Research degrees in industry

Q&A with Renae O'Hara, BE(Mech&Aero)

Why did you decide to do a PhD?

I decided to further my studies by undertaking a PhD to gain independent research skills in both laboratory work and academic writing. I also enjoyed the prospect of travel and collaborating with different universities/industry partners on my project. In conjunction with this, I wanted to develop a range of skills in both a professional and personal capacity, including public speaking, confidence, project management, and interacting/networking with colleagues and professionals in the industry/field of research. In addition, working on a sustainability-focused project was of particular interest and importance to me.

What are the benefits of having an industry collaborator on your project?

As part of the HILT CRC industry internship program with Roy Hill, I had the opportunity to work at the Remote Operations Centre (ROC) and Hancock Prospecting (HPPL) corporate headquarters in Perth for a month. During this time, I gained valuable insights into the iron ore mining industry through interacting with different departments and learning about the mine-to-market value chain and integrated processes. In the ROC, I observed mine scheduling and remote execution of mine-to-port processes, including drilling, autonomous haulage system (AHS), processing plant, Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separator (WHIMS) plant, as well as rail and port operations. Placed within the Marketing team, I learnt about the iron ore market, Roy Hill products, and the process of shipping the ore to customers in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan. Further to this, I undertook an internship research project which involved developing an Excel-based model to determine the value-in-use of Roy Hill iron ores in iron and steelmaking process routes. This model will assist the Financial Analysis team with developing new iron ore mines and future pricing of Roy Hill ores.

Does your project have real world applications?

Australia is the largest producer and exporter of iron ore. As Australia transitions away from carbon- and energy-intensive ironmaking processes, such as the blast furnace, the low-grade ores within Australia need to be beneficiated before they can be used in emerging green iron and steelmaking production routes. My project is focused on experimentally testing novel methods of beneficiating the iron ore, using heating and magnetic separation, as well as the impact of this processed ore in direct reduction ironmaking with hydrogen. The outcomes of this project will assist with improving the ore beneficiation process and the optimisation of direct reduction kinetics, in order to be competitive with the productive and efficient (but carbon intensive) blast furnace ironmaking.

Do you think your research studies will lead to a more challenging or interesting career?

Definitely. There are many opportunities to present your research and collaborate with researchers within UofA, as well as with external universities, industry and government. This allows you to broaden and grow your professional network which is beneficial for future career opportunities. Being a HDR student in the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC), I have had many opportunities to collaborate with researchers and industry partners within specific HILT projects, as well as engage and learn from other professionals at conferences and in webinars. Additionally, I was able to undertake an industry internship which not only provided an opportunity for solo travel, but also allowed me to form industry connections which may lead to opportunities in the future. During this time, I also worked on an internship project which allowed me to develop my knowledge in a field closely related to my research. Therefore, the skills gained during research studies will set you apart from new graduates and are transferrable to any job.

What are your career plans upon graduation?

Short answer is: I don’t know. After undergrad, there were hundreds of engineering students applying for a very limited number of graduate positions in a handful of companies. I still wanted to continue learning and push my potential in the field of engineering, as learning from a textbook and undertaking real-world impactful research are two very different things. Undertaking a PhD has opened so many doors. I have been able to collaborate and network with researchers from universities around Australia, as well as with many industry professionals. The internship also provided insight into working within industry and whether this is a path to explore after completing my postgraduate studies. I am still deciding what I would like to do after graduation, but I am open to taking any opportunity that arises in both academia/research or industry.

What advice would you offer to students considering doing a postgraduate research degree?

Undertaking postgraduate research is an excellent opportunity to apply the knowledge gained during undergraduate studies to a project that is meaningful to you, as well as develop and enhance research/modelling/experimental skills. You will need to work independently but can also rely on your supervisors and research group for help; don’t be afraid to ask questions that will enhance your learning and understanding.

Choose a project that you find interesting in both the topic and nature of the research (i.e., modelling, experimental, etc.). For example, my project was initially modelling focused, but I did not particularly enjoy modelling and it was not my strength. After one year, I shifted to predominantly experimental activities and started to really enjoy the project which improved my motivation. Further to this, my background is in mechanical and aerospace engineering, but my project is focused on chemical reactions and processes. This was a big learning curve at the start of the project, however I enjoyed learning a new field of engineering and the first year is dedicated to developing this new knowledge. Therefore, both the topic and nature of the research is important when considering which project to undertake for the next three to four years.

Finally, you do not have to be the smartest student in the class to undertake postgraduate research, but you will need to work hard, be persistent, and be able to manage your time.

And not to mention, at the end you will be a ‘Doctor’!