturing engineering, or closely related disciplines, who have a strong interest in:
- experimental mechanics and deformation testing
- microstructure characterisation and material behaviour
- finite Element Analysis and sub-routines
- translating fundamental materials science into industrial application
Graduates who are enthusiastic about working at the interface of academia and industry, and who are keen to see their research implemented in real-world steel development programs, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Ready to apply?
Please email your CV and cover letter (including your interest in the project) to Dr Peng Neo Zhang. Your CV should highlight your skills, education, publications and relevant work experience. If successful, you will be invited to submit a formal application.
Research degree entry requirements
Set yourself up for success. Each type of Deakin research degree has specific entry requirements designed to ensure that graduate researchers are well prepared for the challenges of advanced study.
