PhD Scholarship in Design Optimisation

Contribute directly to life-saving road safety improvements.
Full-time, fixed term (3 years) position at our Hawthorn campus
$34,700 per annum for three years


Project Title: Sustainable and cost-effective safety roller barriers using recycled tyres and design optimisation

About the Role
The continued surge of Electric vehicle (EV) ownership in Australia is steadily increasing, however their unique structure is leading to fundamentally different crash dynamics, particularly in run-off-road collisions with existing roadside barriers. Recent tests show that conventional guardrails often fail to protect EVs, underscoring a critical need for reimagined roadside safety solutions.

This PhD scholarship is part of a larger, multi-stream research project in collaboration with KSI Global Australia, the creators of the Safety Roller Barrier (SRB), a next-generation barrier system that has already demonstrated zero fatalities and serious injuries in installed sites across Victoria and Western Australia.

This position will focus on one key stream: understanding and improving the interaction between EVs and roadside barriers. This will involve:

Modelling EV crash dynamics with conventional and SRB barriers.
Evaluating SRB performance in EV crashes and applying AI to optimise designs for different road conditions.
Propose safety enhancements for EVs in run-off-road collisions.

If you're passionate about vehicle safety, innovation, and making a tangible impact, we encourage your application.

Please note that the successful applicant will also need to satisfy the general requirements of entry into a PhD program at Swinburne University of Technology before commencing the scholarship.

About You
To be suitable for this role you will need to have experience in the below key accountabilities:
Experience in modelling (CAD) and computer simulation (FEA)
Experience in material characterisation and experimental testings
Knowledge in impact dynamics
Passionate and have interest in pursuing PhD degree.
Experience in research project(s)
Demonstrated team player who has good interpersonal skills and can collaborate well with others

International applicants must be currently in Australia and must provide evidence of one of the following:
IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0 or a TOEFL iBT (internet-based) minimum score of 7+ (with a reading band no less than 18 and writing band no less than 20); or Pearson (PTE) 58 (no communicative skills less than 50) no longer than 24 months before submitting your application);
Successful completion of a total of 24 months of formal study where the language of instruction and assessment was English at an approved university no longer than 60 months before submitting your application.

Qualifications
Master degree (or equivalent) in Manufacturing or Automotive or Mechanical or Civil Engineering or Material Science or Mechanics, or a similar discipline.

About Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne’s strategy draws upon our understanding of future challenges. We choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university – one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research.

To Apply
Please submit a cover letter, your CV and supporting documentation including:
Academic degrees
Academic transcripts
English test results (IELTS or TOEFL or equivalent)
Any copies of journal publications (if applicable)

To review the Position Description and to apply, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

If you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click ‘apply’ and you will be redirected to Swinburne’s Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application, please contact the Swinburne Talent Acquisition Team on talentacquisition@swin.edu.au

Applications Close: Sunday 13 July 2025, at 11.00pm

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Swinburne has become a world-class university, driving social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. As a dual-sector university, our vision is for people and technology working together to build a better world.

Central to our vision is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and developing great talent. We work to remove barriers related to gender identity, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.

We strongly encourage applicants from diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our Moondani Toombadool Centre leads our Indigenous education and culture at Swinburne, guided by community wisdom and leadership.

We support applicants with disabilities. Adjustments can be requested at any time during the recruitment process. For Reasonable Adjustment requests, including accessible formats for the PD, application form or any other document, please contact DCR@swin.edu.au or call +61 3 +214 3550.

Please note the above number and DCR email address are for disability or reasonable adjustments queries only. General enquiries about the role can be sent to talentacquisition@swin.edu.au (general enquiries will not be answered by phone).

Victoria’s Commitment to Action: Improving international student employment outcomes.
As a signatory to Victoria’s Commitment to Action, Swinburne seeks to remove barriers to international graduate employment. We welcome and encourage applications from international graduates.

As a Circle Back Initiative Employer, we commit to responding to every applicant. #LI-SW Read more