The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) has awarded four PhD scholarships to talented research students working to explore the future challenges and opportunities in the minerals industry of Western Australia.
The scholarships were funded by the Western Australian Government through MRIWA and aim to support the development and education of the next generation of thought leaders in the state’s mining industry.
Alex Eves was awarded the MRIWA Odwyn Jones PhD Scholarship, named in honour of pioneering Western Australian mining educator, Professor Odwyn Jones, to investigate the formation of the giant Speewah vanadium-titanium deposit in the Kimberley region.
The MRIWA PhD Scholarship for Women was awarded to Hyunjin Na to investigate new methods for extracting valuable sulphide minerals from Western Australian ore.
Due to the exceptional quality of applications received, MRIWA offered additional MRIWA PhD Scholarships for 2023 to Daniel Goldstein and Nilan Jayasiri Mudiyanselage.
Mr Goldstein’s work is investigating the use of machine learning to characterise ore deposits during active drilling, and Mudiyanselage is investigating new dewatering technology to make mine tailings safer.
The four recipients will join a cohort of PhD researchers supported by MRIWA to help keep Western Australia at the forefront of minerals research and technology development.
Western Australian Mines and Petroleum Minister, Bill Johnston, said, “The Western Australian Government is committed to building a future where Western Australia can unlock its potential as a reliable, ethical and competitive supplier of the minerals critical to the global industry and clean energy production.
“Western Australia’s world-class universities are positioned to enable the inventiveness and innovation required to make that vision a reality.
“MRIWA scholarships attract some of the brightest research talent from around the world to the State, helping deliver the future of mining.”
