Monash University: University handbooks: Postgraduate handbook: Units indexed by faculty
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Areas of graduate study and specialist centres offering research opportunities for candidates within the Faculty of Science

Mater of Science (MSc), Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs are offered by all schools of the Faculty of Science. Prospective MSc candidates are also referred to the Faculty of Arts entry in this handbook. Broad areas of study available for pure or applied research for candidates/coursework students in the Faculty of Science are detailed below.

Biological sciences

Coordinators: Professor John Hamill (Clayton) and Dr Wendy Wright (Gippsland)

Candidates wishing to undertake research in the biological sciences may enrol for programs leading to the degrees of MSc and PhD through the School of Biological Science at the Clayton campus and the School of Applied Sciences and Engineering at Gippsland. The degrees are awarded for the successful completion of a supervised research program, though some coursework may be prescribed to meet the needs of individual candidates. The School of Biological Sciences maintain electron microscopes, analytical equipment, constant-temperature rooms, experimental areas and a field station. Research may be undertaken in ecology, genetics, and plant or animal biology in the areas listed below.

Conservation in production environments

Research into methods of improving biodiversity in production and constructed environments, including farming and forestry landscapes. Studies in this area are very applied and are often conducted in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries, Department of Sustainability and Environment, and/or other industry partners.

Biology and physiology of algae

Including algal physiology and marine botany.

Ecology and conservation biology

This includes freshwater and marine ecology, animal ecophysiology, animal behaviour, vertebrate ecology, molecular ecology, invasion biology, plant ecology, vegetation ecology and management, terrestrial vertebrate ecology, and wetland and behavioural ecology.

Environmental management

Systems development and application in industry and commerce, and environmental communication and reporting.

Evolutionary processes

Including evolutionary genetics, conservation genetics and evolutionary ecology.

Food microbiology

Aerobic spore-forming thermophilic bacteria in foods.

Molecular genetics, cell biology, plant molecular and developmental genetics, and plant physiology

Including Arabidopsis development, molecular genetics and Drosophila neurogenetics.

Plant gene expression

Changes in gene expression patterns associated with environmental factors.

Soil science

Biosolids as fertilisers, soil microbiology, iron reducing bacteria in corrosion, and thermophilic bacteria in oil basins and in pine bark composting.

Vertebrate physiology, development and behaviour

Including animal biochemistry and physiology, developmental neurobiology, animal behaviour, mammology and neural biology, vertebrate physiology and conservation, and functional morphology of digestion.

Chemistry

Coordinators: Dr Andrea Robinson (Clayton) and Professor Sam Adeloju (Gippsland/Peninsula)

Opportunities for research in the following broad areas of chemistry are offered by the School of Chemistry and the School of Applied Science and Engineering.

Analytical and instrumentation

New techniques for separating and sizing industrial, environmental and biological particles and macromolecules (field-flow fractionation); methods for real-time monitoring of waters and wastewaters based on flow injection analysis; microwave instrument development ('millijet'); fabrication of novel biosensors; analysis of gas molecules using fluorescence spectra; rare earth elements in minerals using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; infrared spectroscopy for use in medical diagnosis; and the development of inexpensive microprocessor controlled analytical instrumentation for teaching and research.

Analytical spectroscopy

Biospectroscopy and bio-imaging using infrared and Raman spectroscopy to investigate biomolecules and develop systems for medical diagnosis. Brown coal fly ash, transport fuels and oils, low-cost instrumentation.

Spectroscopy and molecular properties

Spectroscopy of supercooled molecules in supersonic jets and enclosive flows; laser detection of gases released in coal gasification; high resolution FTIR spectroscopy of transients and atmospheric species; infrared and Raman spectroscopy and micro-imaging of biological molecules, microwave investigation of the molecular processes of interstellar masers; molecular structures of small molecules and highly reactive compounds from spectroscopy and computational chemistry; x-ray crystallography, magnetochemistry, solution and solid state spectroscopy; and electron microscopy in structural evaluation.

Chemical biology and medicinal chemistry

Elucidation of enzyme mechanisms through the study of model reactions and by the design of mechanism based inhibitors; modelling metalloproteins and metal-induced biological processes; anchored complexes in protein separation; design and testing of pharmaceuticals including anti-cancer and anti-ulcer agents; and medical applications of peptide nucleic acids and metal complex derivatives.

Electrochemistry and electroanalytical chemistry

Fabrication and properties of microelectrodes and chemically modified electrodes; on-line monitoring of metals in process streams; stripping voltammetric and potentiometric analysis of organic and inorganic substances; theory of voltammetry-electrode kinetics; development of electrochemical instrumentation; redox properties of organometallic and coordination compounds; amperometric and potentiometric biosensing of organic and inorganic substances; electrochemical synthesis; spectroscopic identification of electrochemically generated intermediates in unusual oxidation states; bioinorganic electrochemistry; photoelectrochemistry and electrochemical catalysis; and solar cells.

Environmental chemistry – Water Studies Centre and School of Applied Sciences and Engineering

Nutrient cycling in aquatic systems; aquatic colloid chemistry; pollutant speciation transport and fate in aquatic environments; microbial ecology of lowland rivers; pollutant fluxes across the sediment-water interface; interactions between ecosystem structure and biogeochemical functioning; ecosystem processes as indicators of stream health; behaviour of organic phosphates in aquatic environments; and the role of natural organic matter in aquatic ecosystems. Another major research area is ecological risk assessment, quantitative modelling and development of predictive models.

Food chemistry

Interaction between proteins and mineral species in milk; relationship between chemical composition, structure and properties of curd and cheese; encapsulation of flavourings and neutraceuticals.

Green (sustainable) chemistry – Centre for Green Chemistry

New processes with less waste, energy requirements, less or no solvents, and developing new synthetic pathways. This includes replacing organic solvents by water, supercritical CO2 and ionic liquids, the use of aqueous based catalyst systems, biological catalysts and biotechnology, the use of microwave energy in chemical reactions, new energy efficient materials together with the development of new, appropriate analytical methods. Green mineral processing including alternatives to the cyanide gold extraction process, soil chemistry, and organic amendments in treatment of environmentally compromised soils, chemistry of hard substances.

Industrial applications

Structure and reactivity of coals, controlled release technology, non-linear optical materials; molecular recognition used in the extraction and purification of sugars; and purification of fullerenes.

Materials chemistry

Sol-gel precursors for ceramic oxides with applications as electrochromics, protective coatings, sensors and optical films; organometallics and related complexes as precursors for semiconductor and microelectronic materials; microporous materials including zeolites and pillared clays; inorganic glasses (non-oxide); liquid crystals for opto-electronic devices; new conducting polymers; and recyclable polymers; molecular magnetic materials displaying long-range order or spin-crossover transitions; nano-chemistry and nanotechnology; self-assembly of multicomponent systems based on host-guest chemistry; supramolecular indicated transport of molecules across membranes; molecular and supramolecular photonic devices; characterisation of nanoparticles and macromolecules; colloid aspects of food chemistry; dye sensitised solar cells; nanostructured functional surfaces; nanostructured electrochemical devices and arrays; peptide based nanodevices; nanomagnetic materials with switching properties; nanoscale sensors; and nanoscale synthesis and catalysis; novel receptors for ink jet dyes; nanomaterials for chemical and physical detectors; atmospheric plasma treatment of polymer surfaces.

Nano-chemistry and nanotechnology

Self-assembly of multicomponent systems based on host-guest chemistry; supramolecular indicated transport of molecules across membranes; molecular and supramolecular photonic devices; characterisation of nanoparticles and macromolecules; colloid aspects of food chemistry; dye sensitised solar cells; nanostructured functional surfaces; nanostructured electrochemical devices and arrays; peptide based nanodevices; nanomagnetic materials with switching properties; nanoscale sensors; and nanoscale synthesis and catalysis; novel receptors for ink jet dyes; nanomaterials for chemical and physical detectors; atmospheric plasma treatment of polymer surfaces.

Polymer chemistry

Novel ions conducting polymers for applications in batteries, capacitors and electrochromic windows; improving the properties of polymer blends; and polyurethane elastomers and foams.

Spectroscopy, crystallography, magnetism and molecular properties

Spectroscopy in supersonic jets; laser detection of gases released in coal gasification; high resolution FTIR spectroscopy of transients and atmospheric species; IR spectroscopy of biological molecules, microwave investigation of the molecular processes of interstellar masers; molecular structures of small molecules and highly reactive compounds from spectroscopy and computational chemistry; x-ray crystallography, magnetochemistry, solution and solid state spectroscopy; and electron microscopy in structural evaluation.

Synthetic and catalytic chemistry

Total synthesis of biologically and clinically important molecules, including antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, marine toxins and steroids; heterocyclic synthesis, including a wide variety of oxygen and nitrogen-containing heterocycles, many of which are found in important, bio-active molecules; stereoselective methods, design of new reactions using enzymes and organotransition metal catalysts, ring expansion and contraction reactions, conjugate additions; invention of chemical reagents and new chemical reactions, including metal-based systems; synthetic methods for organometallics, coordination complexes, clusters, heterometallic species, metallopolymers and fluorocarbon compounds; organometallics of main group elements, d-block metals, rare earths including catalysts, reagents for organic synthesis, and novel clusters; metal complexes, including amides, imides, oxides, alkoxides; polynuclear spin-crossover complexes, extended network coordination polymers, large magnetic cluster complexes; metal ion hydrolysis products, corrosion inhibitors; catalysis of polymerisation and hydroformylation; and element-carbon bond activation.

Theoretical and computation chemistry

New ligands for asymmetric synthesis; investigation of reaction mechanisms by application of semi-empirical and ab-initio calculations; and ab-initio calculations in supramolecular chemistry.

Coal product development

Development of coal dewatering processes; characterisation of coal structure and coal-water interactions; humic acids for soil improvement; bitumen from coal; liquid fuels from coal; active carbon manufacture and applications; catalytic processes in fuel science; and applications of molecular modelling to fuel science.

Centres

Centre for Biospectroscopy

The Centre for Biospectroscopy is a faculty of science centre directed at developing spectroscopy and imaging techniques for the investigation of biological, biomedical and biotechnological systems. It has research links with a number of Monash and Melbourne departments and hospitals. For more information visit http://web.chem.monash.edu.au/biospec/biospectroscopy.htm.

Water Studies Centre and School of Applied Sciences and Engineering

See entry under Environmental chemistry above.

Centre for Green Chemistry

The Centre for Green Chemistry is a Special Research Centre funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council and located in the School of Chemistry at Monash University. The centre’s mission is to become a world leader for research, industrial collaboration and teaching in the field of green chemistry and to harness this expertise to enhance the international competitiveness of Australian industry. The centre provides opportunities for research and postgraduate study in the area of green chemistry. For further information about research in this field and other activities of the centre, visit www.chem.monash.edu.au/green-chem/.

Geosciences

Coordinators: Professor Ray Cas (MSc programs) and Dr Ian Nicholls (PhD programs)

Candidates in geosciences may enrol for studies toward a masters on the basis of a research project alone or a combination of a research project and coursework (typically >70 per cent research). A wide range of coursework units in two or five-day formats suitable for masters candidates is offered by the member departments/schools of the joint La Trobe University/University of Melbourne/Monash University cooperative Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences (VIEPS). The PhD program is based on a thesis research project alone, but participation in seminar series is expected. PhD candidates may also take, not for credit, recommended short courses offered by VIEPS. Both masters and PhD candidates may take part in courses offered by other groups, such as the G3 centres for ore deposits studies (University of Western Australia and the University of Tasmania, and James Cook University), under arrangements of the Minerals Council of Australia-funded National Geosciences Teaching Network.

Masters and PhD projects are often, but not exclusively, associated with the recognised areas of research strength within the School of Geosciences: geophysical exploration, mapping and analysis; physical volcanology and magmatic ore deposits; isotope and trace element geochemistry; environmental geoscience; vertebrate palaeontology; geodynamics, tectonics, structural geology and basin analysis; earth process simulation.

A wide range of geophysical, geochemical, and computing facilities is available to postgraduate candidates. These are either housed within Monash Geosciences (geophysics equipment; stable isotope, and ICP-MS based trace element analysis facilities and sample preparation laboratories) or are accessible within other VIEPS-member departments/schools (electron microprobe and analytical scanning electron microscope facilities; noble gas laboratory; multi-collector ICP-MS laboratory; and thermal ionisation mass spectrometry laboratory).

Geography and environmental science

Coordinators: Dr Haripriya Rangan (Faculty of Arts, Clayton); Dr Wendy Wright (Gippsland) for Environmental Management

The School of Geography and Environmental Science is part of the Faculty of Arts. Candidates wishing to complete a masters degree by research in geography and environmental science must enrol in a Master of Science with the Faculty of Science. Further information can be gained from the Arts faculty entry in this handbook and the School of Geography and Environmental Science website at www.arts.monash.edu.au/schools/ges/. The Faculty of Science also conducts research in the broad area of environmental science. The School of Applied Sciences and Engineering also offers research opportunities in environmental management, including conservation and biodiversity, and environmental microbiology. Candidates should also consult staff within the schools of the faculty.

Mathematical sciences

Coordinators: Professor John Lattanzio (Clayton) and Dr Alistair Carr (Gippsland)

Candidates in mathematical science may enrol for programs leading to the MSc and PhD degrees. The programs reflect the research interests of staff, which at present include astrophysics, solar and planetary physics, geophysical fluid dynamics, computational fluid dynamics, computational solid mechanics, numerical analysis, dynamical meteorology, climate dynamics, radiation and remote sensing, physical oceanography, nonlinear dynamics, curve motion, general relativity, geophysics, dynamics of solid planets, biomathematics, optimisation, control theory, computer algebra, history of mathematics, algebra, group theory, semigroup theory, functional analysis, number theory, differential geometry, nonlinear partial differential equations, geometric analysis, applied probability, branching processes, financial mathematics, statistical inference, stochastic processes, medical statistics, modelling and statistics in sport, industrial statistics and statistical computing. There are regular specialist and general seminars. More detailed information can be obtained from the director of postgraduate studies in the school of Mathematical Sciences.

Applied mathematics

Research supervision is available in the applied mathematics fields listed above. If there is sufficient demand, advanced lecture topics may be offered in these areas.

Pure mathematics

Research supervision is available in the pure mathematics fields listed in the above paragraph.

Mathematical statistics

Candidates may undertake either an MSc or a PhD degree involving a written thesis in some area of probability theory, stochastic processes and applications, statistical theory, or applied statistics. Further details may be obtained from the director of postgraduate studies.

Mathematical Sciences at the Gippsland campus

The School of Applied Sciences and Engineering also offers research opportunities in selected areas. These include: mathematical and statistical modelling, including environmental and ecological applications; algebraic topology; discrete mathematics with computer science applications; numerical methods; interactive multi-media learning materials for mathematics.

Mathematics and science learning

Applications of new technology to distance education, and interactive multi-media learning materials.

Centres

Key Centre for Statistical Science

The Key Centre for Statistical Science is a cooperative venture established in 1984 between Monash University, The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, and RMIT University. Further information may be obtained from Dr Malcolm Clark.

Centre for Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics

This centre brings together Monash University researchers working on the astrophysical properties of stars and planets, in the broadest context. Members of the centre are drawn from the School of Mathematical Sciences as well as the School of Chemistry. Research supervision is available for theoretical and observational studies from star and planet formation through to the properties of black holes.

Centre for Dynamical Meteorology and Oceanography

The Centre for Dynamical Meteorology and Oceanography provides opportunities for research and postgraduate study in meteorology, physical oceanography, and geophysical fluid dynamics. The program is based broadly on theoretical work, numerical simulation, and field observation.

The centre is also involved in a program of field observation carried out jointly with the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research. Information about research in this field and other activities of the group may be obtained from the director, Professor Michael Reeder.

Meteorology

Coordinator: Professor Michael Reeder

Graduate research programs in meteorology are offered through the Centre for Dynamical Meteorology and Oceanography and the School of Mathematical Sciences. For further information, see the Centre for Dynamical Meteorology and Oceanography entry above.

Physics

Dr David Paganin (Research programs) and Dr Imants Svalbe (Postgraduate Coordinator)

The School of Physics offers world-class research opportunities for postgraduate candidates in experimental, theoretical and computational physics. Experimental research includes: condensed matter physics; coherent x-ray optics and synchrotron science; electron, atom and molecular optics; nanostructures (quantum dots/wells) based on III-V materials; electron, neutron and x-ray diffraction; thin films and surface physics; imaging sciences; PET, EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy and advanced instrumentation and detector development. Theoretical areas include: optics, nanodynamics, particle cosmology, high temperature superconductivity, phase retrieval techniques for linear and non-linear classical and quantal systems, statistical dynamical diffraction theory, quantum gases (BECs), imaging light, and ab initio calculations using density functional theory.

The School is host to a number of prominent research centres, including the Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-Ray Science and the CRC in Biomedical Imaging Development. It also plays a prominent role in the development of the Imaging and Therapy beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, which is located adjacent to the Clayton Campus of Monash University.

Research by Physics staff is conducted at numerous international synchrotron facilities (for example, SPring-8, Photon Factory, ESRF, CLS, DESY) and neutron facilities (ILL, Chalk River). Physics staff are also significant users of national facilities at ANSTO (HiFAR/OPAL). Significant instrumentation located in the School at the Clayton Campus includes a unique low energy electron microscope (LEEM) with MBE facility for growing and imaging GaAs quantum dots. Other major facilities include CT scanners, x-ray diffractometers, Mossbauer spectrometers, a FT-EPR spectrometer, thin film deposition facilities, scanning probe microscopes (STM/AFM), SEM/TEM and access to a FEG-TEM and 3D Atom Probe Field Ion Microscope. A new Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility (EMMF), currently under construction adjacent to the School of Physics, will house a suite of state-of-the-art electron microscopes. The school is well supported by its own highly skilled technical staff in large and well-equipped mechanical and electronics workshops, which encompasses a commercial liquid Helium production facility, materials analysis, sample preparation and scientific imaging.

All higher degrees in Physics at Monash are conducted entirely by research, except for the Master of Science Preliminary, which comprises 50 per cent research and 50 per cent coursework. The latter involves units similar to those offered in the Physics BSc(Hons) program. Candidates entering with a BSc(Hons) are required to enrol initially in the Master of Science (MSc) program, from which they can apply to transfer to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) after one year. Applicants with a research-only MSc degree can enrol directly into the PhD program; however, they must serve a one year probationary period. Candidates work under the guidance of two assigned supervisors on an individual research project and are expected to attend school colloquia and contribute to research group seminars. Some research projects are multidisciplinary and may suit academically strong candidates from biomedicine, engineering, computing or mathematics.

For more details see: www.physics.monash.edu.au/research, and www.physics.monash.edu.au/postgraduate

Research projects are offered in the following areas:

X-ray and Synchrotron radiation physics

• Experimental and theoretical studies of x-ray physics and statistical dynamical diffraction theory
• X-ray optics, coherent x-ray imaging and x-ray detector development
• Investigation of novel diffraction and imaging techniques to characterise technologically important materials such as optoelectronic nanostructures
• Characterisation of quantum dots, wires and wells materials using hard x-ray synchrotron radiation
• X-ray phase retrieval, x-ray diffraction tomography, diffraction enhanced imaging, phase contrast imaging and phase sensitive tomography
• Development of a hard x-ray and imaging beamline at the Australian Synchrotron.

Molecular optics

• High intensity light field generation of non-resonant traps for neutral atoms and molecules
• Development of a Helium atom microscope
• Study of the fundamental interactions between molecules at low temperatures
• Study of molecular Bose-Einstein condensates.

Theoretical and computation physics

• Field theoretical studies in condensed matter
• Density functional theory
• Statistical mechanics and nanodynamics of surfaces
• Particle cosmology
• Topological defects in cosmology and condensed matter systems; geometric phases
• Theoretical optics, geometric phases and system theory for linear and nonlinear optics
• Vortex dynamics in classical and quantal systems
• Phase retrieval and inverse problems
• Bose-Einstein condensates and related systems
• Topology on discrete lattices.

Computed tomography

• Enhanced Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using scatter detection and correction
• Design and fabrication of energy and position sensitive detector arrays for PET and SPECT image acquisition
• Low-energy elastic scatter-computed tomography (CT) using synchrotron quality X-rays,
• High energy X-ray and gamma-ray CT system development for industrial materials, such as ceramics.

Medical physics

• Microbeam radiotherapy, dosimetry studies and tissue response for spatially fractionated large doses of x-ray radiation
• SAXS studies of normal and cancerous breast tissue
• Phase contrast imaging of the lung
• Fluid dynamical studies of fluid clearance of the lung
• Quantitative analysis of histology images after micro-beam radiation therapy treatment of aggressive cancers
• EPR studies of free radicals and oxidative stress in tissues.

Computer image processing

• Discrete Radon and Mojette transforms, image sampling and reconstruction
• Number theoretic connections in image processing
• Image reconstruction algorithms
• Quantitative analysis of histology images after micro-beam radiation therapy treatment of aggressive cancers
• High-fidelity mappings to enable images with high-dynamic ranges to be mapped onto visual display systems.

Electron scattering in materials

• Inelastic electron scattering in Si and GaAs
• Propagation of waves in disordered systems and phase transitions from extended to localised states
• Field theoretical studies in condensed matter; and theoretical models for nanodynamics
• Imaging light with electrons.

Magnetic studies

• Magnetism in disordered systems, including spin glass phases, frustrated systems, disordered antiferromagnets and random fields
• Measurements of magnetic susceptibility and magnetic neutron scattering; SQUID magnetometry
• Studies of new rare-earth-based permanent magnets.

Mössbauer spectroscopy

• Magnetic and crystallographic properties of solids containing iron, rare earths, or gold and their relation to materials development and mineral processing
• Adsorption of gold and other metals onto activated carbon and polyurethane foams
• Magnetic properties of invar and iron-nickel meteorites, exchange-spring magnets, martensite materials, layered magnetic materials, poorly crystalline iron oxide and related minerals, and coal and coal products
• Multiple spectra Mössbauer data acquisition systems for imaging or time-dependent studies.

Thin films

• Electronic, magnetic and structural properties of RF-magnetron sputtered thin films
• Martensitic transformations with shape-memory characteristics
• Photovoltaics, fuel cells, and high temperature superconductors.

Physics education research

• How students conceptualise physics
• How physics is best learnt and taught
• Gender balance and physics
• Interactive aids for physics study
• Enhancing the experience of physics in schools.

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