25 Fully Funded PhD Scholarships in Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology

Updated: 14 days ago
Location: New Zealand,
Job Type: FullTime

The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology is New Zealand’s premier research organisation in materials science and nanotechnology. Applications are currently invited from suitably qualified candidates for a number of different full-time funded PhD scholarships based at different universities across New Zealand, to start before 31st December 2025. Successful candidates will become members of the MacDiarmid Institute and given exciting collaborative opportunities and a thriving environment within which to work.

Our alumni  are working all over New Zealand and the world in many different fields and are having real impact. As a MacDiarmid Institute PhD student, you will be encouraged and financially supported to take advantage of the many opportunities  we provide to broaden your experience and skills.

Opportunities available for PhD scholarship students include:

  • 3-month paid industry and government internships (post PhD)
  • Annual multi-day workshops on specialist topics such as communication, commercialisation and leadership
  • Intensive annual multi-day bootcamps (held in remote and beautiful locations) where experts share their knowledge in an important current research area
  • Outreach events , working with schoolteachers or children
  • Membership of the MacDiarmid Emerging Scientists Association (MESA ), run by students and postdocs, which organises additional activities. Each scholarship is worth NZD$38,500 per annum (not taxed), plus all student fees.

Research areas and projects:

The Institute currently has 25 scholarships available across four research programmes. The individual PhD projects are under the following three research programmes:

Reconfigurable Systems research programme
In this research programme we are:

  • reimagining the use and reuse of materials themselves, for example working towards the kind of controlled reactions that occur in 'artificial cells' that self-regulate and reconfigure for synthetic biology and other functions; and
  • creating circular materials for commercial applications, and exploring natural materials, especially from waste streams for their use as smart materials.

Reconfigurable Systems research projects:

  • ‘Assembly dynamics of advanced colloids’ with Professor Geoff Willmott (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Stimuli-responsive multi-compartment hydrogel capsules’ with Professor Jadranka Travas-Sejdic (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Exploring electromechanical coupling in functionalised biological materials’ with Associate Professor Jenny Malmström (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Enhancing the functionality and circularity of silicone vitrimers with a view towards commercial applications’ with Associate Professor Erin Leitao (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Pickering emulsion-based strategies for compartmentalisation of polymer coacervates’ with Associate Professor Catherine Whitby (Massey University)
  • ‘Peptide-based piezoelectric materials for electrically stimulated antibacterial applications’ with Professor Viji Sarojini (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Multiscale magnetic materials for light-based technologies’ with Associate Professor Jenny Malmström (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Tiny droplets with big potential: designing stimuli-responsive liquid micro-structures for sustainable chemistry and future technologies’ with Professor Patricia Hunt (Victoria University of Wellington)  
  • Future Computing research programme
    In this research programme we are developing materials and technologies for:

    • computers able to process information more like the brain, studying how to reproduce some of the properties of biological neurons and synapses using networks of molecules and nanostructures, and other materials; and
    • computing that uses far less energy compared to conventional electronics, based on quasiparticles using superconductivity, spin order (magnetism), or topological order, with applications for superconducting electronics in quantum and cryogenic computing.

    Future Computing PhD projects:

  • ‘Altermagnetism in low dimensional d-wave superconductors and chalcogenides’ with Dr Shen Chong (Victoria University of Wellington)
  • ‘Molecular functionalisation of self-assembled neuromorphic devices’ with Professor Simon Brown (University of Canterbury)
  • ‘Brain-like computing with ultrasound’ with Dr Jami Shepherd (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Ferroelectric and multiferroic nitride thin films for future computing’ with Dr Daniel Sando (University of Canterbury)
  • ‘Spin-compensated Heusler alloy ferrimagnets’ with Dr Simon Granville (Victoria University of Wellington)
  • ‘Magnetic Josephson junctions incorporating rare earth nitrides’ with Professor Ben Ruck (Victoria University of Wellington)
  • ‘Quantum simulations of unconventional superconductors’ with Professor Michele Governale (Victoria University of Wellington)
  • ‘From ab initio characterisation to simulation of molecular 'synapses' for neuromorphic computing’ with Professor Nicola Gaston (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Modelling approaches for percolating nanoparticle/nanotube networks’ with Dr Elke Pahl (University of Auckland)
  • ‘Plasmonically-enhanced perovskite devices’ with Dr Ciaran Moore (University of Canterbury)
  • Catalytic Architectures research programme
    In this research programme we are exploring new materials that will:

    • catch CO2 from air and waste streams, through clever chemistry that attracts CO2 to the surfaces of 3D spongelike materials (such as metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs); and
    • decarbonise the energy sector by designing new catalysts that will transform captured CO2 into green fuels using renewable energy inputs. In addition, we will explore catalysts for zero-carbon fuels (hydrogen and ammonia) that can remove carbon from energy systems.

    Catalytic Architectures PhD projects:

  • ‘Metal-organic framework materials for carbon capture and separation’ with Professor Paul E. Kruger (University of Canterbury)
  • ‘Immobilised electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction into commodity chemicals’ with Professor Sally Brooker (University of Otago)
  • ‘Lanthanide materials for ammonia production’ with Associate Professor Franck Natali (Victoria University of Wellington)
  • ‘Engineering next-generation gas diffusion electrodes: Plasma-sprayed electrodes for sustainable CO2 conversion’ with Professor Aaron Marshall (University of Canterbury)
  • ‘Plasma-assisted electrochemical ammonia synthesis’ with Professor Geoff Waterhouse (University of Auckland)
  • ‘High throughput electrocatalyst screening and development for sustainable energy applications’ with Professor Aaron Marshall (University of Canterbury)
  • Pūtaiao Māori research programme
    In this programme we are exploring new and innovative knowledge, materials, techniques, approaches and tools to explore and grow pūtaiao Māori. This programme has environmental sustainability as a key value/principle at its core, through kaitiakitanga. The programme intersects with several of our other research programmes where we explore and develop pūtaiao Māori at the interface.

    Pūtaiao Māori PhD project:

  • ‘Weaving adsorptive power into harakeke for heavy metal removal’ with Dr Ben Yin (University of Canterbury)
  • Application process:

    To apply, please send a CV, academic record, and the names and contact details of two referees to the project supervisor (contact details available via the links above), with the PhD project title in the subject line.



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