Monash University RISE PhD Scholarship 2027
Monash University invites outstanding domestic and international candidates to apply for a fully funded PhD scholarship within the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) program. The research will address scientific, technical or institutional innovations needed to improve environmental quality, public health and climate resilience in informal settlements.
Scholarship Summary
- University: Monash University
- Designation: PhD Scholarship – Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE)
- Job Number: 697973
- Faculty: Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (MADA)
- Department: Monash Department of Architecture
- Research Centre: Transforming Cities Hub
- Duration: 3.5 years, fixed-term
- Study Type: Full-time
- Indicative Start Date: February 2027
- Application Deadline: Monday, 28 September 2026 at 11:55 p.m. AEST
Scholarship Details Table
- Annual Stipend: AUD $41,100 per annum at the 2027 full-time rate
- Tax Status: Tax-free stipend
- Indexation: Indexed, with allowances provided under RTP stipend scholarship conditions
- Tuition Fees: A tuition fee scholarship will be provided to a successful international awardee
- Teaching Opportunities: Suitable candidates may have opportunities for sessional teaching
- International Student Costs: International recipients are responsible for relocation, visa and Overseas Student Health Cover costs
- Location: Caulfield Campus, Monash University, Australia
Research Areas
Applicants must align their application with one of the following doctoral projects:
1. AI-Aided Site Reconnaissance and Rapid Assessments
This project will combine spatial analytics, remote sensing and machine learning to develop rapid, affordable workflows for mapping environmental vulnerabilities, tracing contamination pathways and prioritising water-cycle infrastructure interventions in informal settlements.
Relevant fields: Urban data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, GIS and spatial planning.
2. Optimisation of Hybrid Infrastructure Systems
This project will investigate how decentralised nature-based solutions and green-grey hybrid infrastructure can be adapted and optimised for sanitation, drainage and flood mitigation. It will develop frameworks for selecting fit-for-purpose technologies across diverse environmental and community settings.
Relevant fields: Urban water engineering, water-sensitive urban design, environmental technology and water quality.
3. Social and Institutional Frameworks for Participatory Design
This project will examine how participatory co-design and community-based infrastructure implementation can be institutionalised within government-led programs. It will consider governance, inter-agency coordination and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion principles.
Relevant fields: Urban governance, institutional analysis, participatory planning, co-design and GEDSI.
Location
The scholarship is based at Monash University’s Caulfield Campus in Australia. Candidates will work through the Transforming Cities Hub and within an international network of researchers and implementation partners across Australia and Indonesia.
Eligibility and Qualifications
Applicants should hold First Class Honours or a master’s degree in a relevant discipline. Suitable academic backgrounds may include:
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- GIS and Spatial Science
- Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
- Urban Design
- Urban Planning
- Environmental Science
- Public Policy
- Social Sciences
Candidates should also demonstrate:
- Excellent analytical and research capability
- Interest in interdisciplinary and applied research
- Motivation to collaborate with government and community partners
- Excellent written and spoken English communication skills
- Capacity to undertake independent doctoral research
- Ability to satisfy Monash University and MADA PhD admission requirements
Scholarship Description
RISE is an internationally recognised interdisciplinary program that develops and evaluates nature-based and hybrid infrastructure for informal settlements. As RISE progresses from successful pilot projects toward municipal and national implementation, the available PhD projects will explore innovations required to deliver impact at scale.
Successful applicants will undertake an embedded PhD in the Monash Department of Architecture. They will conduct research through RISE’s international Living Lab alongside communities, government agencies, practitioners and researchers. Candidates will gain access to longitudinal datasets and opportunities to produce interdisciplinary research that informs policy, professional practice and climate-resilient urban transformation. Relevant industry placements with government or NGO partners may also be explored.
Potential Supervisors
Potential supervisors include Professor Diego Ramírez-Lovering, Dr Michaela Prescott, Dr Tanvi Maheshwari, Dr Brendan Josey, Kerrie Burge, Professor Tony Wong and Professor Peter Breen.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest by email to transforming.cities@monash.edu. The application should identify project 1, 2 or 3 and include:
- A research statement of no more than 1,000 words
- Academic transcripts
- Evidence of English-language proficiency, where applicable
- A curriculum vitae using the required Architecture CV template
- A portfolio, where relevant
- Research publications or a writing sample
- A list of key references in APA format
- A brief statement of AI use, where applicable
Research Statement Requirements
The research statement should explain:
- The research problem the applicant wishes to investigate
- Why the question is important for climate-resilient urban transformation
- The proposed research approach and methods
- How the applicant’s background, experience and interests prepare them for the project
Generative AI tools may be used to prepare the statement. If AI generated or substantially revised the text, applicants must add a statement of no more than 50 words explaining how it was used. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed through Zoom.
Last Date to Apply
Monday, 28 September 2026 at 11:55 p.m. AEST. The successful candidate should be ready to commence by February 2027.
Apply Link
View the official scholarship announcement and application instructions
For project-related questions, email transforming.cities@monash.edu. For admission enquiries, email mada-postgrad@monash.edu.
