The School of Engineering of the University of Western Sydney, Australia is seeking an excellent candidate to undertake an Australian Research Council funded doctoral project in 2011.
Tall buildings are prone to wind-induced vibration, causing discomfort to occupants and degradation of work performance. This research is multi-disciplinary, bringing together inputs from engineering, physiology and psychology, and aiming to identify the factors affecting motion sickness and understand the significance of compensatory behaviour on human comfort and work performance in wind-excited tall buildings. This research will be based on experimental manipulation of the effects of low-frequency planar vibration on people in a motion simulator, general population surveys on prior experience of and reaction to building motion, and field survey of occupants in wind-excited buildings. The successful candidate may have the opportunity to participate in research components of the project in Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Applicants should:
• Hold a Bachelor Honours degree (First Class or Second Class Honours Upper Division) and/or a research Master degree in human factors, psychology, human physiology, engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent qualifications and/or work/research experience.
• Be highly motivated to undertake multi-disciplinary research.
• Possess excellent communication skills.
• Applicants must also demonstrate a high level of English proficiency. International applicants should refer to the following webpage regarding English Language requirements.
What does the scholarship provide?
• The scholarship will provide an index-linked, tax free stipend of $27,651 per annum for up to 3 years. A higher valued stipend of up to $32,860 per annum may be awarded to exceptionally qualified applicants.
• Domestic applicants will be awarded a Research Training Scheme funded place in the degree.
Need more information?
• Contact an academic advisor to discuss the project in more detail: Professor Kenny Kwok: k.kwok@uws.edu.au; +61 2 4736 0444 or Professor Vaughan Macefield: v.macefield@uws.edu.au; +61 2 9852 4654
• Contact the Research Training, Policy and Programs Officer, Mrs Sandra Lawrence to discuss enrolment and scholarships: sg.lawrence@uws.edu.au
How to Apply:
• Submit an Application Form together with a covering letter and CV, including the contact information of three (3)academic referees.
Link: Application Form (http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/136315/CURRENT_APPN_FORM_170511.pdf)
Deadline: 17 June 2011.
Source: Higher Degree Research Scholarship Details | University of Western Sydney (UWS) (http://www.uws.edu.au/research/scholarships/new_higher_degree_research_scholarships#Engineering)