25 Fully Funded PhD Scholarships 2026 in New Zealand by MacDiarmid Institute

Are you a passionate and driven student with a strong academic background in materials science, nanotechnology, physics, chemistry, engineering, or related fields? Do you dream of contributing to cutting-edge research that addresses global challenges like climate change, sustainable energy, and advanced computing? If so, prepare to be excited! The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, New Zealand’s premier research organization in its field, is offering an incredible opportunity: 25 fully funded PhD scholarships!

These highly sought-after scholarships aren’t just about financial support; they offer an unparalleled experience in a thriving research environment. As a MacDiarmid Institute PhD student, you’ll become part of a vibrant community, benefiting from exciting collaborative opportunities, extensive training, and a network of accomplished alumni making a real impact worldwide.

What’s On Offer?

Each scholarship provides NZD$38,500 per annum (tax-free), plus all student fees for the duration of your PhD. Beyond the financial support, you’ll gain access to:

1. Industry Internships: 3-6 month opportunities to apply your research in a real-world setting.
2. Specialized Workshops: Annual multi-day events covering crucial skills like communication, commercialization, and leadership.
3. Intensive Bootcamps: Annual multi-day sessions in stunning remote locations, featuring expert-led discussions on current research areas.
4. Outreach Events: Opportunities to engage with schools and inspire the next generation of scientists.
5. MacDiarmid Emerging Scientists Association (MESA) Membership: A student and postdoc-run association organizing additional activities and networking.

Dive into Diverse Research Areas

The 30+ scholarships span four key research programs, each addressing critical global needs:

Reconfigurable Systems – Towards Zero Waste (9 Scholarships)

1. Assembly dynamics of advanced colloids
2. Stimuli-responsive multi-compartment hydrogel capsules
3. Exploring electromechanical coupling in functionalised biological materials
4. Enhancing the functionality and circularity of silicone vitrimers with a view towards commercial applications
5. Pickering emulsion-based strategies for compartmentalisation of polymer coacervates
6. Peptide-based piezoelectric materials for electrically stimulated antibacterial applications
7. Multiscale magnetic materials for light-based technologies
8. Tiny droplets with big potential: designing stimuli-responsive liquid micro-structures for sustainable chemistry and future technologies
9. Optical spectroscopy of stimuli-responsive microdroplets

Future Computing – Towards Low Energy Tech (10 Scholarships)

1. Altermagnetism in low dimensional d-wave superconductors and chalcogenides
2. Molecular functionalisation of self-assembled neuromorphic devices
3. Brain-like computing with ultrasound
4. Ferroelectric and multiferroic nitride thin films for future computing
5. Spin-compensated Heusler alloy ferrimagnets
6. Magnetic Josephson junctions incorporating rare earth nitrides
7. Quantum simulations of unconventional superconductors
8. From ab initio characterisation to simulation of molecular ‘synapses’ for neuromorphic computing
9. Modelling approaches for percolating nanoparticle/nanotube networks
10. Plasmonically-enhanced perovskite devices

Pūtaiao Māori Research Programme – Sustainable Resource Use (2 Scholarships)

1. ‘Facilitating Pathways’ in the physical sciences
2. Weaving adsorptive power into harakeke for heavy metal removal

Catalytic Architectures – Towards Zero Carbon (7 Scholarships)

1. Metal-organic framework materials for carbon capture and separation
2. Developing conductive porous electrocatalysts for greenhouse gas conversion
3. Immobilised electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction into commodity chemicals
4. Lanthanide materials for ammonia production
5. Engineering next-generation gas diffusion electrodes: Plasma-sprayed electrodes for sustainable CO2 conversion
6. Plasma-assisted electrochemical ammonia synthesis
7. High throughput electrocatalyst screening and development for sustainable energy applications
8. Catalytic removal of organic pollutants from water coupled with hydrogen production

External PhD scholarship opportunities with MacDiarmid Institute Investigators (additional opportunities with separate funding)

1. Thermally sprayed synthetic high-silica volcanic glass formation to study the critical phase reactivity of pozzolanic pumice in concrete
2. Chemical programming of mixed-matrix membranes for CO2 capture
3. Materials science or chemical engineering for the development of novel controlled-release fertilisers and manufacturing processes
4. Processing and characterisation of Ti-Fe alloys as H2 storage materials from NZ feedstocks (2 PhD scholarships)
5. Design, synthesis and advanced characterisation of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in anion exchange membrane electrolysers (3 PhD projects available)
6. Hydrogen generation with sustainable resources – a combined molecular, computational and engineering approach (3 PhD positions)
7. New industry-funded PhD studentship: Connecting structure and rheology in dairy protein concentrates

How to Apply?

For most scholarships, the application process involves sending a CV, academic record, and the names and contact details of two referees to the specified contact person for each project, with the exact PhD project title in the subject line. Please review the “How to apply” section for each specific scholarship for any unique requirements here https://www.macdiarmid.ac.nz/about-us/join-us/phd-scholarships/.

Don’t miss this incredible chance to advance your academic career and contribute to groundbreaking research in New Zealand! Apply now and become part of the MacDiarmid Institute’s impactful scientific community.