Opportunities

PhD scholarship in intelligent energy efficient protected cropping

It aims to pioneer solutions in renewable energy, plant quality enhancement, intelligent greenhouse monitoring and analysis to drive forward the vast potential of protected cropping and secure our future food supply.

We are looking for a motivated PhD student to work on a project that will involve energy modelling, materials research, optical design optimisation, prototype development, and field testing to assess plant growth, energy generation capabilities and parasitic energy usage to maintain optimal growing environments in greenhouses.

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PhD Scholarship – AI-Driven Optimisation for Sustainable Agriculture in Australia

We invite applications for a fully funded PhD position focused on developing a cutting-edge, AI-enhanced decision support system for optimising energy use and crop yield in Australian greenhouse agriculture. This interdisciplinary project will synergise machine learning (ML) with plant optimisation modelling to estimate energy consumption and predict crop production under varying weather, soil conditions, and plant types.

The research will address both sustainability and productivity in controlled agricultural systems. The research will also explore interactive multi-objective optimization approaches, incorporating preference information provided by end-users.

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Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position

The research group led by Academician Baohua Jia is inviting applications for 1–2 Postdoctoral Research Fellow positions in the field of laser and optical sciences.

Research areas include, but are not limited to:

  • Laser and optical system design

  • Laser–matter interaction

  • Advanced optical characterization and precision measurement

  • Optical functional materials and devices

  • Applications of lasers in advanced manufacturing and micro-/nano-fabrication

Essential qualifications:

  • A PhD (awarded or near completion) in optics, physics, photonics, laser engineering, or a closely related field

  • Strong research background with the ability to conduct independent scientific research

  • Proven skills in experimental optics or laser-based systems

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Desirable experience:

  • Hands-on experience in laser system setup and optical experiments

  • Background in interdisciplinary research or applied photonics

What we offer:

  • Access to a world-class research environment within an Academician-led team

  • Opportunities to work on nationally and internationally funded flagship projects

  • Strong support for high-impact publications and academic career development

  • Competitive salary and benefits in accordance with university and national postdoctoral policies

Application process:
Interested candidates should submit a CV, a brief statement of research interests, and representative publications to [baohua.jia@rmit.edu.au], with the subject line:
“Postdoctoral Application – Laser & Optics – Full Name”.