Victoria University often provides opportunities for scholarships related to specific projects.
Often these projects are funded in conjunction with an industry partner, offering the valuable opportunity to learn to do research which connects industry and universities. This can provide experience and perspective on research, which is valued by universities and industry employers.
Scholarships to study PhDs and Masters are available for the following projects, which provide living stipends and fee offsets.
Effective and Efficient Situation Awareness in Big Social Media Data
Professor Yanchun Zhang
$29,000 per annum
Social media-based situation awareness provides another feasible channel for crisis management, since critical events that cause great loss in live are commonly identified in social media. This project aims to develop advanced techniques to analyse big social media data and more efficiently conduct critical situation awareness over online services. By enhancing the services and capabilities of crisis management users and reducing the loss in disasters, significant economic and social benefits will be brought to government, society, enterprises and social users.
Preventing sensitive data exfiltration from insiders
Professor Hua Wang
$29,000 per annum
Confidential data such as military secrets or intellectual property must never be disclosed outside the organisation; formally protecting data exfiltration from insider attacks is a major challenge. This project aims to develop a pattern-matching based systematic methodology for data exfiltration in database systems. We will devise highly accurate detection tools and secure provenance techniques that can effectively protect against insider attacks. The outcomes of the project will incorporate new security constraints and policies raised by emerging technologies to enable better protection of sensitive information.
An Autonomously Controlled Ankle Exoskeleton for Gait Rehabilitation
Professor Rezaul Begg
$29,000 per annum
This PhD project is part of a broader research programme investigating the applications of wearable assistive technologies to assist human movement activities. The project will employ innovative gait biomechanics, exoskeleton technology and machine learning to develop an intelligent exoskeleton technology to prevent falls-related injuries. The scientific outcomes will be advances in autonomous assisted movement control and a reliable, cost effective system for gait rehabilitation applications. It will utilise VU's world-class Biomechanics Laboratory to capture 3D motion and wearable sensor data that will be used to predict the user's risk of hitting environmental obstacles during walking. Intelligent technologies that can monitor and predict risky movement patterns can then be used to synchronise assistive devices for safe locomotion.
Exploring how carbohydrate intake and timing affect endurance adaptations and performance
$29,000 per annum
The physically demanding nature of Special Forces training and operations require the “upper limit of human performance” and involve performing repeated high-intensity actions. Muscle glycogen (i.e., carbohydrates) is the muscle’s preferred energy source for such tasks. Nutritional strategies that maximise carbohydrate availability before, during, and/or after exercise are encouraged to help meet exercise demands, maximise performance, and promote muscle glycogen recovery. However, evidence also suggests low-carbohydrate training can enhance the signals within muscle cells that promote endurance adaptations.
To achieve the “best of both worlds”, this project will investigate how restricting carbohydrate for a short (3 h) recovery period post-exercise affects endurance training adaptations and performance measures relevant to military populations. The successful master’s candidate will gain experience in conducting an extensive nutrition and exercise training study, as well as the collection of skeletal muscle and blood samples and subsequent analyses (Western blot, PCR, transcriptomics, enzyme assays).
The successful candidate will have a background in one (or more) of the following areas: exercise physiology, exercise metabolism, sports nutrition. The applicant should have some understanding of the basic principles underpinning molecular adaptations to training (desirable). Previous experience in conducting a research project (i.e., honours degree involving research methods) is also desirable. The candidate will be fully supported and trained in all project-specific methods and analyses.
Development of Sustainable Residential Foundation Systems Using Recycled Materials – An Experimental and Numerical Study
Dr Wasantha Liyanage
$29,000 per annum
Through extensive geotechnical and structural investigations, new solutions in a post-COVID world will be developed for the application of recycled materials in concrete house slab systems and associated road pavements in the West. Experimental, numerical and on-site performance investigation of infrastructures made of recycled materials has not been carried out before. This research will lead to improvements to the Austroads guidelines, Australian Standards and VicRoads Code of Practise, with the aim of advancing the circular economy through an increased demand for waste/recycled material.
Pavement Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering.
You may wish to assess your eligibility with our online self-assessment tool.
Note: Victoria University will assess your eligibility to determine the course that applies to you.
An Experimental and Numerical Study of Sustainable Pavement Structures Made of Blends of Recycled Materials.
Dr Wasantha Liyanage
$29,000 per annum
Through extensive geotechnical and structural investigations, new solutions in a post-COVID world will be developed for the application of recycled materials in concrete house slab systems and associated road pavements in the West. Experimental, numerical and on-site performance investigation of infrastructures made of recycled materials has not been carried out before. This research will lead to improvements to the Austroads guidelines, Australian Standards and VicRoads Code of Practise, with the aim of advancing the circular economy through an increased demand for waste/recycled material.
Pavement Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering.
You may wish to assess your eligibility with our online self-assessment tool.
Note: Victoria University will assess your eligibility to determine the course that applies to you.
There are no industry-supported scholarships currently available at Victoria University.
The relevant online application form lists the documents you will need to be submit and this must include:
This initial proposal gives us an understanding of your research interests. Study in the early stages of your research degree may lead to changes. In some cases, your supervisor(s) may suggest a project linked with both of your interests.
