Resilient Composite Columns for Vehicular Impact Protection (PhD scholarship)

Applications close

20 April 2026

• You'll receive a stipend of $37,010 per annum for a maximum duration of 3.5 years while undertaking a QUT PhD. The duration includes an extension of up to 6 months (PhD) if approved for your candidature. This is the full-time, tax exempt rate which will index annually.
• You will receive a tuition fee offset/sponsorship, covering the cost of your tuition fees for the first 4 full-time equivalent years of your doctoral studies.
• As the scholarship recipient, you will have the opportunity to work with a team of leading researchers, to undertake your own innovative research in and across the field.

• You need to meet the entry requirements for a QUT's Doctor of Philosophy , including any English language requirements.
• Enrol as a full time, internal student (unless approval for part-time and/or external study is obtained).
• You must commence your degree by 1 August 2026.
• Have a background in civil engineering, and:
  • first class bachelor honours degree
  • master in the civil/structural engineering with a research component more than 25%, preferably have a journal publication as the 1st author - Q1 Journal will be preferred.
• Experience in finite element modelling and machine learning (desirable).

• Apply for this scholarship at the same time you apply for admission to QUT's Doctor of Philosophy .
  *The first step is to email Assoc. Prof. Hafizah Binti Ramli detailing your academic and research background, your motivation to research in this field and interest in this scholarship, and include your CV.
• If supported to apply, you will then submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) following the advice at How to apply for a research degree .
• In your EOI, nominate Assoc. Prof. Hafizah Binti Ramli as your proposed principal supervisor, and copy the link to this scholarship website into question 2 of the financial details section.

This project aims to mitigate the impact of vehicular collisions on roadside bridges and buildings by developing innovative, high performance protective columns. The proposed system features a composite column consisting of an outer Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) tube, an inner steel tube, and a sustainable concrete infill incorporating recycled waste tyres. The scope of this project includes optimisation of the geometric and material properties of the composite column, structural testing of the column under static and impact loadings, and characterisation of impact tested tubes to assess microstructural damage. The project addresses critical gaps in current design practices by developing theoretical models and robust design guidelines for columns subjected to vehicular impact.

We encourage candidates with a strong background in FRP and composite structures to apply for the scholarships. Experience in Machine learning and/or finite element modelling would be preferable. The successful candidate will be supervised by Associate Prof. Hafizah Binti Ramli, Dr Sabrina Fawzia, and Professor Tommy Chan, and will have the opportunity to engage in a dynamic and highly supportive environment with researchers from the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the QUT Centre for Materials Science.