Phd Project - Clayton, Australia - Monash University

Monash University

Verified Company

Clayton, Australia

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Olivia Brown

beBee Recruiter

Description

PhD Project - Supervised and knowledge-guided machine learning approaches for quantifying and identifying microorganisms in water and wastewater treatment:

Job No
:

648559

Location:

Clayton campus

Employment Type:

Full-time

Duration:
3.5-year fixed-term appointment

Remuneration:

$30,000 p.a 3.5 years full-time rate (pro-rata) 2023 rate

A full scholarship is available for a PhD student to conduct research on development of fluorescence-based methods, flow cytometry, automated cell imagery, and artificial intelligence for identifying and quantifying microorganisms for large scale testing at target treatment trains.

The research will be conducted in Dr Arash Zamyadi's group (within Environmental and Public Health Microbiology Laboratories, Living Lab) in the Department of Civil Engineering, in collaboration with other research groups at Monash, national research institutes and overseas, and Australian water industry including Melbourne Water and Water Research Australia.

Assessment of water and wastewater treatment efficacy will require extensive analysis of microbial viability and microbial quantification/taxonomic identification. Cell viability assessment capabilities will require development of fluorescence-based methods.

Novel quantification/identification capabilities will be developed using automated analysis with cell imagery, flow cytometry and artificial intelligence for large scale testing at target treatment trains (including but not limited to treatment technologies that manage algal blooms).

This project hypothesises that a supervised and knowledge-guided machine learning approach can be used to identify microbes accurately and rapidly within manufactured water samples using different analytical platforms (optical microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and imaging flow cytometry).

The PhD project objectives are to explore (1) fluorescence-based approaches for determining microbial viability and activity in water and wastewater, and (2) machine learning approaches for quantifying and identifying microorganisms.

A strong background in environmental microbiology, experience in using fluorescence-based methods, and flow cytometry is essential. Additional experience in cell imagery, coding and artificial intelligence is required. Applicants must show excellent communication and inter-personal skills, and the ability to conduct self-motivated research.

They should have research-based Honours or Masters Degree (or equivalent) in the relevant research areas and have a record of publishing their research in mainstream scientific journals.

Note:
applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered.

Expression of Interest
Please submit this Expression of Interest (EOI) form , preferably in the form of a single PDF attachment.

EOIs shall comprise

A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant's suitability
A curriculum vitae, including a list of published works
A full statement of academic record, supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
Contact details of two academic referees
Evidence of Englishlanguage proficiency (international applicants only)

Enquiries

Closing Date
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