About the Project
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Machine Learning for In Situ Characterisation of Phase Transformation in Green Metals
Host: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University
Location: Clayton campus, Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 3.5 years, full time
Supervisors: Dr Yuxiang Wu and Professor Michael Preuss
Start: July 2026 or later
Stipend: AUD 37,145 per annum, tax free, 2026 rate
Course code: 3291 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Scholarship status: A scholarship opportunity may be available for this project.
Project overview
Expressions of interest are sought from outstanding candidates for PhD study in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering.
The project, Processing Intelligence for Green Metals Using In Situ X-ray Characterisation and Machine Learning, will develop advanced in situ X-ray characterisation and machine-learning-enabled processing intelligence for green metals transformation.
The project will focus on capturing time-resolved structural and chemical changes during minerals-to-metals processing, including aqueous, thermal, and hybrid pathways relevant to extraction, refining, recycling, phase transformation, impurity evolution, and microstructure development.
You will use advanced in situ X-ray methods, including diffraction, scattering, imaging, and complementary multimodal characterisation, to generate data-rich descriptions of evolving materials and processing pathways. A central aim is to couple these experiments with machine learning, mechanistic modelling, and automated data analysis to extract processing-structure-property relationships and support predictive process optimisation.
The project sits within Monash’s broader ambition to build physical-digital capability for infrastructure platforms in minerals-to-green metals transformation. It will suit a candidate interested in combining experimental materials science, advanced characterisation, and data-driven modelling to develop new forms of processing intelligence for low-emission metals production and recycling.
You will be supervised by Dr Yuxiang Wu and Professor Michael Preuss, with collaborators across materials engineering, X-ray science, and artificial intelligence.
What you will do
Develop in situ X-ray characterisation methods for green metals processing.
Capture time-resolved structural, chemical, and microstructural changes during minerals-to-metals transformation.
Investigate phase transformation, impurity evolution, and microstructure development during aqueous, thermal, and hybrid processing pathways.
Use advanced X-ray techniques, including diffraction, scattering, imaging, and complementary multimodal characterisation.
Apply machine learning, mechanistic modelling, scientific computing, and automated data analysis to extract processing-structure-property relationships.
Support predictive process optimisation for low-emission metals production and recycling.
Work within a multidisciplinary research environment spanning materials engineering, X-ray science, and artificial intelligence.
Keywords
Green metals; in situ X-ray characterisation; machine learning; phase transformation; minerals-to-metals processing; recycling; extraction; refining; impurity evolution; microstructure development; processing intelligence; predictive process optimisation.