Calling all Parker Centre student Alumni

As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, we are interested in hearing from individuals who completed an Honours degree or PhD with the Parker Centre.  

 

We would like to acknowledge the contribution our previous students have made to the Minerals industry, research and academia by including Alumni members in celebratory events, including recognition in a special editionof the Hydrometallurgy Journal.

 

To register your interest please contact our education manager by e-mailing nadine.smith@parkercentre.com.au

Education overview  

Through both ‘boom and bust’ the minerals industry is at the core of the Australia economy. The utilisation of Australia's mineral resources and its contribution to the Nations’ economy depends on the ability to efficiently extract metals and metallic compounds such as alumina, gold, nickel, cobalt, copper and zinc using advanced hydrometallurgical processing methods. Research conducted by the Parker Centre is at the forefront of improving these extraction processes, while minimising environmental impacts.

 

The Parker Centre’s Education Program exists to support the research mission of the Centre and provide quality training for current and future hydrometallurgy personnel within the mineral resource sector. Parker Centre students are students who are enrolled at one of our three participating universities, Curtin University of Technology, Murdoch University , or the University of Queensland and conducting undergraduduate (including vacaction projects), Honours, MSc or PhD research projects projects which align with the overall research program conducted by the Parker Centre. Students undertaking Parker Centre research projects at Honours, Masters or PhD level are able to apply for financial assistance and have the opportunity to access a variety of professional learning or networking opportunities. Many past Parker students have gained career opportunities within industry and a number have won awards.

The value of the Centre’s education program can be demonstrated by the 61students who completed PhD or MSc research degrees through Parker Centre’s I and II. Since the commencement of Parker Centre III in 2005, another 5 students have gained a PhD or MSc award and the Centre currently has an additional 33 active PhD students. The Parker Centre will therefore have assisted in the training of 100 PhD graduates who represent a valuable contribution to research, education and industry. It is known to date, that at least 49% of PhD graduates have been employed by industry and 23% within the education sector,

In recognition of the value students contribute to research conducted by the Parker Centre, funds are made available through the education program to provide students with ‘top-up’ scholarships or co-invested scholarships with either university or industry participants. Murdoch University has provided two fee exempt places and living stipends for two international students. The combined value of these scholarships is $310 000 and were awarded to Mrs Maryam Barmi and Ms Nadri Batool.

The Parker Centre – Curtin Scholarship program commenced in 2009 and provides students with a fee free place in a Doctoral program and stipend of $25 000 per year. The value of these scholarships are $175 000 over the course of a PhD and were specially implemented to assist talented students who wanted to enrol outside the normal timetable for research scholarships, particularly domestic students. To date two scholarships have been awarded under this program to Mr Sergy Lynkov and Mr Alexander Senaputra.

The University of Queensland and the Parker Centre have also entered into a joint agreement with Queensland Alumina (QAL) and Rio Tinto Alcan to provide three PhD scholarships with a total value exceeding $390 000. These scholarships are currently in the process of being filled.

In addition to these financial commitments the current annual financial commitment to support for PhD students is $145 000 with an additional $150 000 allocated for professional development. Over its life time Parker Centre III, will commit close to $1 Million to support the education and training of undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The Parker Centre also conducts continuing education for professionals, secondments for industry staff, summer research projects and, when requested, provides support outreach programs for secondary school teachers and students conducted by Parker Centre participants.

For enquires relating to the Parker Centre’s Education Program, please contact the Centre’s Education Program Manager:
Ms Nadine Smith