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PhD scholarship(s)

���������¼� Sydney offers the following prestigious scholarships to candidates of exceptional research potential to undertake a higher degree by research at ���������¼�. Scholarship applicants will be automatically considered for all of the scholarships available for their specific residency, to undertake either a Doctor of Philosophy or a Research Masters degree, as appropriate.

Applicants must also meet the conditions and application requirements for admission.

Scholarship applications are ranked competitively and awards are made on the basis of academic merit, research experience and research potential. .

Applicants should check the relevant deadlines prior to applying, by 

There are currently 2 PhD scholarships available.

Open PhD position [RCITI-111] – Digital twin of port and hinterland freight transport system and synchromodality framework

At the University of New South Wales (���������¼�) Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovations (RCITI), we seek two excellent, motivated doctoral researchers to start in January 2026. This project is funded jointly by Port Botany in Sydney and the Australian Research Council. The research will be supervised by Dr Elnaz (Elli) Irannezhad.

Project description
This project aims to extend the current digital model of Port Botany into a full-scale digital twin. This twin model will provide unprecedented visibility into the interdependencies of port and inland operations, supporting optimal, synchromodal scheduling across the supply chain. This project leverages invaluable NSW Ports’s data. The PhD student will engage in developing a detailed agent-based simulation model that incorporates historical container flow movements across the hinterland network. Using agent-based simulation software, the model will simulate various “what-if” scenarios to optimise the chained scheduling of multimodal services in a multi-objective framework.

Given the detailed and complex data generated by a digital twin, advanced machine learning models (such as deep Q-learning) are essential for accurate parameter estimation, minimising error in mathematical optimisation, and enabling real-time decision-making. The PhD student may also engage in applying advanced machine learning models for an adaptive rolling horizon framework by integrating endogenous and exogenous uncertainties (e.g., delays, fluctuations, and disruptions) and adapting continuously in near real-time.

Two PhD positions include work on the two work packages below:

1.������ Enhance Synchromodal Integration: Develop an agent-based simulation-optimisation model to enhance adaptive and predictive capabilities for managing multimodal freight transport.

2.������ Achieve Real-Time Predictive Scheduling: Using predictive machine learning techniques, this work package focuses on enabling real-time adjustment of freight schedules in response to dynamic conditions, enhancing the accuracy of container handling and transportation scheduling.

The PhD student will spend some time in residence at Port Botany.

Requirements

• Have an MSc degree in a relevant field (e.g., transportation engineering, data science, computer science), with first or upper second class Honours from an Australian institution or equivalent research qualification and graduated less than 5 years ago or expected to graduate before January 2026;
• Be enthusiastic about researching transport-related projects and understand the fundamentals of freight transportation systems, digital twins, simulation, optimization and machine learning models;
• Have strong analytical skills;
• Have excellent research, academic writing, and presentation skills;
• Have a strong programming background and experience using e.g. Python or Java;
• Have excellent working knowledge (written and oral) of English;
• Be able to work with strict deadlines.

In addition to the above, candidates must fulfil the general ���������¼� admission requirements:  

Scholarship

The successful applicant will receive a full scholarship to cover tuition fee and a stipend of AUD37,684 per annum for 3.5 years.

About ���������¼�

The University of New South Wales (���������¼�) is a world-leading university, with recent rankings placing it 20^th globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. It holds the #1 university rank in Australia for several disciplines, including engineering, and is recognised for its strong graduate employability and leadership in sustainability and societal impact rankings. The ���������¼� Faculty of Engineering has been ranked 1^st in Australia in the last few years. Read more about the ���������¼� Campus and its unique location in Sydney, Australia here.

About rCITI

rCITI is a Transport Research Centre at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at ���������¼� Sydney. rCITI is comprised of 5 Academics, 3 Emeritus Professors, 7 postdoctoral researchers and about 20 PhD students. rCITI's key strength is to harness the rich interdisciplinary environment at ���������¼�.

The centre thrives on robust collaborations across various fields and a strong relationship with industry partners. These partnerships serve as conduits for translating our core research into practical tools and solutions that have a tangible impact on the industry.

Application

Interested applicants who fit the requirements of the position are asked to send the following to e.irannezhad@unsw.edu.au:

• A curriculum vitae
• Academic transcripts
• A research proposal and PhD timeline (no more than 5 pages)
• The names and contact information of three references

Please include the position ID [RCITI_111] and your name in the email subject. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.