2 PhD Scholarships: Detecting & Controlling Termites & Fungi in Wooden structures
Employer: The University of Melbourne
Location: Melbourne
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BACKGROUND:

Australia has a very substantial investment in timber structures, including 11,000 km of timber bridges, railway sleepers, power poles and dwellings. Annual timber losses due to fungal, termite and other insect degradation, is very significant.

The use of organochlorine compounds for ground poisoning and remedial treatment has been discontinued due to environmental, health and safety concerns. Less toxic chemicals are less effective, requiring more regular inspection and do not address fundamental concerns associated with environmental issues.

This project will provide the community with a cheap automated alarm system indicating when remedial treatment is required and a non-chemical technology for controlling infected structures. The project is multidisciplinary involving electronic communication from remote structures, biology relating to termites and wood biodeterioration.

PROJECT:

Two PhD scholarships are available to study and investigate methods of detecting and treating termite and fungal attack in wooden structures using microwave technologies and/or electronic sensors.

The two PhD scholarships are part of a recent ARC Linkage project granted to Melbourne University in partnership with James Cook & Monash Universities, PowerCor, PCT International & Redcentre. Field test sites are located in Northern Territory, Victoria etc.

Students with science, engineering, forestry, agriculture background are all welcome to apply for the scholarships of $25,118 per student/annum. Applicant(s) must be Australian citizen or permanent residents.

Contact: Dr Berhan Ahmed, Parkville Campus, email: b.ahmed@unimelb.edu.au or phone: 03-8344-8084 or: 0405-479-275 or Dr Graham Brodie, Dookie Campus, email: grahamb@unimelb.edu.au or phone: 03-5833-9273.