PhD Scholarship: Offshore Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (OHRES): Market-Driven Site Selection and System Integration (Blue Economy CRC)

The project is a collaboration between the School of Engineering and Built Environment of Griffith University, CSIRO and Pitt & Sherry; and has broader support of the Blue Economy CRC. The PhD project offers substantial opportunities to engage with industry. The successful candidate will be enrolled within Griffith University’s School of Engineering & Built Environment and be affiliated with a relevant research centre or institute. The candidate will be located at the Gold Coast Campus of Griffith University.

We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to investigate offshore to develop a spatial decision-support tool to autonomously identify optimal OHRES sites.  The primary focus of this role is a GIS-based decision-support tool designed to assist energy planners and system managers in visually analysing spatial and analytical results.  This project will be primarily desk-based. Success in this role requires collaboration with the industry partners and the Blue Economy CRC.

We are seeking a talented and motivated PhD candidate to develop a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model for Offshore Hybrid (wind, wave and Solar) Renewable Energy Systems. The PhD candidate will join a productive, multidisciplinary research team and contribute to a research programme within the Blue Economy CRC titled Offshore Renewable Energy Systems.

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. You will have evidence of a passion for conducting research with a strong desire to undertake research in the field of Renewable Energy. To be successful within this role, you should have a background in either Engineering (power, renewable energy, civil, geomatic, environmental, industrial) or Energy Planning. Candidates with demonstrated knowledge of GIS and/or spatial analytics will be preferred.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and onshore international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to second class honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with the Equivalent qualifications for HDR program admission. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

About the scholarship
The scholarship is for 3.5-years and is valued at $38,500 per year. A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder, you will study at a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in Southeast Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility, and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EOI Process
Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to m.sanjari@griffith.edu.au containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Research proposal 
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the 'about you' section
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.
• Names of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Monday 31 August 2026 at 5pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program on-line.

For project related enquiries please contact:

Dr Mohammed Sanjari
Phone: (07) 5552 7513
Email: m.sanjari@griffith.edu.au

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: hdr-scholarship@griffith.edu.au