International joint PhD opportunities

When you undertake a joint PhD you will access expertise, resources and training from two institutions. As well as the University of Melbourne, you will spend at least 12 months at an international institution. This means your research will benefit from a global perspective, enhancing your prospects for an international research career. Upon completion, your joint PhD will be recognised by two testamurs – one from each partner university.

Learn how an international joint PhD opportunity in chemistry helped fulfil both professional and personal ambitions for Dr Susi Seibt. Since completing her joint PhD in Germany and Australia, Dr Seibt has landed her dream job at the Australian Synchrotron.

We have a range of international joint PhD opportunities that are currently available. These positions are all fully funded. They exist across a range of disciplines, at universities and research institutions around the world.

Current joint PhD research opportunities

Minor Cosmopolitanisms

Two fully funded joint PhD positions in cultural studies research with the University of Potsdam (Germany).
A global approach to advancing prediction and understanding of preeclampsia pathogenesis

Two fully funded projects expanding knowledge around how and why preeclampsia occurs more frequently and with high severity in low and middle income countries with Berlin University Alliance (Germany)
TEMPHEALTH - Digital Technologies to Monitor and Promote Sustainable Health Behaviours

Two fully funded projects conducting conduct research at the intersection of computer science, behavioural psychology, and digital health with the Berlin University Alliance (Germany)
Phage-Steering Strategy to Fight Antibiotic Resistance

Two fully funded projects studying the use of bacteriophages to revert antimicrobial resistance in clinically relevant bacteria with Berlin University Alliance (Germany)
Targeting calcitonin receptor to treat glioblastoma with glycan-based site-specific coupling of toxins to nanobodies

Two fully funded projects developing a new strategy to treat the brain tumour glioblastoma with Berlin University Alliance (Germany)
Visualising the dynamics of horizontal gene transfer during bacterial conjugation

Two fully-funded projects investigating dynamical interactions and subcellular localisation of the bacterial conjugation machinery with Berlin University Alliance (Germany).
Turbulent flows and their application to aerospace systems

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Turbulent flows and their application to aerospace systems with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
Optimal orthopaedic implant/bone integration

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Optimal orthopaedic implant/bone integration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
Unmanned aerial and surface vehicles (UAVs and USVs)

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Unmanned aerial and surface vehicles (UAVs and USVs) with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
New alloy design approach for Mg alloys

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on New alloy design approach for Mg alloys with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
Grapevine disease management and grape quality

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on grapevine disease management and grape quality with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
Remote sensing of plant stress

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on remote sensing of plant stress with hyperspectral-fluorescence imaging to track crop response to environmental and biotic sources with University of Bonn (Germany).
Multi-Energy Microgrids

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on local energy communities and Multi-Energy Microgrids: modelling, assessment, design and operation framework with RWTH Aachen (Germany).
Hydrogen-induced deformation localisation

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on In-situ and in-silico investigations of hydrogen-induced deformation localisation with RWTH Aachen (Germany).
Clean ammonia generation and purification technology development

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on clean ammonia generation and purification technology development with RWTH Aachen (Germany).
Dislocation-twin boundary interaction in magnesium alloys

One fully funded Joint PhD position on improving the formability of magnesium alloys to save energy and protect the environment by reducing CO2 emissions, with the University of Birmingham (UK).
Multi-vehicle routing problem in dynamic environments

One fully funded Joint PhD position on developing an integrated multi-vehicle routing and trajectory planning method for environments that change based on the operations of the vehicles, with the University of Birmingham (UK).
Metal-based DNA Hybrid Nanomaterials

One fully funded Joint PhD position on construction of metal-containing DNA hybrid materials that display novel redox properties for a variety of biomedical applications, with the University of Birmingham (UK).
Development of Advanced Spectroscopic Acoustic Lab-on-a-Chip for Point-of-Care Sensing of Diseases

One fully funded Joint PhD position on new lab-on-a-chip technologies for timely intervention through rapid and accurate diagnostics at the point of care (PoC), with the University of Birmingham (UK).
Joint Assimilation of satellite CO2 and vegetation Fluorescence data to constrain the carbon budget of land surface models (JACOF)

Two joint PhD positions on using satellite data to map recent patterns of CO2 uptake by the land and project this improved knowledge into prediction, with LSCE (France).
Luminous Dark Matter searches with XENONnT and DARWIN experiments

Two joint PhD positions to help develop novel analysis methods to improve dark matter detection, with the IMT Atlantique Nantes School (France).
Solving the puzzle of the human pelvic plexus: a developmental and multiscale imaging approach

Two joint PhD candidates to quantify the fitness consequences of exposure to ALAN on marine life reproduction, egg traits and larval traits associated with dispersal, with the University of Corsica (France).
ALaNoR – Artificial Light at Night on Reefs

Two joint PhD candidates to quantify the fitness consequences of exposure to ALAN on marine life reproduction, egg traits and larval traits associated with dispersal, with Paris Sciences et Lettres University (France).
Multiscale experimentation and simulation of wildfire spotting

Two joint PhD candidates to help better understand the phenomenon of short and long-range spotting during wildland and prescribed fires and develop mathematical models for their simulation, with the University of Corsica (France).
Safety learning, avoidance behaviour, and ventromedial prefrontal circuits

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on targeting the neural mechanisms of human safety learning with KU Leuven(Belgium).
Youth TikTok production as public pedagogy towards liveable climate futures

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on digital platforms and youth engagement in climate futuring: Innovative methodologies of climate change research with KU Leuven(Belgium).
Understanding children’s mathematical competence through assessing their learning potential

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on understanding heterogeneity in preschoolers at risk for struggling with mathematics learning: profile analyses and dynamic assessments with KU Leuven(Belgium).
A functional artificial cell stabilized by a biomimetic cytoskeletons

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on assembly and characterization of biomimetic cell-membrane components towards therpaeutic artificial cells with KU Leuven(Belgium).
Reliability-based life cycle offshore concrete structures protection and management strategies

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on No2Failure (N2F) - bridging the gap between digital-twin based damage identification and failure prognosis for critical structures, through automated and online measurements enabled by unmanned vehicle swarms with KU Leuven(Belgium).
The crucial role of the sleep-wake system in Alzheimer’s Disease pathophysiology

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on the crucial role of the sleep-wake system in Alzheimer’s Disease pathophysiology with KU Leuven(Belgium).
Density Functional Theory (DFT) for unusual electronic structures

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Density Functional Theory for unusual electronic structures with KU Leuven(Belgium).
Glial-immune interactions protecting against formation of glioma

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on glial-immune interactions in the gastrointestinal tract: protection against inflammation and cancer with KU Leuven(Belgium).
Micromechanical analysis of load transfer across the bone-cartilage interface in osteoarthritic knees

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on a micromechanical model of load transfer across the bone-cartilage interface to evaluate osteochondral remodelling in osteoarthritis with KU Leuven(Belgium).
STAT3 signaling and the role of stromal-vascular communication in the development of cortical bone

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Involvement of the skeletal stromal-vascular unit in cortical bone strength and anabolic osteoporosis treatment with KU Leuven(Belgium).
New tools for automated algorithm selection and configuration

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Explainable algorithm selection and configuration through instance space with the University of Manchester (UK).
Digital technology to combat knee impairments

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on A novel digital health intervention to increase physical activity participation in inactive individuals with knee osteoarthritis with the University of Manchester (UK).
Digital technology for cochlear implants

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Developing a digital technology to meet the support needs of parents of young cochlear implant recipients with the University of Manchester (UK).
Ethical aspects of medical treatment for gender diverse young people

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Is informed consent the primary ethical foundation for treatment of gender diverse young people? with the University of Manchester (UK).
New data-driven tools for precision agriculture, climate resilience and environmental benefits

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Advancing agricultural nitrogen estimation with hybrid data-driven machine learning and physical modelling to support sustainable intensification with the University of Manchester (UK).
New systems for remediating groundwater pollution in India

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on Improved decision making for Fluoride removal from groundwater in Peri-urban Indian Communities Lacking Centralised Water Supply with the University of Manchester (UK).
Identification and characterization of microRNAs essential for the development and fitness of chemoresistant acute myeloid leukemia

One fully funded Joint PhD position on identification and characterisation of microRNAs essential for the development and fitness of chemoresistant acute myeloid leukemia with the University of Toronto.
Modelling turbulent premixed combustion

One fully funded Joint PhD position on a combined experimental/numerical program for modelling turbulent premixed combustion with the University of Toronto.
Integrative assessment of microplastics pollution in soil

One fully funded Joint PhD position on integrative assessment of microplastics pollution in soil with the University of Toronto.
Green infrastructure and invertebrate communities

One fully funded Joint PhD position on the cooling footprint of green infrastructure and influence on urban invertebrate communities with the University of Toronto.
Unravelling the photophysics of quantum dot/molecule hybrids

One fully funded Joint PhD position on unravelling the photophysics of quantum dot/molecule hybrids with the University of Toronto.
Deep analysis of large international clinical trials for bloodstream infections

One fully funded Joint PhD position on deep analysis of large international clinical trials for bloodstream infections with the University of Toronto.
Determining and attributing CO2 emissions using measurements of multiple species and vertical structure

One fully funded Joint PhD position on determining and attributing CO2 emissions using measurements of multiple species and vertical structure with the University of Toronto.
Coded distributed computation and applications on distributed optimization

One fully funded Joint PhD position on Coded distributed computation and applications on distributed optimization with the University of Toronto.
Information-theoretic and machine learning methods for low-power communication systems

One fully funded Joint PhD position on Information-theoretic and machine learning methods for low-power communication systems with the University of Toronto.
Hydraulic functionality of vegetated stormwater systems within the road-right-of-way

One fully funded Joint PhD position on hydraulic functionality of vegetated stormwater systems within the road-right-of-way.
Shape shifting molecules

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions to use light to control and explore molecular structure and function with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel).
Mental health and cognitive status in late life depression (LLD)

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions to improve outcomes related to mental health and cognitive status in late life depression (LLD) with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel).
Motivational strength in emotional regulation

Two fully funded Joint PhD positions on motivational strength in emotional regulation critical for psychological wellbeing with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel).
Immunology and infection

Various fully joint PhD positions available in the field of infection and immunity, with the University of Bonn (Germany).
Cell-scale MRI

One fully funded joint PhD position available investigating detection of MRI signals on the cellular level, with Hebrew University Jerusalem (Israel).
Cardiomyocyte growth and function modelling

One fully funded joint PhD position in subcellular Ca2+ signalling microdomains regulating cardiomyocyte growth and function, with KU Leuven (Belgium).
Infrastructure Engineering

Two fully funded joint PhD opportunities in spatial elements of natural language and public transport information with the Melbourne India Postgraduate Academy (MIPA).
Exciton science

Eight fully funded joint PhD positions to research light-based energy in exciton science, with the University of Bayreuth (Germany).