PhD Scholarships in Geotechnical Engineering
ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track
Infrastructure (ITTC‐Rail)
Centre for Geomechanics and Railway Engineering
University of Wollongong, Australia
Several PhD scholarships in the field of geotechnical engineering are available under the supervision
of Distinguished Prof. Buddhima Indraratna at the Centre for Geomechanics and Railway
Engineering, University of Wollongong, Australia. For a top calibre candidate, a stipend up to
$35,000 p.a. (tax‐exempt) depending on qualifications and experience is available for a period of
three years (with the possibility to apply for a 6 month further extension). These scholarships will be
funded through Australian Commonwealth Government and Industry funds. For overseas candidates
the tuition fee can be waived.
The PhD topics include:
1. Stability of tunnels in jointed and fractured rock
2. Use of waste materials in railway substructure under cyclic loads
3. Mathematical modelling of Rail Track Dynamics and implications on design
4. Use of geosynthetic inclusions for improved foundation stability
5. Use of synthetics drainage and filtration layer for alleviating subgrade fluidization (mud
pumping) under high cyclic/dynamic loads
6. Utilization and improvement of marginal materials in construction.
7. Interpretation of rail track behaviour based on energy mechanisms/entropy.
8. Large scale Physical Modelling of Transport Infrastructure under dynamic loads.
The successful candidate will have a first degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline with First
Class equivalence.Master degree in Geotechnical Engineering is desirable but not essential.
Applicants may be considered as meeting the English language requirements if successfully
completing tertiary education at a recognised Institution/University where the language of
instruction was English. Other candidates must have an IELTS score of at least 6.5.
Applicants should send their CV, academic transcripts, English test result (IELTS or TOEFL) plus names
and contact details of two referees to: Distinguished Prof Buddhima Indraratna, Centre for
Geomechanics and Railway Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia, e‐mail:
indra@uow.edu.au, Phone 61 2 4221 3046.
Applications Close 15 December 2017