Circular Timber Building Systems Australia
Applying resource-efficient and circular timber building systems for new construction and existing building stock extension in Australia
Published on the 08 October 2026 by UNSW Scientia PhD Project
This project is part of the UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarship Scheme
Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend and a one-off Global Mobility Grant to conduct international engagement activities.
This PhD position offers a unique opportunity in Circular Timber Construction & Cyber-Physical Fabrication. The research will advance circular timber construction through an international research placement at the University of Stuttgart's Cluster of Excellence IntCDC. Building on IntCDC's Research Projects RP 3-3, RP 4-2 and RP 4-3, the candidate will investigate the integration of secondary timber, defined as reclaimed, low-grade and variable-property wood, into engineered building systems, supported by cyber-physical fabrication, machine-learning-based material assessment, and adaptive robotic prefabrication.
The project bridges fundamental research developed in Stuttgart with applied, industry-facing outcomes for the Australian construction sector, addressing resource efficiency, regulatory gaps, and fabrication automation via micro factories. The successful candidate will gain direct access to University of Stuttgart's world-leading facilities and research groups, and strong connections to Arch_Manu's architecture, design, and engineering industry network in Sydney.
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- Residency: Domestic applicants only.
- Degree program: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
You must meet the minimum requirements below to apply:
- An appropriate Bachelor degree with first or upper second class Honours from UNSW: OR
- A completed Master by Research, with a substantial research component and demonstrated capacity for timely completion of a high-quality research thesis; OR
- a qualification from another tertiary institution at a level considered equivalent by the Faculty Higher Degree Committee (HDC)
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Eligible applicants must contact the Primary Supervisor, Matthias Hank Haeusler - z3401211@ad.unsw.edu.au. If he agrees to supervise you, you will be invited to submit a formal application to UNSW.
Your email should include:
- CV
- Official academic transcripts
- A brief introduction about you and why you are qualified for this project.
- What interests you about this project and the supervisor(s) expertise.
Research project overview
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Scholarship value
$39,991 per annum (2027 rate) stipend for 3.5 years
$25,000 Global Mobility Grant (one-off) -
Supervisory team
Professor M. Hank Haeusler (UNSW, Primary Supervisor)
Professor Achim Menges, University of Stuttgart (Co-Supervisor)
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Global research partner
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Candidate residency
Domestic
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Degree program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
UNSW School | Research area
Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture | School of Built Environment
Impact focus area
Pillar 6: Accelerate the transition to a sustainable society and planet
Learn more
Primary Supervisor
Do you have questions?
The UNSW Graduate Research School manages all postgraduate research applications and scholarships. Get in touch with our team to discuss your research interests and the next steps.