Tongfei Tian

Expression of Interest: Industry-supported PhD at the University of the Sunshine Coast This post announces a potential PhD opportunity at the University of the Sunshine Coast focused on sustainable recycled composite railway sleepers for Queensland cane railway applications. The project is positioned at the intersection of mechanical engineering , civil engineering , materials science , structural engineering , computational mechanics , and sustainable infrastructure materials. The research will investigate sleeper concepts using recycled tyre rubber , timber or wood-based materials , and potentially recycled plastics . Specific ideas mentioned include rubber-encapsulated timber sleeper systems and recycled rubber–plastic–wood composite sleeper concepts . The work will involve mechanical performance assessment , finite element modelling , durability considerations , fastening behaviour , and validation planning for low-speed cane railway applications. The announcer is Tongfei Tian , a Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The post indicates that the opportunity is currently subject to final UniSC approval and is being advertised as an expression of interest only at this stage. Formal applications will need to follow the official UniSC HDR application process if the scholarship is approved. Preferred candidates are domestic PhD candidates in the first instance. A background in mechanical engineering , civil engineering , materials engineering , structural engineering , computational mechanics , or a related field would be suitable. Experience or interest in FEA , materials testing , railway infrastructure , rubber/polymer materials , timber/wood composites , or sustainable engineering materials would be highly regarded. No deadline, stipend amount, or confirmed funding package is provided in the post. Interested candidates should contact the announcer directly by email for an initial discussion.