Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 June 2024
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic
About the research project
Plastic waste generated between 1950 and 2015 is estimated at 6,300 million tonnes, with 60% of all plastics ever produced accumulating in landfills or in the natural environment. Plastic waste can eventually break down into nanoplastics (1-1000 nm), as proved by laboratory-based plastic weathering studies under simulated environmental conditions. This supports that nanoplastics might be massively widespread in the environment but remaining largely undetected. Environmentally relevant concentrations of nanoplastics are usually below the limits of detection of current analytical methods, limiting our capacity to generate knowledge concerning these incidentally produced nanomaterials. This is of relevance due to the variety of nanoplastics types and their broad particle size distributions, some of them having the capacity to traverse biological membranes. The large surface area of nanoplastics also enables the adsorption, and toxicity enhancement of persistent organic pollutants from water, when these are ingested by living organisms.
This project will deliver novel materials, tools and methods to enable the accurate detection of trace levels of nanoplastics in environmental samples. This project will also involve the use of analytical techniques such as high-performance liquids chromatography/mass spectrometry, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results from this project will contribute to:
- The detection of nanoplastics at environmentally relevant levels.
- Address the low selectivity and sensitivity in the quantification of certain types of nanoplastics.
- Solving the scarcity of nanoplastic-mimicking models for analytical method development.
Primary Supervisor
Meet Dr Fernando Maya AlejandroFunding
Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $32,192 per annum (2024 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Fernando Maya Alejandro to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 June 2024.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section of the Research Degrees website.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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