PhD Project: Storm-tracking study using Distributed Acoustic Sensing
About the role
Lead University: Australian National University (ANU)
Primary Supervisor: Professor Meghan Miller (Australian National University)
Co-Supervisors: Dist Prof Arnan Mitchell (RMIT), Prof John Townend (Victoria University of Wellington), Dr Tianwei Sun (ANU)
Project Partner: NBN Co.
PhD stipend: AUD$41,555 per/annum + $5,000 per/annum top up
The project
This project aims to study weather patterns, in particular severe storms, using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS).
DAS is a technology that reproposes telecommunication cables to sense and record high-resolution ground motion information.
The widespread availability of fibre optic cables in remote areas as well as dense urban settings make DAS a potentially valuable technology to provide critical data for tracking severe weather patterns in high resolution for smart cities or flood prone regions.
The project will also explore the potential added value of microcombs for improving the sensitivity and range of DAS compared to available commercial systems.
Eligibility criteria
- Bachelor’s degree (First Class Honours) or Master’s degree in Geophysics, Physics or Earth Sciences.
- Meet all Australian National University (ANU) PhD eligibility requirements: https://study.anu.edu.au/apply/postgraduate-research
COMBS is committed to achieving gender equity and strongly encourages applications from women and women identifying candidates.
Why do a PhD with us at COMBS?
Competitive tax-free stipend
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence rate is (AUD$41,555 p/a) + $5,000 p/a top up
Be a part of our global network
Opportunities for industry internships.
Get prepared with real-world skills
Opportunities to apply for internal grant schemes to upskill.
Attend events to build your network
Supported attendance at COMBS events like the Annual Centre Workshop, theme workshops and PhD network events.
How to apply
Please use the link below to submit your application.
Valid applications must:
- Be submitted using the application portal (applications will not be accepted via email)
- Include valid data for all required fields in the application form
- Include a cover letter (maximum one page) that includes:
- Your educational/professional experience that is relevant to the specific project you are applying for,
- Why you are interested in the specific project and pursuing a PhD in COMBS, and
- Any other information you think is relevant to your application.
- Meet all ANU PhD eligibility requirements: https://study.anu.edu.au/apply/postgraduate-research
Please note: You can apply for more than one PhD project by submitting a separate application for each project you intend to apply for in the form below.
What happens after I apply?
Once you have submitted your application you will receive an email confirmation as evidence that we have received it.
After the project application window has closed, all applications will be reviewed and a shortlist selected for interviews.
If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted to arrange an interview.
NOTE: If you are unsuccessful in being shortlisted, you will still be contacted with this information so please avoid contacting us for updates on the status of your application.
Should you be offered the project after your interview, you will be required to apply for enrolment in a PhD program at the relevant university. Your successful enrolment will be dependent on meeting the university’s eligibility requirements so it is essential that you check these before applying with us to avoid disappointment.
The team you'll be joining
Professor Meghan Miller
Meghan is an observational seismologist that seeks to understand the structural and dynamic evolution of the Earth.
Professor Arnan Mitchell
Distinguished Professor Arnan Mitchell is an expert in integrated photonics who works with academics and industry to create technology solutions with real world impact.
Dr Tianwei Sun
Tianwei is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Australian National University. His current work uses DAS technology to study near-surface structures and support hazard assessment theme.
Professor John Townend
John is a Fellow/Ahurei of the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi and former President of the Seismological Society of America (SSA). He currently serves as Chair of the SSA Publications Committee and as a member of the Aotearoa Earthquake Science Advisory Panel (AESAP).
Our culture at COMBS
We value gender equality, equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, and we recognise the importance of intersectionality.
We are committed to creating an environment that embraces and harnesses these intersections to do the best science we can.
We invite you to join us to become part of our diverse and inclusive COMBS community.
Hear from others who have done a PhD at a Centre of Excellence
Read about your future teams' research
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, but you must submit a separate application for each project you intend to apply for.
The cover letter should highlight:
- Your educational/professional experience that is relevant to the specific project you are applying for,
- Why you are interested in the specific project and pursuing a PhD in COMBS, and
- Any other information you think is relevant to your application.
Each university has their own English requirements so you must check the relevant university’s website for details (linked with each project description above).
Visa approval times vary but will usually be completed within 2-3 months. You can check the current estimated approval time on this website (search for Student visa (subclass 500)): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times