We are currently looking for 4 highly motivated PhD candidates to join the research of “Next-Generation Visual Understanding” funded by the ARC Industry Laureate Fellowship.

The successful candidate will join the research team led by an Australian Industry Laureate Fellow and internationally recognized researchers in smart farming, computer vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, within the School of Engineering and Built Environment at Griffith University.

The research environment is collaborative and multidisciplinary, combining expertise in deep learning, computer vision, data science, and applied AI, and working closely with industry partners, national research institutions, and international collaborators.

This opportunity will be primarily based at the Brisbane South (Nathan) campus. As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations. Griffith University sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

This research aims to advance knowledge of machine vision for deep visual understanding of natural objects and environments. The primary focus of this role is to undertake fundamental research in visual understanding and multimodal machine learning. Research activities include developing novel deep learning methods for representation learning, vision-language reasoning, fine-grained and ultra-fine-grained visual categorization, and trustworthy AI systems. The candidate will publish high-quality research papers in leading conferences and journals in computer vision and machine learning.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to receive advanced research training and work within a vibrant research environment that includes a team of research fellows, industry collaborators, and PhD students. The position provides opportunities for collaboration with leading researchers and participation in international research communities in computer vision, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of academic merit and research background. To be successful in this role, you should demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, solid mathematical foundation, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research environment. Evidence of a passion for computer vision and image processing is essential. Previous experiences in deep learning, visual recognition, multimodal AI, pattern recognition, or data-driven modelling are preferred.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree with honours equivalent to first-class honours, or a Master’s degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a Bachelor honours degree, or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Policy. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program, refer here.

Please note:

• Applicants with academic qualifications in computer science, engineering, applied mathematics, with a publication record in top tier venues such as CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, NeurIPS, AAAI, IJCAI are preferred.

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
2. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19 OR
3. A score of no less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only) OR
4. A minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency OR
5. An overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50 (applies to tests taken prior to 7 August 2025) OR
6. An overall score of 55 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 47 (applies to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025) OR
7. An overall score of 70 in the LanguageCert Academic OR
8. An overall score of 59 in the Michigan English Test (MET) .

About the scholarship
The successful candidate will be awarded a Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUPRS) or an equivalent scholarship package funded through the ARC Industry Laureate Fellowship.

The 2026 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $35,656 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

EoI process
Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to [email protected], containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Brief research proposal, maximum 2 pages
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the ‘About you’ section
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Names and contact details of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Currently Open 

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

Further information

For project related enquiries please contact:
Professor Yongsheng Gao
Email:  [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: [email protected]