Ph.D Research Opportunities



The New Zealand Ph.D

Admission as a Ph.D candidate depends on demonstrated academic and research capability, and most importantly, on the acceptance of a supervisor. Canterbury Ph.D graduates often pursue successful careers in industry, as research is usually focused on development of viable energy technologies and systems. The Ph.D is normally completed in three years. Formal coursework is not required. The qualifying step is the Ph.D research proposal and literature review presented six months after enrolment. Examination of the thesis and an oral vitae are the final hurdle. This programme is the same model as the British system and is significantly different from the Ph.D process in the USA.

AEMS Lab research projects are highly interdisciplinary, and require a high level of creativity and systems thinking. Dr. Krumdieck and the other staff members are happy to supervise high capability students from a range of disciplines. Direct acceptance from a bachelors degree will be considered for students with a GPA of A- or above, First Class Honours, and possibly Second Class Honours, First Division. Students who have already achieved a Masters degree in energy engineering have the best position to pursue the Ph.D.



Current research projects

Topics include:



Potential Ph.D topics

  • Strategic analysis of complex systems

  • Demand Side Management (DSM) for residential electricity

  • Clean Air, Healthy Homes, Renewable Energy

  • Dairy Farming: A plan to avoid the Tragedy of the Commons

  • Continuity planning

  • Transport fuel risks to essential activities

  • RECATS for freight and goods movement

  • Strategic planning methods for urban areas

  • Constrained transport fuel and CO2 emissions

  • Adaptation of behaviour and systems

  • Urban form and transport system design for low fuel use

  • Policy and technology analysis for rapid CO2 emission reduction

  • Continuity planning methodology case studies

  • Sustainable New Zealand - the virtual reality game

  • Anthropogenic continuity theory



Applicable scholarships

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