PhD - Industry 4.0 for Energy Saving in Manufacturing

I am seeking to recruit an ambitious and motivated candidate wishing to conduct PhD research in using Industry 4.0 technologies for energy saving in manufacturing.

Applicants MUST have Australian domestic student status and a high-scoring Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in an engineering or computer science degree, preferably Electronic, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Industrial Engineering or Computer Science.

About the Project:

Industry 4.0 technologies like IOT and AI offer the Australian manufacturing sector the opportunity to improve energy efficiency by >17.5% by 2030. Due to an absence of affordable, non-invasive, reliable digital metering, manufacturers usually lack quality energy data. While great strides are being made in the case of electricity monitoring, it is recognised that next generation metering should take multiple data streams into account, e.g. heat and fluid metering too. This is especially crucial for food and beverage manufacturing.
In this project, industry 4.0 testbeds at UTS – already equipped with world-class sensing capabilities – will be fortified with full metering infrastructure, which – when combined with capabilities in IOT and AI – will develop a smart energy reporting platform that learns how to optimise systems and implement optimal changes. This will form a case study for disseminating best practice in resource metering to NSW manufacturers, as a pathway to achieving significant energy savings.

About the Supervisor:

This project will be supervised by Dr Nick Bennett.

Dr Nick Bennett recently joined UTS as a Senior Lecturer, having worked in the field of thermoelectric energy harvesting for most of the past decade. Previous to UTS, Nick worked at Heriot-Watt University in the UK between 2013 and early 2019. There he led seven projects in all, with total value above $1 million AUD, sponsored by the EPSRC, the Royal Society, the Energy Technology Partnership, the Energy Academy, and the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre, as well as completing research contracts/consultancy for numerous industry partners, including the European Space Agency and Mitsubishi. Dr Bennett is a recognised expert in thermoelectric energy harvesting, having been an invited speaker at some of the world’s foremost conferences on thermoelectrics. He was the co-organiser of the UK’s 2018 annual thermoelectric meeting.

About the Faculty:

The Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at UTS is a world-class faculty with a growing reputation for its quality and impact. Our research is highly advanced, industry-focused and part of the lively and rigorous research culture at UTS.

Focused on ’practical innovation’, our researchers are pioneering research solutions with real-world impact. They’re recognised leaders in their fields, responsible for delivering new, better and more cost-effective innovative solutions to current national and international challenges.

Funding Notes:

A scholarship of approx. AU$28,000 per annum stipend (tax free) + tuition fee waiver for domestic candidates is available for the full 3 years. Opportunities for funding to top-up the stipend will be available.

Enquiries:

Complete the form below for informal enquiries or to apply, remember to include...

(1) A brief covering statement and (2) your Curriculum Vitae.

Closing date for next intake: Australian Domestic students: 30 Sep 2020 (for commencement in Jan 2021).