Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle: Microplastics and Chemical Additives from Polyethylene Terephthalate Packaging 2026

Supporting a PhD candidate to research health risks related to microplastics and chemical additives from packaging between Australia (Deakin University) and the United Kingdom (Coventry University). Coventry is the lead institution.

This PhD project is part of the Cotutelle arrangement between Coventry University, UK and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The supervision team will be drawn from the two universities.

This interdisciplinary project is organised into three interlinked Work Packages (WPs), which will combine laboratory experiments and social study.

• WP 1: Comparative analysis of leachability of MPs and chemical additives from vPET and rPET. (year 1 at Coventry University, UK)
• WP2: Investigate the toxicity of MPs and chemical additives on human health. (year 2 at Deakin University, Australia)
• WP3: Social study to understand consumers’ perceptions of risks associated with vPET and rPET packaging. (year 3 at Coventry University, UK).

Key details

Project supervisor

• A/Prof Svetlana Stevanovic

Additional supervisors

• A/Prof Matthew McKenzie
• Dr Aaron Schultz (Coventry)
• Dr Anna Bogush

Deakin faculty and school

• Faculty of f Science, Engineering and Built Environment
• School of Engineering

Location

• Coventry University (United Kingdom) and Deakin Waurn Ponds Campus (Australia)

• Table of Content
• About Deakin University
• Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle PhD Scholarship
• Requirements for Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle PhD Scholarship

This scholarship is available over three years and offers:

• a stipend of £21,805 (UKRI) per annum (2026 - 2027 rate)
• a relocation allowance of $500–1,500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate.
• at least 12 months of the total period of the program at Coventry University.
• students will be enrolled at their home institution and at their host institution and will receive a Doctoral degree from Coventry University and Deakin University.

For international students, the awardee will also receive:

• tuition fees offset for the duration of four years
• single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

Requirements for Deakin-Coventry Cotutelle PhD Scholarship Qualification

To be eligible you must:

• be a domestic or international candidate. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship
• meet the PhD entry requirements of both Deakin University and Coventry University, including equivalence and English language proficiency criteria
• enrol full time
• be able to physically locate to both Coventry University (United Kingdom) and Deakin University (Australia).

Additional criteria:

• a master’s or undergraduate degree in chemistry or environmental chemistry
• experience in laboratory work and instrumental analysis (e.g., FTIR, Raman, LC-MS, GC-MS)
• strong interest in interdisciplinary research
• knowledge of statistics and data analysis
• ability to work independently and in a team
• effective time management and organisation skills

Please refer to the research degree entry requirements page and Coventry University's research entry criteria page for further information.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Applicants are invited to lodge a Deakin formal application.
• Please lodge a separate PhD application to Coventry University via the Coventry project application page.

If you would like more information or have any questions about this scholarship, please contact the project supervisor.

• Email A/Prof Svetlana Stevanovic

For more information, kindly visit Deakin University scholarship webpage.