The post WaterRA students celebrate publication of papers appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>PhD Candidate Edward Tsyrlin (University of Melbourne) has had a third paper from his research published in the Journal of Environmental Management:
Edward’s paper shows that if waterway managers want to use a macroinvertebrate dataset for conservation planning as well as for monitoring of river health, they must use species-level taxonomy rather than family-level taxonomy. Previously, identifying freshwater invertebrates to the species level using DNA analysis was expensive and impractical, but thanks to the efforts of PEARG and others, it is now quick and affordable.
PhD Candidate Kala Senathirajah (University of Newcastle) has been published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials:
“A disaster risk reduction framework for the new global instrument to end plastic pollution”
Kala’s paper explores the implications of framing plastic pollution as a ‘disaster’ in light of the development of the new global instrument to end plastic pollution by aligning the objectives of the United Nations (UN) Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SF) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and thereby also complementing the many climate and non-climate mandates embedded within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
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]]>The post PhD scholarship opportunity appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>If you have an interest in machine learning approaches for quantifying and identifying microorganisms in water and wastewater treatment then click here to read more.
The scholarship package will provide you with professional development benefits such as connections and experience with industry, academia and Water Research Australia members.
Potential candidates must meet the Monash University enrolment criteria. International students must apply before 31 March 2023. Open to Domestic students until the position is filled.
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]]>The post Prestigious Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Award 2023 recipient announced appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>University of Melbourne PhD candidate, Angel Chyi En We, has been awarded Water Research Australia’s 2023 Nancy Millis Memorial Award.
The award, presented annually, is for a student who has demonstrated initiative, has exceptional qualities and a passion for research. It honours Nancy Millis who was a microbiologist of international repute who made enormous contributions in agriculture, environmental protection, medicine, and engineering.
Water utilities are required to manage the release of chemical contaminants from their sewage treatment plants. Particularly, it is expected that some of these chemicals will be regulated to an extent that industry will be required to implement additional barriers, with consequent increase in the costs to customers. Angel is working together with Melbourne Water and Greater Western Water, on her project Novel electrochemical treatment for mineralisation of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) for wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) end products.
Her work has identified a possible route for low-cost removal and destruction of organic chemicals of emerging concern in sewage treatment plants and the project will prove the concept for this route, which is based on foam fractionation and electrochemical destruction.
Angel commenced her PhD in June 2022, supervised by Dr Stefano Freguia at the University of Melbourne. Angel received her MPhil and BTech from the University of Technology Malaysia and Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur. She has been working with water and wastewater treatment research topics since 2015, including aerobic granulation for sewage treatment and biosorbents for the removal of pollutants from palm oil mill effluent. Angel hopes to use her knowledge she has gained to support water sustainability.
The Nancy Mills Award presents a wonderful opportunity for early career scientists like Angel to develop complementary skills and develop networks with other industry professionals.
The late Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE was appointed Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT) from 1995 until 2008 and subsequently maintained her involvement through the Education Program and on the Scientific Advisory Committee following the inception of Water Research Australia.
To find out more about the late Professor Nancy Millis, her extraordinary life, and successful career as a leading female researcher click here.
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]]>The post Data Science for Water Professionals courses to return in 2023 appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>Water and data science specialist Dr Peter Prevos will once again guide participants through tailored workshops, designed to equip learners with the basics of data science using the R language to analyse water management problems. The skills learned will be fully transferable to other data science languages, such as Python or Julia.
Participants will have the opportunity for a hands-on approach to using practical examples of water quality, customer experience, and smart metering from the water industry to help develop and demonstrate skills to undertake complex data analysis and visualisation.
The workshop has been designed in two stages, Level 1 for beginners who want to understand the foundations of practical data science; and Level 2 will build upon and expand skills to create value from data. All workshop sessions consist of theory, examples, and a real-world case study from a water utility.
The Data Science for Water Professionals workshops consist of two live and interactive 3-hour sessions, one week apart.
Dates
Level 1: 7th and 14th March
Level 2: 21st and 28th March
Time
1 – 4 PM Sydney Time
Location
Online
Registrations for Level 1 and Level 2 will open on Wednesday February 1st, 2023. For further enquiries please contact WaterRA’s Research Capability Manager Carolyn Bellamy.
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]]>The post PhD Scholarship Opportunity: Bioremediation of Pharmaceuticals from Wastewater Streams appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>Stipend: $35k – $39k p/a
Project Operational Funds: $6k
WaterRA Professional Development fund: $5k
Duration: 3 years
Location: Federation University, Mt Helen, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Industry Partners: Barwon Water, Greater Western Water, Central Highlands Water, Water Research Australia
About the Project: Working with industry partners (Barwon Water, Greater Western Water, Central Highlands Water, and WaterRA) this is an applied 3-year PhD program offering a top-end stipend with a focus on clean waterways, emerging contaminants, bioremediation, nutrient removal, and circular economy.
In recent years pharmaceuticals have emerged as a waterway pollutant of concern due to the potential impacts on the health and function of the receiving environment. While these may enter the environment via a range of pathways (e.g. storm water, farm run-off and urban/industrial wastewater), the treatment and management of pharmaceuticals are of significant interest to water authorities who collect and treat wastewater at centralised wastewater treatment plants. As part of the due diligence, water authorities are making continuous improvements to wastewater treatment, and looking for further enhancements to provide additional treatment for emerging contaminants, including pharmaceuticals. However, given wastewater treatment plants were initially not designed to treat these emerging and or designer drugs, further research is required to better understand the role wastewater treatment plants play in removing these compounds and identify and assess potential treatment technologies that may be required to mitigate the introduction of these compounds into the environment. This is particularly important as concentrations may increase due to the aging and increasing population.
This project aims to deepen knowledge in this area by (1) Developing a literature synthesis of current pharmaceutical removal techniques and their efficacy; (2) Develop laboratory-scale experiments to determine the effectiveness of a range of potential pharmaceutical removal methods including plants, algae and abiotic removal; and (3) Undertake Mesocosm experiments as a proof-of-concept solution for treating residual pharmaceutical pollution in wastewater streams (e.g. small scale constructed wetland or bioreactor). Additional focus will be on developing circular economy and beneficial re-use opportunities for the Australian water sector. In additional to pharmaceutical products, there is scope to also include nutrient analysis and recovery, such as Nitrogen and Phosphorus.
If you want your PhD to make a difference, and to gain valuable industry work experience—including the opportunity to undertake professional development placements at a water authority—then reach out to Dr Benjamin Long and submit today!
Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship applicants will ideally have an Honours or Masters in chemical engineering, the environmental sciences, or related areas. The preferred candidate will also have an excellent record as an emerging academic performer and peer-reviewed publications would be welcome. This scholarship is open to suitably qualified Australian citizens as well as international candidates living in Australia with a valid visa.
More information: Contact Dr. Benjamin Long ([email protected])
To Apply: Bioremediation of Pharmaceuticals from Wastewater Streams
Applicants must apply through the above Federation University Australia webpage which includes the submission of the BW-GWW Application Form and supporting documents along with their HDR Application Form. Applications will be accepted from Australian residents, permanent residents and international students with a valid visa currently studying onshore only.
Applicants should contact Dr Benjamin Long ([email protected]) prior to submitting an application.
Dates:
- Applications close Midnight Sunday, 22 Jan 2023.
- Candidate Interviews to begin mid-Feb 23.
- Preferred commencement Semester 1, March 2023. (Flexible start date).
About The Research Team
Principal Supervisor: Dr Benjamin Long.
Benjamin obtained his PhD from Deakin University in 2014 before undertaking Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellowships at the University of Sydney. In 2016 he returned to Deakin University as a lecturer and research fellow before taking up a lectureship at Federation University in 2017 https://federation.edu.au/institutes-and-schools/iiss/staff-profiles/staff-profiles/dr-benjamin-long
Associate Supervisor: A/Prof Andrew Barton.
Andrew Barton is the Associate Dean (Research Training and Partnerships) for the Graduate Research School. In this strategic role, Andrew develops research strengths and enhances the provision of research training for the University’s higher degree by research students. Andrew received his PhD from the University of Tasmania in the area of experimental fluid mechanics and is a Chartered Professional Engineer, an Executive Engineer, and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia. https://federation.edu.au/institutes-and-schools/iiss/staff-profiles/staff-profiles/barton,-andrew-aprof
Associate Supervisor: Dr Nicholas Schultz.
Nick is a vegetation ecologist with broad interests in human-modified landscapes and ecological restoration. Nick lectures in Australian Flora and a range of courses in the B. Environmental and Conservation Science. https://federation.edu.au/institutes-and-schools/iiss/staff-profiles/staff-profiles/nicholas-schultz
Associate Supervisor: Dr Rebecca Gehling.
Rebecca completed her PhD in 2014 at Deakin University as part of the Luminescence group, focusing on chemiluminescence as a detection method. Shortly after, she commenced as an academic at the University of Tasmania working in the chemistry and environmental programs, before joining Federation University in 2018. https://federation.edu.au/research/find-an-expert/rebecca-gehling
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]]>The post PhD Candidate wins SA Student Water Prize appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>A collaboration between WaterRA, SA Water and the University of Queensland, Sarah’s project is titled Quantification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Sludge-Drying Lagoons and Strategies for Methane Emission Mitigation.
Sarah completed a Bachelor of Science specialising in Biotechnology at Flinders University. Her Honours research with SA Water on the microbial risk assessment of source water prompted her interest in the microbiology of water science, and lead to her industry-based PhD on wastewater GHG emissions.
Congratulations Sarah!
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]]>The post Students celebrate success at VIC Water Awards appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>Minh Duc Nguyen’s research is a collaborative project between Water Research Australia, Deakin University and Barwon Water to develop innovative technologies to reuse and manage water treatment sludge. Minh Duc was awarded the 2020 Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Award, an Australia Award in 2013 and most recently awarded International Student of the Year (Regional) at the 2021-22 Victorian International Education Awards.
Another congratulations to Melbourne Water, University of Queensland, University of Melbourne and Ektimo for taking out the R&D Excellence Award at the AWA’s Victorian Water Awards with their project: Real Greenhouse Gas Emission Measurement and Reporting for Real Reductions As We Move Toward Net Zero.
Led by WaterRA Graduate Peter Wardrop, Melbourne Water’s greenhouse gas measurement program establishes validated methods to accurately measure and quantify emissions from sewage treatment, significantly improving industry knowledge and reporting methodologies. Accurate emission measurement is critical to assess mitigation strategy effectiveness as we move towards a net-zero carbon future, ensuring our efforts focus on real reductions.
As leaders in collaborative water research, WaterRA supports innovation in the sector through long-term sponsorship of both the national and state-based Research and Development Excellence Awards offered by the Australian Water Association.
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]]>The post Applications now open for prestigious student awards appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>These awards are presented annually to WaterRA students who have commenced their studies in the previous 12 months. Both awards acknowledge the contribution that devoted members of the WaterRA community, Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC ME and Professor Michael R Moore, made to the water industry throughout their careers. In recognition of their accomplishments, we proudly offer two prestigious memorial awards in their honour recognising the water industry’s future talent.
The late Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE was deeply committed to WaterRA and its values since its inception. Appointed Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment from 1995 until 2008, she maintained her involvement through the Education Program and on the Scientific Advisory Committee throughout her career. Find out more here.
The late Professor Michael R Moore was a singularly energetic, genial and engaging individual. He had a passion for research and thoroughly enjoyed interacting and supporting young students develop professionally. His fields of interest included the toxicology of metals, risk assessment, air quality, alcoholism, cyanobacteria and disorders of porphyrin metabolism. Find out more here.
Submissions close at 5.00pm AEDT on 17 November 2022.
If you are interested in applying for one of the above Awards, please contact Carolyn Bellamy to receive an application form.
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]]>The post PhD candidate wins prestigious education award appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>Recognised for his initiative, exceptional qualities and passion for research, Duc’s research looks at how Barwon Water can beneficially reuse waste products from water treatment plants.
A collaboration between WaterRA, Barwon Water and Deakin University, the project has been extended to include three other Victorian water management bodies.
His research skills, including laboratory, experiment design, data analysis, academic writing and project management, have developed significantly while doing his PhD, allowing Duc to work in both the industry and academic sides of the water sector.
Duc successfully balances the demands of his full-time PhD research, working part-time and giving back to his fellow students. He founded a group that supports Vietnamese students in Geelong that now boasts 600 members, which gives advice on accommodation, study tips and making friends.
Duc was also the recipient of WaterRA’s Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Award in 2020.
Congratulations Duc!
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]]>The post PhD candidate presents at IWA World Water Congress appeared first on Water Research Australia.
]]>“The IWA World Water Congress was held in Copenhagen, Denmark during September 2022. The congress was a grand event and a high-level summit for water professionals all over the world, which featured engaging water professionals with interdisciplinarity experts from agriculture, architects, urban planners, social sciences, hydrologists and others. The five-day conference was an excellent opportunity for people to reunite after nearly three years of the pandemic and to share the brilliant idea and thinking around the topics of most concern such as climate change, water and wastewater management, city-scale planning and operations.
As a third-year PhD student, it was my greatest honour to attend this exceptional conference under the support of Water Research Australia through the Nancy Millis Memorial Award! The conference provided a great chance to learn, network and embrace novel research ideas. During the conference, I got to meet with pioneers from my research area. The conversation with them shed light on my future career plan. The interesting talk in each presentation greatly inspired me and I learned so much outside of my research area.
Besides meeting and learning from other water professionals, I was also lucky enough to showcase my research with a topic on modelling and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from sewage treatment plants using a hybrid modelling approach. I was even more blessed that the audience showed great interest in my work with loads of questions and discussions.
Overall, the overseas conference experience was an absolute highlight of my PhD journey and I was even more motivated after the conference.”
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