Do you want to do MATERIALS RESEARCH in one of the most exciting research environments in the world?

If you’re looking for a PhD in materials, focusing on energy or health, your Future Starts Here

At the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) opportunities exist for students to become part of a unique research training environment to carry out research on materials to be used for:

  • Bionic implants such as conduits for spinal cord repair and muscle regeneration
  • Solar energy conversion such as solar cells and water splitting
  • Energy storage systems such as polymer batteries and artificial muscles

Internationally recognised as a leader in electromaterials research, the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) is housed in the state-of-the-art AIIM Facility at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus. The AIIM Facilitiy is also the home of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) of which IPRI is the lead partner.

Our Strengths

  • Our PEOPLE - At IPRI you have the opportunity to work with some of the most dynamic researchers in the world in a supportive, talented team environment - researchers driven by a desire to invent and explore new materials.
  • Our state-of-the-art FACILITIES include material synthesis, characterisation and fabrication laboratories containing equipment such as MALDI mass and 400 MHz NMR spectrometers, extensive electrochemical characterisation tools including an electrochemical surface mapping facility, Raman, FTIR and UV-Vis/NIR spectrometers, an extensive range of chromatography equipment, AFM and SEM microscopes and a wide variety of device fabrication and characterisation tools.
  • Our friendly, relaxed and open working ENVIRONMENT
  • Our world-class RESEARCH programs focus on ELECTROMATERIALS for ENERGY and BIONICS.

A head start to your career

PAST PhD students are excelling in their chosen field and look back fondly at their time at IPRI and how it has helped them in their career.

“The multidiscipline research and exposure to world wide academics back in IPRI have provided me project management skills, initiation of new project and product and independent problem solving skills. More importantly, it provided a rare opportunity on how to conduct training, team building, coordination and communication with others.”
Dr Dezhi Zhou, Senior Technologist, Industrial Finish, Akzo Nobel, China (1997 IPRI PhD graduate)

Scholarships

A number of Research SCHOLARSHIPS are available to assist students with the cost of study through the University of Wollongong (UOW).

IPRI offers:

  • Summer Scholarships - two scholarships available in conjunction with the Wollongong Science Centre to develop aspects of a Nanotechnology Energy Exhibit
  • Honours Scholarships - including the Bill Wheeler Scholarship
  • PhD Scholarships - including
    • IPRI/ACES Scholarship in controlled drug delivery systems in collaboration with St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne. This will find application in treating neural disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson disease
    • ARC Linkage PhD scholarship for the development of new supercapacitor materials in collaboration with Cap-XX and the University of Sydney. This will find application in mobile devices.

IPRI also offers a number of top-up scholarships (up to $10,000 per annum) for exceptional candidates in the following areas:

  • Porphyrin synthesis.
  • Polythiophene synthesis, characterisation and application.
  • Dye sensitised solar cells.
  • Graphene synthesis and application.

Opportunities also exist, to be based within ACES, to undertake postgraduate studies in the ethical issues arising from these research areas.

  • Ethical issues surrounding the current science undertaken in ACES.

Successful candidates will be given the opportunity to work with other world leaders in the field by spending up to six months carrying out research with one of our CSIRO or international collaborators in Ireland, Italy, USA, Japan or France. Travel bursaries will be available to cover travel costs.

Want to know more?

How to Apply

You should actively involve IPRI in your research application

  • STEP 1 – Approach a supervisor at IPRI to discuss your project prior to applying for admission
  • STEP 2 – Select a research topic
  • STEP 3 – Apply for Admission to UOW
  • STEP 4 – Apply for a Scholarship (if applicable) http://www.uow.edu.au/research/rsc/student/scholarships

To discuss a potential research project with IPRI, contact

Professor Gordon Wallace
Executive Research Director
ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute,
University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Email: gordon_wallace@uow.edu.au
Ph: +61 (2) 4221 3127 Fax: +61 (2) 4221 3114

Last reviewed: 14 October, 2009