Postgraduate Student Opportunities

I am always happy to work with interested postgraduate students, including Australian students and international students, on Masters degrees and PhD degrees.

  • For an overview of my research, including projects that might involve PhD and Masters students, please see my Research Info page.
  • All my students need to learn background in knots, hyperbolic geometry, and 3-manifold topology, and typically they spend their first month or so gaining that background. For a head start, read the first six chapters of my book Hyperbolic Knot Theory.
  • For specifics on research projects, see my Research Publications page.
       

The Monash PhD Program

At Monash, a PhD program lasts officially for 3.5 years, and can be extended to 4 years. There are no coursework requirements or examinations during that time -- you are expected to have the equivalent of a Masters degree or research Honours degree, and you will jump directly into your PhD project. If you are not prepared for the PhD, you can enrol in the masters program.

To Apply:

Entry into the PhD program at Monash is very competitive. More information on the Monash process is available here. Note that if you are eligible, the process begins by submitting an expression of interest. If you are successful, you will be issued an Invitation to Apply.

If you are interested in doing a PhD with me, then to obtain an Invitation to Apply, please send the following by email:

  • Your research interests. In a paragraph or two, please summarise why you are interested in working with me, and what types of research projects you would be interested in pursuing.

  • Your background, including mathematics classes you have taken and how you have performed. An unofficial university transcript would be great. It would also be helpful to know, if available, your class rank. How did you do compared to others in your classes? (This information can help with Monash scholarships, especially if you come from a university that is not well known to Monash.)

  • Your degrees: Undergraduate? Honours? Masters? Note that entry into the PhD program requires the equivalent of an Honours or Masters degree, including a thesis. If you have a copy of your thesis, it would be good to send it along.

  • Your experience in mathematics and related fields outside of classes. Have you worked on a research project, or extended reading class? Have you written an article? Tutored or taught mathematics? Sending a CV would be helpful.

After you send this information, I will consider it, and forward it along to the postgraduate coordinator in the Monash School of Mathematics. If it seems you will be competitive, you will be invited for an (online) interview. And if that goes well, you will be issued an Invitation to Apply for the Monash PhD and scholarship program. You must then submit your application.

Monash Deadlines:

  • International Applicants:
    • Round closes 31 March for enrolment between July and December of the current year.
      Please start the EOI process by mid-February.
    • 31 August for enrolment between January and June of the following year.
      Please start the EOI process by mid-July.
  • Australian Applicants:
    • Round closes 31 May for enrolment between July and December of the current year.
      Please start the EOI process by mid-April.
    • 31 October for enrolment between January and June of the following year.
      Please start the EOI process by mid-September.