Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Seaports act as gateways in today's multi-modal supply chains as over 90% of total world trade volumes are occurred to be seaborne cargo. Increasingly large vessels have been introduced to the main sea-routes to cater for the growing cargo volumes and to yield the advantages of economies of scale. Ever-increasing size of vessels and escalating costs of port operations are major challenges in the port industry around the world. The demand for intermodal handling grows proportionally to the escalating transport volumes.

The key purpose of a port terminal is to move cargo as rapidly as possible to enable the vessels to maximize the economic utilization by minimizing the time at berth.  The profitability of the ocean carries is directly associated with the amount of time vessels are at sea and for the cargo owner the efficiency is reflected as minimal dwell time, whereas for the terminal, the increased cargo throughput translates into greater profitability. The dramatic growth of cargo volumes inevitably exerts stress on the port infrastructure and the efficiency of handling. Despite large investments in the port infrastructure amounting to billions of dollars, the complexity of freight markets and the lack of collaboration between different port stakeholders often results in inefficiencies and sub-optimal use of infrastructure.

Globally, ports are facing pressure from the government and interest groups to reduce harmful emissions by improving energy efficiency. The emergence of smart technologies has been a frontier consideration for the improvement of efficiency and sustainability while reducing the cost of port operations. Therefore, the strive to become 'smart' in port operations has become exploratory for the port terminals around the world to attract the benefits and opportunities brought by upgrading from a traditional port to a smart port. This research projects aims to address the opportunities in applying smart port technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) in Australian ports.

Eligibility

Essential:

• Shipping and port management, logistics and supply chain management, data analytics

Desirable:

• Educational background or industrial experience in shipping and ports, supply chain and logistics management related areas

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Dr Vera Zhang for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

The recent event of Covid-19 has had an impact on world trade, especially to avoid dependence on one source of supply (e.g. China). This trend may be well coupled and supported by changes in geopolitics. Health protection measures e.g. social distancing, and safety measures coupled with new regulations are expected to have some effect on logistics and transport operations.

The liner shipping business as we know it will be different from how they worked before COVID-19 hit our shores. Navigating around and through the COVID-19 situation has left all shipping companies in uncharted waters with blank sailing becoming the norm of the day for many liner operators. Therefore, the liner shipping companies must formulate relevant marketing strategies to remain competitive in a challenging time.

This project aims to investigate the resilience of liner shipping companies in the post-COVID-19 climate. The project also seeks to identify the operational and marketing areas that liner operators need to strengthen and to design the most resilience strategy that they can use to remain competitive in the challenging seasons.

To achieve the above aim the following research questions shall be answered.

• RQ1: What are the measures or strategies used by container lines during the pandemic period?
• RQ2: How effective are those measures/strategies in helping companies to survive the pandemic?

Eligibility

Essential Skills:

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
• Applicants must already have been awarded a First Class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications (e.g. master’s degree) or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
• Knowledge and skills in shipping operations, international trade and freight operations

Desirable Skills:

• A previous research qualification (Honours or Masters by Research) in a management discipline, preferably shipping, commerce or business
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative research
• Good knowledge of international shipping
• Highly developed written and communication skills
• Being familiar with statistical or econometric analysis software such as SPSS, R, EViews

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Dr Peter Fanam for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

The shipping industry plays an important role in today's global economy as it is a facilitation mechanism for more than 90% of the world trade. However only in recent history thousands of incidents and accidents involving ships have resulted in loss of life and property—not to mention environmental damages of different magnitudes.

It is estimated that over 80% of all maritime mishaps are presently attributable to human element and onboard human actions. However, from early in their career, mariners have to attend formal learning environment to gain skills and knowledge that they need to practice safely onboard ships. Yet, little is known about how this learning applied practically on the job, i.e., what is transferred from one setting to another and how this transfer occurs.

Through the investigation of the mariners in their formal learning environment (marine colleges) and in their workplace (on board ships), it is the utmost purpose of the present ethnographic study to understand the implications of this discussion in reducing the shipping accidents. The database will be composed of videotapes, field notes, interviews and documents. The implications of this study are relevant to workplace learning research in general and to maritime education and safe shipping practice in particular.

Eligibility

• The scholarship is open to Australian (domestic) candidates and to International candidates
• The PhD must be undertaken on a full‐time basis
• Applicants must already have been awarded a first class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
• Applicants from variety of disciplines are eligible to apply

See the following web page for entry requirements: http://www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Assessment Criteria

Applicants with maritime background who are familiar with qualitative research are preferred.

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Reza Emad for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

The Research Project

The concept of 'good faith' has never been part of the contract law in common law jurisdictions, including Australia. Unlike their civil law counterparts, the House of Lords has rejected this concept since Walford v Miles [1992] 2 A.C 128. In Australia, the concept of good faith has limited role as far as contracts for international sale of goods are concerned, since Australia is a State Party to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (Vienna, 1980) (CISG) whereby the concept of good faith is embraced in Article 7. Recently, however, the tide is starting to turn in Australia with dicta from judges showing willingness to embrace the concept of good faith. Such can be found in, for examples, Council of City of Sydney v Goldspar [2006] FCA 472 and Cordon Investments Pty Ltd v Lesdor Properties Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 184.

This research project has two main purposes. First, it seeks to offer critiques whether the concept of good faith should be embraced in the general contract law of Australia. This will be answered using a comparative approach. Secondly, it will seek to examine with particular emphasis on shipping contracts such as charter parties or bills of lading what roles the concept of good faith may play in such instances to better balance the rights and liabilities of parties to shipping contracts.

Eligibility

Essential:

• Good communication and analytical skills
• Graduated with an LLB degree or an LLMM degree from a recognised University with distinction or First Class Honours

Desirable:

• Academic publishing experiences

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Dr Poomintr Sooksripaisarnkit for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

The main focus of the project is on sustainable development of cruise/passenger terminals for cruise ships within a seaport without compromising the port's operational functions. While the three aspects of sustainable development i.e. social, economic and environmental will be covered, the project will also consider potential differences between a cruise/passenger terminal and cargo terminal within a seaport.

Given resource constraints, it will identify potential areas where resource sharing and saving can be made without compromising the operational requirements, service quality and competitiveness of the two types of terminals within a seaport. In addition, the project will consider both types of cruise terminals, i.e. dedicated terminals and multipurposed terminals, and the potential application of automation and new technologies for optimal investment and use of resources. It is expected that the project will involve participation from port management and stakeholders.

Eligibility

• Students are expected to have a background in business economics and at least basic knowledge in statistical/econometric analysis
• Applicants from variety of disciplines are eligible to apply

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Assessment Criteria

• Students are expected to be familiar with statistical/econometric analysis software such as SPSS, EViews, RATS, R
• Experience in the maritime sector is desirable
• Students without previous maritime knowledge are expected to attend JNB521 Maritime Economics for Managers as an elective for the Graduate Certificate in Research program

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact Owen Nguyen through email: o.nguyen@utas.edu.au for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

The Research Project

Maintenance of a ship's machinery components can significantly affect the ship's sustainability and profitability. Meanwhile, current maintenance state-of practice in shipping offers ample room for improvement. As such, the introduction of novel methods of monitoring the condition of machinery equipment, suggesting suitable maintenance actions, and scheduling those actions in an optimised fashion is significant.

The maintenance operations on conventional ships traditionally follow either a reactive maintenance (RM) or preventive maintenance (PM) approach. RM is defined as post-failure repair that introduces high risks of downtime, while PM involves predetermined maintenance intervals. For future fully or semi- autonomous ships, RM will  not only create large and unnecessary costs due to random and unplanned downtime, but also it may not be achievable anymore because  there will be no marine engineers on board during a voyage. Additionally, PM approach lacks the ability to detect random faults and failures. Thus, the need for a more intelligent and predictive maintenance approach is clear. In this context, data-driven prognostics and health management (PHM) have emerged as a promising solution to utilize the vast amount of data potentially collected by sensor devices onboard autonomous ships.

In recent years, deep learning algorithms have shown great performances to process large amounts of sensor data in the PHM domain. Also, there are research studies conducted to propose a data-driven PHM system for autonomous ships. The importance of data pre-processing, fault diagnostics, and fault prognostics have been highlighted in those research studies. However, fault isolation, fault classification, and decision support remain to be researched and developed to complete the data-driven PHM system for autonomous ships. Therefore, this  research project is proposed to firstly develop an approach to collect data and  propose a feasible  algorithm that can be trained to conduct fault classification, and  to predict the probability of which fault-type detected faults belongs to in the current health state. In addition, this study will develop a decision support system to recommend or direct ideal maintenance schedules.

Eligibility

Essential:

• Bachelor of Engineering in Naval Architecture
• Programming and data analytical skills

Desirable:

• Work experience in ship operations and seafaring

Applicants from the following disciplines are eligible to apply:

• Naval architecture

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Prof Shuhong Chai for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

It is often misjudged that the introduction of the word 'autonomous' is the way forward to eliminating human error. However, fully autonomous ships lack the advantage of human recoveries, where humans saved possible catastrophic situations due to technical malfunctions. Intuitively, the fully autonomous level requires complex control systems to eliminate shore supervision, which is not likely shortly. Therefore, constrained autonomy might be most likely, where ships operate with shore supervision, thus establishing a socio-technical system embedded with human error and human recoveries.

In constrained autonomous systems, the operator changes limits or remotely control it until constrained operations resume if the ship needs to override the set parameters. The Human Factors (HF) research community has stated this as a rational and pragmatic approach with humans and technology teaming-up providing safer and effective outcomes. This approach is relatively new and called Human-Autonomy Teaming (HAT), which is increasingly utilised to realise the capabilities of powerful automation systems while gaining acceptance. HAT is defined as the interdependent coupling between one or more human operators and one or more autonomous systems requiring collaboration and coordination to accomplish system and task goals. In this context, Deep Learning (DL) can be integrated for developing autonomous systems, which are identified as agents. These DL agents can perform complex tasks and make decisions based on numerous training trials rather than the use of explicitly constructed or pre-programmed data.

This research project aims to develop a DL algorithm of a human-centred engine-room control agent operating in a HAT environment. Integrating real-operational scenarios into the engine-room control agent requires a profound knowledge of user-context, which manifolds due to various concurrent goals and established human teaming procedures. Therefore, various scenario-based engine-room operational activities will be performed in the engine room simulator of the Australian Maritime College (AMC) for obtaining real-world user context data. The data will be collected in the forms of surveys, observations, focus group interviews and scenario-based simulator data generation. The research will then utilise the elements such as task analysis, hierarchical task analysis, and event sequence diagrams to analyse the data. The findings will be used to train, test, and validate the DL algorithm within the human-centred engine-room control agent. The outcome of this study will contribute to human-centred maritime autonomy and the training and education needs of the shore-based operators.

Eligibility

• Essential skills: deep learning algorithms, data mining and data analytics
• Experience: Matlab and Simulink
• Requirements: technical report and scientific writing skills
• Desirable: experience in human factors and human-centred design, experience on board ships, computer programming and experience in engine room simulator software will be an added advantage

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Dr Apsara Abeysiriwardhane for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

The Research Project

Global demand for efficient sea transportation has led to the evolution of large vessels worldwide. To capitalise on this efficiency increase, these larger vessels must manoeuvre in ever more confined waterways. Operating in such confined waterways creates unsafe transit for channel shipping. Additionally, extreme drought condition has led to low water levels in rivers and consequently has interrupted transportation not only by larger vessels but also by current vessels which could safely passed through the rivers in the past. To provide safe transits, all possible vertical motions and draught changes should be considered. One of the sources of the draught change is the dynamic heel due to rudder deflection. Operating in rivers requires remaining in the provided safe course and vessels' rudders are continuously in motion for course keeping purposes.

When a body moves in a circular path, there is a force towards the centre called centripetal force. In the case of a ship turning in a circle, the centripetal force is produced by the water acting on the side of the ship away from the centre of the turn. For equilibrium, there must be an equal and opposite force, which acts at the centre of mass (G). When a ship's rudder turns to port, the forces on the rudder itself causes a small angle of heel initially to port, however, the underwater form of the ship and centrifugal force on it cause a final static heel to starboard, and vice versa.

These two forces are coupled which tends to heel the ship away from the centre of the turn. Although a dynamic heel is developed during this coupling, the final static heel is usually taken into consideration. Neglecting dynamic heel is acceptable in waves due to the small ratio of this motion to the roll motion. However, in the case of calm water, particularly in rivers, canals and ports where there is restriction in terms of width and depth, the dynamic heel plays an important role.

This research project aims to investigate the effect of rudder deflection on the vessel's dynamic heel by three different methods of experimental, numerical and analytically solving equations of motion.

Eligibility

Essential:

• To have already been awarded a First Class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Be the first author of at least two published (or accepted) high ranked journal papers

Applicants from the following disciplines are eligible to apply:

• Naval architecture
• Maritime engineering
• Mechanical engineering

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Dr Javad Mehr for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Until now electricity generation in Constructed Wetlands (CWs) integrated with Microbial Fuel Cell for coastal areas is very low. The improvement in electricity generation or electron flow to the conductive material can be applied for real time applications such as pollutant sensing. In addition, transfer of electron to conductive material can also enhance the treatment of wastewater in CW.  It is reported by several studies with bioelectrochemical cells such as MFC, a large fraction of electron transfers to the methanogenic bacteria for the production of methane gas. This is the reason why the production rate of methane gas is high in CW-MFC systems whereas electricity generation is low. In this project, we are trying to inhibit methanogenic bacteria so that the entire or maximum electron goes directly to the conductive material. With extracting more electrons from the microbes, electricity generation of CW-MFC can be enhanced. This strategy can also be beneficial for producing greenhouse gases of low potential.

So, the objectives of this PhD research are:

1. Enhance the electricity generation in MFCs by inhibiting the methanogenic activities
2. Investigating the potential of MFC for real time applications such as pollution sensing

Eligibility

Essential Skills

• The potential candidate for this PhD project should have previous working experience in measurement and analysis of different contaminants in environmental laboratory

Desirable Skills

• Having previous experience in application of different machine learning techniques is an extra advantage in selecting the PhD candidate

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Vikram Garaniya for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Global demand for fast and efficient sea transportation has led to the evolution of large high-speed and lightweight vessels for both commercial and military use. Different types of high-speed craft have been designed to satisfy this requirement, but some factors such as large deck area, relatively large deadweight to displacement ratios, the ability to provide lightweight Ro-Ro vessels (Roll-on/Roll-off vessels capable of carrying wheeled cargo such as cars and trucks) and high hydrostatic and hydrodynamic stability have proven catamarans to be particularly popular.

High-speed catamarans, due to their slender twin hull geometry and high operating Froude number, frequently experience larger heave and pitch motions and accelerations than those of conventional monohulls operating at lower Froude number. The vessel motions are directly influenced by increases in the operating speed, leading to passenger discomfort and potential structural damage when operating in higher sea states and severe sea conditions. A motion control system is therefore required to reduce these large motions, increase passenger comfort and improve the vessel performance.

There have been some prior studies of Ride Control Systems (RCS) relevant to this type of fast ships. The current project aims to continue the study of RCS and the influence of ride control algorithms on the motion and load response of high-speed catamarans by numerical and experimental investigations using an existing 2.5m hydroelastic segmented catamaran model based on an Incat 112m wave-piercer catamaran.

Eligibility

The following eligibility criteria apply to this scholarship:

• The scholarship is open to domestic (Australian and New Zealand) and international candidates;
• The degree must be undertaken on a full-time basis;
• Applicants must already have been awarded a First-Class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector;
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills;
• Applicants must be the first author of at least two published (or accepted) high-ranked journal papers.

Applicants must be from at least one of the following disciplinary backgrounds:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Naval architecture
• Maritime engineering

Applicants with the following skills will rank highly:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• Hands-on in experimental work specially towing tank testing
• Computer programming skills

For More Information

Please contact Dr Javad AlaviMehr for more information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Global concerns about air pollution and human's health are continuously forcing manufacturers to improve the performance of engines and reduce emissions. This has been more focused on the diesel engines since the conventional CI engine sustains with high nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions.

One solution to this is replacing conventional fossil fuels by alternative fuels. Among the alternative fuels, ethanol and methanol have been considered as suitable diesel fuel replacement. Methanol is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer smog-causing emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter, and can improve air quality and related human health issues. Methanol can be produced from not only natural gas but also renewable sources such as biomass and recycled carbon dioxide.

This project aims to investigate the effect of methanol fumigation on the performance, operation and combustion emission of diesel engines.

Eligibility

• The scholarship is open to domestic (Australian and New Zealand) and international candidate
• The degree must be undertaken on a full-time basis
• Applicants must have already been awarded a First-Class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
• Applicants must be the first author of at least two published (or accepted) high-ranked journal papers

Desirable skills/experience

• Good knowledge of diesel engines, fuel injection system and fumigation
• Hands-on in experimental work specially engines
• Computer programming skills
• Good knowledge of LabVIEW programming
• Experience in Data Acquisition & Signal Processing
• Good understanding of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics specifically in the framework of high-pressure and compressible flows

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Javad Mehr for further information.

Closing Date

30^th October 2020

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

The Research Project

The Joint Research Centre:
The Australia-China Joint Research Centre of Offshore Wind and Wave Energy is a trans-national research body jointly funded by the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, via the ACSRF-JRC scheme. The Joint Research Centre involves over 10 partners across the two nations with expertise in both offshore wind and wave energy industries, led by the University of Adelaide and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The aim of the Joint Research Centre is to reduce costs of ocean renewable energy and make it a competitive sustainable energy source for the future.

The Project:
This project offers an exceptional opportunity to work within a large international and multidisciplinary team, studying hybrid wind and wave energy conversion systems. Based in the National Centre for Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics (NCMEH) at the University of Tasmania, you will undertake research activities in the design and conduct of experiments to be performed on a hybrid wind-and-wave energy converter array. You will work closely with academics and postgraduate students from NCMEH. You will also engage with researchers and engineers at other nodes of the Australia-China Joint Research Centre, both interstate and overseas.

Eligibility

Essential Skills:

• 2nd class Honours (or higher) in Ocean Engineering or related fields with significant research component
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Desirable Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of hydrodynamics
• Experience in experimental research and analysis

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Jean-Roch Nader for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Rapid technological development has accelerated industry development to Industry 4.0 concept, where machines are connected more than ever in a collaborative community. Parallel to this, 'Smart Logistics' and 'Logistic 4.0' are emerging in the field of transport and logistics. With these advancements, the logistics in port and maritime supply chains have reached a degree of complexity that the management of port operations need of intelligent analytical methods to support the decision-making process. However, the use of analytical methods during daily operations is found to be problematic to implement without the aid of technological platforms that simplify the required computations. The most common technological platform currently used is the Decision Support System (DSS).

Human Factors (HF) engineering can make a positive contribution to improving the usability of DSS. For DSS, usability is critical and if the system is mismatched with intended user requirements, it leads to poor and fatal decision making as human error is increasing. Therefore, to guarantee a high level of productivity, efficiency, and to make sure DSS reflects usability as good as possible, it is necessary to consider physical, cognitive, and psychosocial HF during the design of DSS, which can be accomplished through Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach.

In the port logistic management context, the HF studies are predominantly focused on physical HF, such as reducing human energy expenditure or fatigue in logistics and supply chain. Very little attention has been paid to the interactions between engineering choices and cognitive and psychosocial factors that influence system performance. Thus, the application of HCD in the design of DSS in port logistics management systems has been overlooked in the past. Besides, it is identified that
re+latively little or no support has been provided for engineers designing DSS systems in terms of HF and how to provide the information in a way that actively supports human decision making.

This research project is aiming to address this gap and develop a framework for integrating HF into the design of DSS for port logistics management systems. Firstly, a systematic literature mapping on the design and development of DSS for port logistics management will be performed to identify the challenges in applying the HCD approach in DSS design. Then, a deeper understanding will be gained of DSS users and user-technology interactions within the port logistics system from psychological and sociological perspectives. This research study will use the Activity Theory as the theoretical foundation considering the port logistics system as a socio-technical system. Perspectives of Activity Theory, distributed cognition, and situated learning have profound reference value in human-technology interaction research, providing insightful understanding about the nature of knowledge and interaction design, particularly how tool mediation could facilitate social interaction.

With such a broad scope, a qualitative, exploratory research approach will be considered appropriate to capture rich, detailed information on the nature of DSS users and their interactions with technology within the port logistics system. The findings will then be used to develop a framework that can be used by DSS system design engineers during the early design phase to integrate the HF requirements to improve usability. The outcome of this research will promisingly contribute to a long-term human-centric vision regarding design and technological innovation in the process of information and the digital revolution, which would expectedly contribute to the safety, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the port logistics management systems in the long run.

Eligibility

Essential Skills:

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
• Applicants must already have been awarded a First Class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications (e.g. master's degree) or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
• Applicants must have knowledge and skills in the following areas: Port logistics management, decision support systems, and user-technology interactions from psychological and sociological perspectives
• Evidence of high level written and communication skills expected for doctoral study

Desirable Skills:

• Experience in Human Factors and Human Centred Design
• Work experience in port logistics management, maritime supply chain management, international organisations, the government or logistics sector is desirable

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Apsara Abeysiriwardhane for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

In recent years, the advent of technology especially in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) brings about the possibility of developing fully autonomous systems. Recently, with the introduction of commercially sensible solutions, design and operation of unmanned and autonomous cargo and passenger ships are gaining momentum. Soon this would persuade shipping companies to add autonomous ships into their fleet. Therefore, this research is timely as autonomous shipping is not a promise to be delivered in the future, but a reality which has already started.

This research will conduct an extensive investigation to identify the education and training requirements for seafarers who will operate the autonomous ships in the near future. The findings of this research will provide guidelines and a recommendatory framework which can be used by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the maritime regulators to revise training needs towards mentoring seafarers and equipping them with the expertise required.

Eligibility

• The scholarship is open to Australian (domestic) candidates and to International candidates
• The PhD must be undertaken on a full‐time basis
• Applicants must already have been awarded a first class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
• Applicants from any disciplines are eligible to apply

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Assessment Criteria

Applicants with maritime background who are familiar with qualitative research are preferred

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Reza Emad for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Since the first cargoes were moved by sea more than 5,000 years ago, maritime transport has been at the forefront of the global economy, easily accounting for most international cargo transport in the modern world. Being the largest continental landmass surrounded by water, Australia must rely on maritime transport to promote international trade and support economic growth. In 2018–19 Australia's top three goods exports were iron ores and concentrates ($77,189 million), coal ($69,592 million), and natural gas ($49,731 million), which are carried by sea. Managing this enormous movement of cargo in an efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly way therefore plays an essential role in planning for sustainable development in Australia.

This research aims to examine how maritime transport can promote Australia's economy in an efficient, safe, and sustainable manner, providing a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental issues of profitability, safety, and sustainability in the maritime industry.

Eligibility

Essential:

• Econometrics, maritime transport, port development, international trade

Desirable:

• Quantitative modelling, MATLAB and STATA, shipping knowledge/consultancy experience

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Dr Wenming Shi for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

One of the key factors which helps shipping companies thrive in a competitive market is minimising fuel consumption through advanced route planning. This also aligns with the world's target in reducing air emissions in a framework of mitigating the effects of climate change. From the shipping industry point of view, this may be achieved with an optimum route plan design.

Existing research has focused on the ship's routing optimisation by taking meteo-oceanographic forecasts into account. Some of these contributions have been tested through a 'proof-of-concept' based on long voyages. However, at a relatively short distance the route shipping optimisation remains unexplored. In this case, utilising spatial resolution of the meteo-oceanographic predictions would be an invaluable contribution.

From a different perspective, coastal vessels are particularly vulnerable in terms of stability accidents and have historically experienced numerous stability related cases, mainly due to the lack of regulatory framework, but often related to inappropriate responses by inexperienced crew, especially when encountering some challenging weather condition at sea. The Second Generation of Intact Stability Criteria (SGISC) in the near future will require implementation of operational limitations and operational guidance in specific areas, routes or seasons to prevent five dynamic stability failure modes: 1) pure loss of stability; 2) parametric roll; 3) surf riding/broaching; 4) dead ship condition; and 5) excessive acceleration. Limitations imposed on the operation include loading capacity, intended sailing routes and desired speed.

Without compromising the design standard, the ship's operation must fulfil the regulations in terms of operation consistent with the initial design. These might limit operation in specific navigational areas and routes considering seasonal weather conditions, which needs to be considered in optimised ship's routing to maintain a sufficient safety level.

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Improve ship's efficiency in terms of fuel consumption using an optimised route while utilising high resolution meteo-oceanographic data;
2. Maximise the operational capacity by minimising the adverse effect of operational limitations imposed by SGISC;
3. Implement this understanding into a state-of-the-art numerical simulation to cover the Australian jurisdiction waters.

Eligibility

Essential Skills:

• In-depth understanding of ship's stability
• Experience in working with engineering software such as MatLab

Desirable Skills:

• Basic understanding of signal processing techniques
• Exposure to ship simulator
• Experience in optimisation techniques

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Dr Hossein Enshaei for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

A combined consideration of design and operation aspects can effectively be used to achieve a sufficient safety level. In application, this principle requires further investigation to be provided for the preparation of operational measures, consistent with the vulnerability assessment and for the specification of direct stability assessment.

The Second Generation of Intact Stability Criteria (SGISC) in near future requires implementation of the operational limitations and operational guidance in specific areas, routes or season to prevent five stability failure modes: 1. pure loss of stability; 2. parametric roll; 3. surf riding/broaching; 4. dead ship condition; and 5. excessive acceleration. Limitations imposed on the operation, limit the loading capacity, the intended sailing routes and the desired speed. However, that is not received favourably by ship owners and operators.

The objectives of this project are:

1. Developing an algorithm to identify aforesaid stability failure modes, using real-time sea state prediction,

2. Maximising the operational capacity by minimising the adverse effect of operational limitations imposed by SGISC.

3. Implement this understanding into a state-of-the-art numerical simulation

Eligibility

• Indepth understanding of ship's hydrodynamics
• Experience with CFD codes/software
• Applicants from variety of disciplines are eligible to apply

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Assessment Criteria

• Basic understanding of signal processing techniques
• Exposure to ship model testing
• Ship sailing experience

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Hossein Enshaei for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Among sea surface parameters recorded by merchant ships, the wave characteristics are estimated with least accuracy through visual observation. The inaccuracy in estimation of wave length is in the range of tens of meters and up to a few meters for the wave heights. Therefore, ocean wave forecasting is currently achieved by the surface winds from a weather forecast model to determine the growth of the ocean waves. The waves along the coasts can be measured by utilising the heave, pitch and roll motions of a buoy to simulate the passing incident waves, but only if the moored buoy’s dynamics are ignored. A similar analogy can be applied to the measurement of ocean waves using a ship's motion, as the ship can be considered an unmoored buoy encountering incident waves. Since the ship’s hull is not a known geometric object, then dynamics of motion are strongly influenced by each different hull shape.

A novel theory of a ship’s dynamic shows that the spectrum of heave and pitch motion response has a strong correlation to the ocean wave spectrum. Motion spectrum is sustained by wave energy induced to the ship’s hull, while the ship’s relative speed and direction is considered. Overall, changes of wave configuration are slow, hence the ship’s motion response is affected gradually, which provides sufficient time for the required analysis. Measurement of wave spectrum is not possible while a ship is underway thus the transfer and distribution of energy in the ocean is uncertain.

A ship’s motion is of a complex, 6 degrees of freedom time-varying nature, and can be measured by a means of suitably-positioned sensors to record the motion as a continuous time signal.

Ships’ motions are good reflections of the local sea conditions and probably one of the most practical means for measuring the wave spectrum in a real-time by way of reverse engineering. Because of the strong coupling nature, these motions are in tune with irregular wave patterns and therefore actively monitoring their responses could be utilised to estimate the influence of wave parameters.

The aims of this project are to:

1. Improve wave measurement processes using a direct, innovative approach; and
2. Implement this understanding into a state-of-the-art numerical simulation.

Aim 1 will be carried out by conducting hydrodynamic model experiments and developing process-oriented numerical simulations. The results will be validated by full-scale ship trials.

Aim 2 will explore wave characteristics and a novel ship-wave interaction feedback.

Eligibility

The following eligibility criteria apply to this project:

• In dept understanding of ship’s hydrodynamics
• Experience with CFD codes/software

Applicants with the following skills will rank highly:

• Basic understanding of signal processing techniques
• Exposure to ship model testing

For More Information

Please contact Dr Hossein Enshaei for more information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

With an increase of demand for clean fossil fuel, the production and processing of natural gas have been pushed to ultra-deepwater locations using complex facilities such Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) processing facility. Having very little operational experiences of FLNG, the production of LNG using land-based technologies in rough seas presents a high risk of LNG leakage and subsequent events such as fire and vapour cloud explosion (VCE). An integrated impact of LNG spill including dispersion, fire and VCE on structure and personnel is a key aspect for safer FLNG operations. This project integrates the following key safety aspects of an FLNG processing facility;

• Identification of credible spill scenarios in FLNG processing facilities,
• An effective design for early detection system for LNG leakage and its vapour,
• Modelling impacts of multiple pool fires in FLNG processing facilities,
• Assessing the likelihood of Deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) occurrence in FLNG processing facilities, and
• Development of novel methodologies to reduce the likelihood and/or impact of LNG spill and subsequent events

Therefore, the project aims to develop novel frameworks for modelling impacts of LNG spill by incorporating a series of subsequent events and developing methodologies for reducing the likelihood and/or impact of those events. The outcome of this project will provide key insights into the risk assessment and safety management in FLNG processing facilities.

Eligibility

• Open to domestic (Australia and New Zealand) and international candidates
• The degree must be undertaken on a full time basis
• Already awarded First Class Honours Degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
• Able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills and be first author of at least two published (or accepted) high-ranked journal papers
• Experience with CFD codes/software

Desirable Skills:

• Priority will be given to those who got the first-class honours for his/her bachelor’s degree and master by coursework course with research components and/or publications
• In-depth knowledge of oil and gas production and processing particularly floating processing facilities

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Til Baalisampang for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

The Research Project

A complex web of business settings known as 'networks' is a modern business phenomenon. A simplest explanation of this is perhaps what Collins described:

"…a grouping of contractual arrangements between more than two parties with a productive aim that requires the interaction and co-operation of all the parties. Within networks, many of the parties have contractual links … but there are also many other economic relations present that have not been constructed through an express contract".

(Collins, H 2003, 'Introduction: the research agenda of implicit dimensions of contracts' in Campbell, D, Collins, H & Wightman, J (eds), Implicit dimensions of contract: discrete, relational and network contracts, Hart Publishing, Oxford, pp 19-20).

Supply chains contracts and distribution agreements represent examples of such networks. This new business phenomenon has been discussed extensively among scholars in Continental Europe but it has not gained much attention among scholars in common law jurisdictions. Networks raised thorny issues in private international law both in respect of relationship among members of networks and the relationship between networks and outsiders. This research project aims at studying this phenomenon with particular emphasis on supply chain contracts and distribution agreements. It aims at creating an appropriate choice of law rules to govern activities of networks.

Eligibility

Essential:

• Good communication and analytical skills
• Graduated with an LLB degree or an LLMM degree from a recognised University with distinction or First Class Honours

Desirable:

• Academic publishing experiences

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Dr Poomintr Sooksripaisarnkit for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Global concerns to reduce emissions are continuously forcing manufacturers to improve the efficiency of engines by optimising fuel injection systems and combustion process. Despite the wide use of injectors, the key physics of the fuel injection processes are not yet fully understood imposing a significant challenge for the development of more efficient injection system and combustion process. The primary atomisation of the liquid fuel jet occurs in the region close to the nozzle exit, influences secondary atomisation, spray dynamics, air-fuel mixture quality, and ultimately the entire combustion process. Complex and concurrent physics associated with primary and secondary atomisation of liquid fuel induce more constraints for researchers to experimentally characterise the effect of phenomena such as swirl flow, flow separation, cavitation, and turbulence on spray dynamics.

These limitations can be tackled by the means of numerical modellings which provide a clearer understanding of spray dynamics involving transition from liquid jets to fine droplets. Numerical models which are used in the design of fuel injectors are subjected to further developments through the inclusion of recent research findings. Experimental tests conducted within the AMC's constant volume high-pressure spray chamber provide a qualitative and quantitative database to evaluate and validate numerical modelling results. The present work focuses on processes in the nozzle and the first several nozzle diameters after the nozzle exit of a single-hole solid cone injector.

High fidelity numerical model can be utilised to characterise detailed evolution of fuel spray from liquid jets to dispersed small scale droplets. The use of high-resolution numerical scheme and flux reconstruction algorithm can deal with highly turbulent flow phenomenon that occur with a great variation in spatial and time scales. Highly accurate results predicted by the developed high-resolution numerical methods can act as an indispensable supplement to existing experimental observations and measurements, which contribute to the optimisation/development of next generation low emission and high thermal efficiency combustion engines.

Eligibility

• The project is open to domestic (Australian and New Zealand) and international candidates
• The degree must be undertaken on a full-time basis
• Applicants must have already been awarded a First-Class Honours degree or hold equivalent qualifications or relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
• Applicants must be the first author of at least two published (or accepted) high-ranked journal papers

Essential Skills/Experience/Requirements

• Good understanding of fluid mechanics specifically in the framework of high-pressure and compressible flows
• Good understanding of CFD theories including pressure-velocity coupling, heat and mass transfer, multiscale-modelling in the framework of compressible flow
• Experience in OpenFOAM (experience in structured mesh generation and high order numberical scheme are preferred)

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Experience in high pressure fuel injection system
• Experience in developing explicit/implicit method for all March number flows
• Experience in data processing using Python
• Experience in C++
• Ability to conduct spray chamber testing and work to assemble, disassemble and commission new injection systems

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Javad Mehr for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Ocean acidification is a process whereby carbon dioxide (CO2), mainly from the atmosphere, dissolves in seawater and form carbonic acid. This weak acid triggers changes in the seawater chemistry that lead to the decrease of ocean's pH. It is estimated that oceans absorb about 30% per cent of CO2 produced by humans. As such, CO2 emissions reduction is probably the only sustainable way to minimise this acidification process. However, the present trend of CO2 release to atmosphere does not support this effort. According to the Third IMO Green House Gas Study 2014, the mid‐range forecasted scenarios project a potential increase of CO2 emissions from international shipping between 50% to 250% by year 2050. The magnitude of this increment depends on the aggressiveness of world economic growth as well as energy developments.

In line with the effort of Goal 14 (Life Below Water) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, target 14.3 to "Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels", the goal of this research is to establish potential port policy that can effectively contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime activities within port limits through efficient port operations.

Eligibility

• Maritime transport, port development, environmental management

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Assessment Criteria

• Quantitative and qualitative analysis, shipping industry experience

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Vera Zhang for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

The project involves development of novel prediction and control algorithms for parametric roll motion. The mechanism to cause parametric roll, especially the resonance phenomenon, is investigated and the parametric roll motion in head and follow sea waves is predicted by CFD modelling approach and validated by experimental data using the model scaled contained vessel of which the height of metacentre can be adjusted. Once the parametric roll motion can be predicted, a roll reduction control algorithm will be proposed and tested.

Eligibility

• Skills and experiences required include surface vessel dynamics/hydrodynamics, motion in waves, CFD techniques for investigation of hydrodynamics, C/C++ at code developer level, MATLAB simulation for control algorithm design, hardware and software development for control algorithms
• Technical report and scientific writing skill for publication is a must
• Applicants from any disciplines are eligible to apply

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Assessment Criteria

• Priority will be given to those who got the first-class honours for his/her bachelor degree and master by coursework course with research components and/or publications
• Experience in electric/electronic wiring
• Some experience in conducting experiments using towing tank, model test basin or model scaled board
• Experience in collaborative research/publication with the existing AMC staff is also a plus

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Hung Nguyen for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Nowadays, companies do not compete against each other but their supply chains. The service quality management is regarded as important tool in supply chains in gaining the competitive advantages in terms of achieving the maximum customer value while maintaining the lowest cost. Maritime transport is an essential section in the global supply chain system and is necessary to incorporate to the service quality management in the global supply chains. A maritime supply chain contains series of shipping activities concerning transporting cargoes from point of origin to the point of the destination. As such, service quality is a key factor in the utility function in the competitive maritime supply chain management. The service quality also has the impact on the pricing strategy for the maritime supply chain management. The research aims to provide reference for policy makers and industrial practitioners in maritime supply chains in terms of service quality management and gaining the competitive advantages.

Eligibility

• Operations Research, supply chain management, data analytics, maritime business
• Industrial experience in supply chain management and shipping-related areas

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Vera Zhang for further information.

Closing Date

30^th October 2020

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

Campus

Launceston Campus

Scholarship

There is a living allowance scholarship of $28,092pa (2020 rate) for this Masters of Research project for 2 years with no extension, that will be considered for an outstanding applicant.

The Research Project

This project focuses on the crucial contribution of supply chains and logistic activities for the offshore co-location of aquaculture and renewable energy.  Already, businesses are recognising the potential benefits of adopting a blue economy advantage by shifting seafood farming and production to offshore locations as evidenced by for example salmon farming and kelp harvesting. In addition, there is growing interest in offshore locations for the production of wind, tidal energy, and other sources of renewable energy.  Within this emerging context, there are the many challenges that will impact on traditional business practices in an offshore environment, including how these quite different industries can be co-located on shared multi-use platforms many kilometres from shore.

Moving these businesses offshore will also necessitate different approaches to addressing logistics challenges in remote environments in locations that may be at times unsafe and constantly changing.  Additionally, the supply chains in which the offshore aquaculture and renewable energy businesses operate, that may extend internationally, will be required to co-exist as supply chain networks if they are to gain the required efficiencies to remain viable.

This project will initially require an assessment of the range of aquaculture and renewable energy activities that can be undertaken offshore and in doing so, identify the various industry actors and stakeholders making up this new blue economy ecosystem. Another aspect of this research is evaluating potential alternative business models suitable for integrating offshore business practices within a unified supply chain network.  The validity of the findings from the literature review will then be tested by empirical research by collecting and analysing the views from the industry actors and stakeholders to identify opportunities, challenges and concerns to developing a viable and sustainable ecosystem in the blue economy. The outcomes of this project are expected to identify workable design options for sustainable blue economy operations and the associated management of the supply chain network.

This project is directly aligned with Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) research milestones and will be based on the Newnham campus of the University of Tasmania in the city of Launceston.  The project is only available for new international students and is offered in a full-time on campus mode.

Eligibility

• Proficient understanding of supply chain management principles ad approaches
• Evidence of high level written and communication skills expected for Masters level study
• Good analytical skills
• Ability to interact closely with industry professionals
• An understanding of the blue economy including the aquaculture and renewable energy industries is desirable
• This opportunity is available to International applicants only (due to the Commonwealth funding supporting this scholarship)
• Applicants must be commencing studies at the University of Tasmania for the first time to be eligible for this scholarships (graduates and those who have commenced a course of study are ineligible)
• Applicants must maintain full-time enrolment on the Launceston Campus

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Stephen Cahoon for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

The Tasmanian Government has developed a food security strategy to ensure affordable, healthy food for Tasmanians . The Tasmania population (0.515 million people) is less than 10% of the Singaporean population (5.61 million people). Yet, its land area (68,401 km2) is about 95 times that of Singapore (721.5 km2). While the availability of land and natural resources is a great advantage for Tasmania, low population density goes against it especially in terms of the supply and distribution costs, as well as social and economic connectivity. This affects the efficacy of the State's food security strategy.

Study objective and research questions:

The project's main objective is to study the role, operations and performance of the Tasmanian food supply network to ensure food security for Tasmanians. The study aims to answer the following research questions (RQ):

• RQ1: How can food supply network in Tasmania be mapped?
• RQ2: What are the roles of the stakeholders in the food security in Tasmania?
• RQ3: How well is the food supply network connected in Tasmania?
• RQ4: How can the food supply network in Tasmania be evaluated?

Research method:

The project aims to conduct network analysis of the food supply network in Tasmania to improve the efficiency and resilience of food security for the population, especially vulnerable people and families of with social and economic conditions in Tasmania. The study will involve the following:

• Food supply network mapping for Tasmania
• Calculation of network measures including density, degree distribution, degree centrality, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, eigenvector centrality, cluster coefficient, assortativity
• Network analysis using the exponential/random network models to evaluate the effect of various factor on network formation and connectivity
• Stakeholder survey to study the issues and obstacles facing the food supply chain network and food security in Tasmania

How is this study expected to support food security for vulnerable Tasmanians?

RQ1 seeks to develop and gain an understanding of the structure of the food supply network in Tasmania. Based on this, RQ2 and RQ3 seek further insights into the role of and relationship between stakeholders in the food supply network respectively. RQ4 aims to gain a better understanding of the issues and improve the efficiency of the food supply network in Tasmania.

Eligibility

• Students are expected to be familiar with statistical/econometric analysis software such as SPSS, EViews, RATS, and R
• Work experience in business management, international organisations, the government or logistics sector is desirable
• Applicants must have research experience through in their previous study programs and background in logistics and supply chain management, and, or economics with at least basic knowledge in statistical/econometric analysis.

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Oanh Nguyen for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

There is a growing need for implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in procurement functions as it allows procurement departments to solve complex problems by using smart computer algorithms, generating effective innovation strategies. Digital technologies such as machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks can all be considered as AI which provides a wide range of opportunities for firms to bring innovations faster to the market. The ability of the firms to drive innovations as new value-adding products and services can significantly affect their competitive advantages which cannot be successfully achieved without collaborations with their suppliers.

Supply networks are potentially rich sources of ideas and innovation, and suppliers have been considered as the most important partners in the firms' innovation efforts. This emphasises the importance of procurement in assisting firms to access suppliers' innovation capabilities. Best practices have indicated that AI applications in procurement functions can increasingly facilitate the innovation development process in different ways. For example, through automation and improvement of firms' search capabilities, AI applications provide procurement professionals with additional insights into identifying the highly innovative suppliers and analysing their role in developing more innovative products and services. However, research contributions in exploring the impact of AI applications on supporting procurement decisions for collaborative innovations are extremely limited.

Therefore, there are huge potentials for focusing on procurement functions to stimulate supplier innovations in the era of digital transformation. In this regard, this project investigates the applications of AI in enabling procurement functions to leverage supplier capabilities for the innovation development process.

Eligibility

• Deep understanding of supply chain management and procurement functions
• Understanding of AI and related technologies
• Evidence of high level written and communication skills expected for doctoral study
• Good analytical skills
• Work or research experience in supply chain management

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Hadi Rezaei Vandchali for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

To achieve profitable and sustainable growths, supply chains need to adjust rapidly to market conditions (e.g. customer preferences, competitive forces) by predicting and responding to demand especially when it is unplanned. The recent COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for being agile in the marketplace as the pandemic has dramatically accelerated the changes in consumers' demand. Procurement agility will play an influential role in helping firms' supply chain management to adapt to the new challenges of an increasingly dynamic and complex environment. By opening the door to new opportunities, procurement agility can help supply chains to react to sudden changes in demand, which can be considered as a characteristic of successful procurement organisations because firms with high performing procurement functions outperform their competitors. Agile procurement can cope with uncertainties in a volatile environment by monitoring the key metrics that measure suppliers' health. For example, it can help firms to identify an alternative supplier that can be joined quickly to the firms' supply network when the risk of supplying from the original supplier increases. This can be a call for a supply chain that can effectively adjust to a changing marketplace by seamlessly sourcing from multiple locations.

In recent years, world-class procurement professionals have adequately embraced and driven the digital transformation to respond with changing requirements of their customers, both internally and externally. The adoption of industry 4.0 technologies has transformed the way that procurement operates by enabling procurement functions to identify and explore previously untapped sources of value. For example, accessing supplier data has been a challenging task for firms. Industry 4.0 technologies such as the internet of things (IoT) and cloud-based infrastructure are helping firms to be flexibly responsive by collecting, processing and analysing real-time data from various suppliers within the supply network. In addition, as the need for offering new services and products increases, agile procurement teams with deep knowledge of emerging technologies can help firms to reduce their development time by fostering collaborative relationships with innovative suppliers. This means that digitalisation can be an effective tool of agility.

Since the real challenge in digitalising processes is to integrate technology and insights in a way that is both progressive and supports business needs, this project will investigate how digital transformation of the procurement functions can improve firms' supply chain agility.

Eligibility

• Good understanding of supply chain management and procurement functions
• Evidence of high level written and communication skills
• Good analytical skills
• Work or research experience in supply chain management

Desirable Skills

• Good knowledge of Industry 4.0 technologies and big data analytics

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Hadi Rezaei Vandchali for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

An opportunity exists for a PhD candidate interested in the impact of new and emerging technologies on the resilience of shipping organisations.  With increased disruption expected within maritime supply chains, this PhD thesis will explore the range of potential technologies and their impact on increasing the vulnerability of shipping organisations and the ability to recover and adapt in an unknown environment.

Eligibility

• Demonstrate strong research and analytical skills
• Demonstrate evidence of high level written and communication skills expected for doctoral study
• Knowledge and skills in maritime transport operations and maritime business

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Stephen Cahoon for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

The increasing integration of maritime transport with global supply chains is leading to new forms of risks and ongoing challenges for maritime transport operators such as port authorities, terminal operators and shipping companies. Greater inter-connectedness with supply chain partners is increasing the vulnerability of maritime transport operators to risks of disruption from unexpected sources.

This study will investigate the impact of supply chain risks on the resilience of maritime transport operators. Specifically, the study will investigate how the extent of interconnectedness influences vulnerability, recoverability and adaptability of maritime transport operators to external shocks and stresses. Findings from the study will assist maritime transport operators in devising strategies and tools to withstand, recover, and adapt to, disruptive change.

Eligibility

• Strong research and analytical skills
• Evidence of high level written and communication skills expected for doctoral study
• Knowledge and skills in the following areas:  maritime transport operations, maritime business, supply chain management

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Stephen Cahoon for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

The purpose of this research is to gain insight into the unsteady loading imparted to lifting surfaces immersed in structured turbulent flows. The study will explore experimentally the dependency on the physical characteristics of the oncoming flow and the hydrofoil geometry. New instrumentation will be developed with an extended range of frequency resolution to provide greater insight into the correlation between the underlying flow physics and the resulting unsteady force spectra.

The main benefit of the outcomes of this project will be to contribute to improved propulsion and control surface design for naval platforms. Reduced vibration and radiated noise will result in improved structural design and signature performance.

Eligibility

Essential Skills:

• Honors degree or equivalent in mathematics, science or engineering
• The successful candidate must be prepared to submit a valid application for Australian Security Clearance (for further information see www.defence.gov.au/security/clearances)

Desirable Skills:

• Expertise in experimental fluid mechanics and advanced data analysis skills

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Paul Brandner for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Technologies are already developed with capability for supporting multiple HD video cameras, high power LED lights and associated electronics at depths of up to 6000m. The term "Towed Camera Platform" just refers to the mechanical frame with any possible control surfaces on which the electronics/camera/lights are mounted.  Though some guidelines do exist, a comprehensive physical model is not yet developed that can inform hydrodynamic systems design, accurately model behaviour and inform mission planning.

Working directly with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), the project will address the following topics:

1. How does the cable and package behave?
2. Is it possible to model and predict cable vibration/dynamics/strumming?
3. Streamlined and stable towed platforms, with control surfaces - what would be the ideal shapes/geometries?
4. Is it possible to design a simple towed platform with control surfaces that have basic pitch/roll/yaw control?

Given that the AAD would ultimately be deploying and testing a towed platform behind the RSV Nuyina, the results of any analysis/studies at AMC could be tested and validated in practice.

Eligibility

Essential:

• In-depth understanding of towed body dynamics
• Experience with CFD software
• Good analytical skills

Desirable:

• Interest in Antarctic Research and in particular the deployment of the RSV Nuyina
• Good scientific writing skills

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Assoc. Prof. Michael Woodward for further information.

Closing Date

31^st December 2020*

Applicants should contact the primary supervisor, and submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) and Application as soon as possible.

*unless filled earlier

The Research Project

Industry 4.0 is a broad term used to refer to the fourth Industrial Revolution. It integrates the relationships between workers, systems, objects, and sections of an organization, supported by various applications such as the internet of things (IoT), cyber-physical systems (CPSs), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics (BDA). In recent years, digitisation, automation and advanced analytics are causing transformation in global competitions by enabling firms to manage their supply chain network (SCN). A global SCN consists of multiple interconnected buyers and suppliers of products or services who are located in different geographical areas. Using various applications of industry 4.0 can affect the way that buyers and suppliers interact by facilitating and integrating the processes and systems leading to better cooperation and communication with each other in a new intelligent way.

The substantial disruptions of the material flow in the global SCNs can result in significant losses that may threaten firm's SCN. For example, the COVID-19 crisis has created short and long-term negative impacts on supply shortages and disrupting supply operations around the world. To reduce the negative effects of the disruptions, many firms have changed the way they interact with their SCN members. Particularly, the disruption has profound impacts on suppliers (regardless of their tiers), buyers, and how buyer-supplier relationships are governed in a maritime SCN. Maritime SCNs have been responsible for the vast majority of global trade and are becoming increasingly complex and dynamic. Therefore, maritime SCNs can be significantly vulnerable to disruptions.

Since digital technologies can have a positive impact on mitigating disruptions, many firms have decided to implement various industry 4.0 applications to manage their maritime SCN. This has transformed the relationship between buyers and suppliers within the maritime SCN. However, there is still a strong need to explore different aspects of industry 4.0 applications in managing the relationships within the maritime SCNs to mitigate the disruptions. Therefore, this project will address this issue by investigating the impact of industry 4.0 technologies on developing appropriate relationships between buyers and suppliers to mitigate maritime SCN disruptions.

Eligibility

• Good understanding of supply chain management and procurement functions
• High level written and communication skills
• Good analytical skills
• Work or research experience in supply chain management

Desirable Skills

• Good knowledge of big data analytics

See the following web page for entry requirements: www.utas.edu.au/research/degrees/what-is-a-research-degree

Application Process

Applicants who require more information or are interested in this specific project should first contact the listed Supervisor. Information and guidance on the application process can be found on the Apply Now website.

Information about scholarships is available on the Scholarships webpage.

More Information

Please contact, Hadi Rezaei Vandchali for further information.