The RACE for 2030 Industry PhD Program is engaging industry and universities to train the future workforce through practical, demand driven research projects.
RACE for 2030 (RACE) aims to accelerate the transition to Reliable, Affordable, Clean Energy by 2030 through innovation focused on energy end users and the networks that supply them. The Industry PhD Program (the program) is engaging industry and universities to train the future workforce through practical, demand driven research projects. Industry partners, in conjunction with academia, provide the Industry PhD research agenda based on their societal knowledge of pressing needs and issues. RACE PhD candidates (candidates) will have individual and collective passions that can be harnessed to create positive, impactful actions, outcomes, and change.
Each project must have an industry partner and will generally have an associated Industry Reference Group (IRG) of several members to provide guidance on the PhD research. They will ensure the research addresses an industry issue, in addition to the support provided through the partner University.
RACE will fund 55 candidates through to 2030 across the four RACE research programs, CLICK HERE to learn more about these programs. RACE will provide three years of funding with an expected completion within four years full time. The lead industry partner and host university will attribute $12,500/year towards the PhD scholarship from their RACE contributions.
Industry PhD research projects may be submitted for consideration by industry or research partners and there is an emphasis on industry collaboration. The call for Industry PhD topic nominations is currently closed. We will be undertaking another round in April 2021. Details will be available on this page when the next round opens.
We encourage applicants from a diversity of backgrounds and those who meet the RACE core values. Given the historic under-representation of women in the energy sector, female applicants are particularly encouraged to apply. Our ideal candidate starts in a field of industry needs driven research nominated by our researchers and/or industry partners and aligned with the projects identified by RACE. The candidate will be recruited under a competitive process via the University partners.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a RACE for 2030 scholarship:
The appointed PhD candidate will follow the regulations of the University where the PhD is to be awarded. However, the normal structure will be through a PhD by publication with a minimum of three peer reviewed publications and will commence with an Industry PhD Rapid Reviews CLICK HERE for more details. A rapid review is a focused review of research on a topic or problem identified by industry. The rapid review brings together knowledge from a range of sources including academia, industry and government reports, to highlight and target future research areas. This is done in a 6 to 8-month time frame and is guided by the industry partner, University supervisor and the IRG. At the end of the process, current knowledge is summarised, and recommendations on future research and policy areas are clearly identified. This allows the industry PhD project to continue with a clear issue to focus on that is beneficial to both industry and academia.
Rapid reviews provide three outputs:
The following milestones apply for the industry PhD candidates:
There will be a lively program of engagement among industry PhD candidates and with industry and research partners and with the wider RACE stakeholders. This may include summer studies, industry placement, online and IRL seminars, conferences, workshops and social events. More information on these events will be disseminated in due course.
Professor Greg Morrison (Program Leader RACE for Everyone) will oversee the PhD program with support from Dr Jessica Breadsell, the PhD Program Coordinator.
The RACE for 2030 PhD team can be contacted on the following details:
Greg Morrison: greg.morrison@racefor2030.com.au
Jessica Breadsell: jessica.breadsell@racefor2030.com.au