Scholarship details

Study levels

Research and PhD

Student type

Future students

Study area

Science

Eligibility criteria

Academic performance

Citizenship

Australian, Australian or New Zealand and International

Application dates

Applications close
30 September 2025

What you'll receive

You'll receive:

  • a stipend of $40,000 per annum for a maximum duration of 3.5 years while undertaking a QUT PhD. The duration includes an extension of up to 6 months (PhD) if approved for your candidature. This is the full-time, tax-exempt rate which will index annually.
  • a tuition fee offset/sponsorship, covering the cost of your tuition fees for the first 4 full-time equivalent years of your doctoral studies.
  • the opportunity to work with a team of leading researchers, to undertake your own innovative research in and across the field.

Eligibility

You need to meet the entry requirements for a QUT research degree, including any English language requirements. You must also:

  • enrol as a full time, internal student (unless approval for part-time and/or external study is obtained)
  • start your degree by 1 March 2026
  • have a background in
    • physics
    • materials science
    • nanotechnology
    • electronic engineering.

You should also have a clear understanding of semiconductor physics and devices.

How to apply

  • Apply for this scholarship at the same time you apply for admission to a QUT research degree.
  • The first step is to email Associate Professor Soniya Yambem detailing your academic and research background, your motivation to research in this field and interest in this scholarship, and include your CV.
  • If supported to apply, you will then submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) following the advice at How to apply for a research degree.
  • In your EOI, nominate Associate Professor Soniya Yambem as your proposed principal supervisor, and copy the URL link to this scholarship page into question 2 of the financial details section.

About the scholarship

This project will explore transport phenomena in organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) in various conditions. OMIECs are a class of materials that uniquely combine the ability to conduct both electronic charge carriers (electrons or holes) and mobile ions. Composed primarily of organic (carbon-based) compounds, OMIECs offer a distinct advantage over conventional semiconductors due to their soft, flexible, and often solution-processable nature. Their mixed conduction properties have been instrumental in the development of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), a type of organic transistor that operates efficiently at very low voltages (typically under 1V). These devices have demonstrated remarkable promise in applications such as biosensing, environmental monitoring, and neuromorphic interfaces, owing to their compatibility with aqueous environments and biological systems.

This is an experimental project, and the candidate will be supervised by A/Prof Soniya Yambem (Primary Supervisor), Dr Mahboobeh Shahbazi (Associate Supervisor) and Dr Wendy Purches (External Supervisor, CSIRO. The candidate will have the opportunity to engage in a dynamic environment with members of QUT's:

  • Faculty of Science
  • School of Chemistry and Physics
  • Centre for Materials Science
  • Bioelectronics and Biosensors group.

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