Environmental Science PhD

Job Description

We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to join our Soil Biogeochemistry and Environmental Sustainability Research Group at Griffith University. The project will investigate the environmental fate of biodegradable plastics in soil–plant systems, with a focus on understanding how these materials degrade, whether they generate residual micro- and nano-plastics, and their potential transfer into agricultural food systems. The research will involve laboratory, greenhouse, and analytical studies conducted in collaboration with the Solving Plastic Waste CRC (SPW CRC) and industry partners.

Biodegradable plastics are increasingly promoted as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics in agriculture and packaging. However, their long-term behaviour in soil remains poorly understood. It is unclear whether these materials fully biodegrade or fragment into persistent micro- and nano-plastic particles that may accumulate in soils or be taken up by plants. This project aims to generate new knowledge on the transformation pathways, persistence, and environmental risks associated with biodegradable plastics in terrestrial ecosystems.

Key project objectives include:

• Investigating the degradation and fragmentation pathways of biodegradable plastics under different soil conditions.
• Quantifying the formation, abundance, and persistence of residual micro- and nano-plastic particles in soil.
• Assessing plant uptake, translocation, and potential accumulation of degraded plastic particles within plant tissues.
• Evaluating the implications of biodegradable plastic degradation for soil health, environmental sustainability, and food-chain exposure.

The project will leverage Griffith University’s advanced soil and environmental research facilities and benefit from collaboration with the Solving Plastic Waste CRC, RMIT University, and industry stakeholders. The research will provide critical evidence to support sustainable material design, environmental risk assessment, and policy development, helping guide Australia's transition towards a circular economy and more sustainable agricultural systems.

Qualifications

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful in this role, you will hold a qualification in environmental science, soil science, chemistry, environmental engineering, biogeochemistry, materials science, or a related discipline. You will have a strong interest in environmental sustainability and a passion for undertaking research on the degradation, environmental fate, and impacts of biodegradable plastics in soil–plant systems. Experience with laboratory research, soil–plant interactions, or environmental analytical techniques will be advantageous.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and onshore international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to second class honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with the Equivalent qualifications for HDR program admission. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

Additional Information

About the scholarship
This PhD scholarship is funded through the Solving Plastic Waste Cooperative Research Centre (SPW CRC) and Griffith University. The scholarship provides a tax-free stipend of AUD $42,000 per annum for up to three years. In addition, the project includes AUD $10,000 per annum in research support funding to cover project-related research expenses.

Please note that the scholarship is subject to Griffith University Higher Degree Research scholarship conditions and satisfactory academic progress throughout candidature. Candidates will be expected to participate in collaborative research activities and contribute to publications, presentations, and thesis outputs arising from the project.

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder, you will study at a university that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in Southeast Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility, and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EOI Process
Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to '[email protected]', containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the ‘About you’ section
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Names and contact details of two referees

Closing date of expressions of interest: Friday the 11th of September 2026 at 5pm AEST.

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

For project related enquiries please contact:
Dr Mehran Rezaei Rashti 
Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: [email protected]