Join MERIT Lab and contribute to the future of sustainable energy
Before You Contact Me
I receive a large number of emails from prospective students. Adelaide University has changed how research degree scholarships work, and there are now only three ways into a funded research degree at MERIT Lab.
A funded project position. When I hold PhD or postdoc funding from a grant (ARC Linkage, ARC Discovery, industry or other sources), I recruit openly under the University's rules, including international candidates. These positions are always advertised publicly - on the Adelaide University website, on my LinkedIn page, and on other relevant platforms.
A Signature Research Theme (SRT) scholarship round. If I win a scholarship through an SRT Project Round (up to twice a year), I can recruit any qualified student, international candidates included. Successful projects are advertised on the University's research projects page and announced on my LinkedIn.
The Graduate Research Talent Scheme. Three rounds a year, open to domestic applicants and to international applicants who have completed a degree at an Australian or New Zealand university. This is the only pathway where contacting me before an advertisement appears is useful. See the sample projects below for the kind of topic to propose.
If the Graduate Research Talent Scheme does not apply to you, there is nothing for me to assess in advance - the openings simply do not exist until they are announced. Following my LinkedIn and the University's scholarship page is the fastest way to hear about them.
Use the checker below to see which pathway applies to you.
Adelaide University's Graduate Research Talent Scheme is open to outstanding domestic applicants, and to international applicants who have completed a relevant Australian or New Zealand qualification.
Does your academic record meet both of these?
1A GPA of at least 6.0 out of 7.0 in your most recent degree
2A completed capstone project, honours thesis or masters research project with a mark of Distinction or High Distinction
Contact Me About the Advertised Position
Read the advertisement carefully first and make sure you meet the essential and desired criteria, including the degree level it specifies (PhD, MPhil, MRes or postdoc). If you do, you are welcome to email me.
Subject: Enquiry about advertised position - [POSITION NAME/NUMBER]
Body: One paragraph explaining why you are the right person (technical aspects only)
Attachments:
Current CV (including GPAs, publications, awards)
Undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts
Please Get in Touch
You are in the group the Graduate Research Talent Scheme is aimed at, and your record is at the level that makes an application worth preparing. I am happy to hear from you.
Subject: Enquiry about Adelaide University research degree scholarship
Body: One paragraph on your GPA, your capstone or thesis project and its mark, and which of our research areas fits your background
Attachments:
Current CV (including GPAs, publications, awards)
Undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts
Watch for Announced Positions
This is not a judgement on your record. Under the current rules, an international applicant without an Australian or New Zealand qualification can only be funded through an advertised project - a funded project position, or a project from an SRT scholarship round - and those openings exist only when the funding does.
What to do
Follow my LinkedIn page, where I announce every opening at MERIT Lab
Scholarship rounds are highly competitive and are decided largely on academic record. Below a GPA of 6.0 out of 7.0, or without a strong research project behind you, an application is unlikely to succeed.
The Master of Research pathway
The Master of Research is a 1.5-year degree that combines research training with an independent project. It is a realistic way to build the record a PhD scholarship needs, and strong performance can lead into a PhD. Tuition is free for domestic students; international students pay fees, even if their earlier degree was completed in Australia.
Other ways to strengthen an application
Publish your capstone or thesis work, ideally in a Q1 journal
Gain research experience as a research assistant or in industry R&D
If your interests line up with our research areas and you would like to discuss the MRes route, you are welcome to email me.
Other Opportunities
Select the option that applies to you:
ARC DECRA Fellowship
If you are an early-career researcher with an outstanding track record and want to apply for an ARC DECRA with me as your host, you are welcome to contact me directly. The scheme is extremely competitive, so you should have:
Subject: Enquiry about [ARC DECRA / government-funded research degree / sabbatical stay]
Body: One paragraph about your request, potential research topics, and any deadlines
Attachments: CV and transcripts
Sample Projects
These are project ideas, not funded positions. All five are PhD projects listed publicly on the University's research projects page (search for pourmousavi there to filter that list), under the Sustainable Green Transition research theme, and they show the kind of work my team does. If the checker above says you are eligible for the Graduate Research Talent Scheme, proposing one of these is a good way to open your email to me - and I am just as happy to hear a topic of your own that fits our research areas.
Your research experience should be relevant to at least one of these areas - either by subject matter or by methods/techniques you use (e.g., optimization, machine learning).
Battery energy storage systems: optimal sizing, operation, and aggregation for grid applications
Electric vehicle integration: charging optimization, V2G, and fleet management
Mining/industrial electrification: battery-electric vehicles and hybrid renewable systems
Demand response and flexibility aggregation: VPP operation and prosumer coordination
Artificial intelligence and machine learning for power systems forecasting and optimization
Electricity market participation: bidding strategies and revenue optimization
Community batteries and local energy markets: sizing, operation, and business models
Smart grid technologies: large-scale data analytics, data compression, and prosumer privacy
Also check our recent publications to get a better picture of ongoing research.
Why Join MERIT Lab?
Work on cutting-edge projects with tangible real-world impact in renewable energy and electrification
Access to state-of-the-art HPC facilities and industry partnerships with major organizations
Opportunities for industry placements and international collaborations
Strong track record of research impact by conventional and non-conventional metrics
Pathway to commercialization through spin-offs like OptiGrid Pty Ltd
Supportive environment with proven supervision track record
Competitive funding packages with the possibility of top-up scholarships and research allowances
What We Offer
Competitive Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) scholarships
Top-up scholarships from industry partners (up to $10K p.a. additional funding)
Research allowances for conferences, equipment, and travel ($5K+ p.a.)
Industry-PhD programs with additional benefits and guaranteed industry placements
International placement opportunities (e.g., 6-month placements in Denmark with flights and stipend)
Access to Adelaide Power System Summer School intensive training
Collaborative research environment with regular group meetings and workshops
Opportunities to co-author papers with international collaborators