Marine concrete infrastructure, including piles, seawalls, jetties, bridges, and port facilities, is continuously exposed to harsh seawater conditions that accelerate material deterioration and shorten operational service life. Although conventional deterioration mechanisms such as chloride ingress, carbonation, and sulphate attack have been extensively studied, the contribution of microbial activity to concrete degradation remains comparatively underexplored, particularly in marine and coastal environments. These environments support diverse microbial communities capable of colonising concrete surfaces and pore structures, forming biofilms, and driving metabolically mediated geochemical transformations. Through processes such as sulphur cycling, acid production, and biofilm development, microorganisms may alter local pH, redox conditions, and mineral stability, thereby accelerating concrete degradation and reinforcement corrosion. However, the microbial communities involved, their metabolic activities, and the environmental drivers governing these processes remain poorly understood under realistic marine exposure conditions. Addressing this knowledge gap is necessary to improve mechanistic understanding of deterioration in marine concrete and to support the development of more robust, predictive, and biologically informed durability assessment approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aim <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This investigation aims to advance understanding of the microbial and environmental factors that govern biodeterioration in marine concrete infrastructure exposed to seawater. Specifically, the project seeks to clarify how microbial colonisation, biofilm development, and metabolically driven geochemical transformations contribute to concrete degradation and interact with conventional durability mechanisms in coastal infrastructure. The study also aims to support the development of biologically informed approaches for assessing the long-term performance of concrete in marine environments. By improving understanding of the interactions between microbial activity, environmental exposure conditions, and the evolution of concrete durability, the research will contribute to future strategies for prediction, monitoring, and management of marine concrete deterioration. The outcomes of this work have the potential to extend beyond fundamental understanding by informing future monitoring, asset management, and mitigation strategies for marine infrastructure. In the Australian context, where ports, coastal transport systems, and marine assets are central to economic resilience and regional connectivity, improved capacity to anticipate biologically influenced deterioration would provide both scientific and practical value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Objectives <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Characterise the microbial communities associated with deteriorated marine concrete infrastructure exposed to seawater and identify the key microbial groups and metabolic pathways involved in biodeterioration. 2. Investigate how concrete properties influence microbial colonisation, biofilm formation, and subsequent biodeterioration processes. 3. Evaluate how environmental drivers, including temperature, oxygen availability, and sulphate concentration, influence microbial activity and deterioration rates in marine concrete systems. 4. Develop a conceptual framework that integrates biological, environmental, and conventional durability parameters to improve understanding and support future prediction of concrete performance in marine environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Significance <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This project addresses a strategically important challenge in the long-term durability, maintenance, and resilience of marine concrete infrastructure. Coastal and port assets are essential to economic activity, logistics, public safety, and national connectivity, yet their performance is increasingly threatened by aggressive marine exposure and the rising costs associated with deterioration, repair, and service disruption. Although conventional deterioration mechanisms, including chloride ingress and reinforcement corrosion, are well recognised in durability assessments, the contribution of microorganisms remains insufficiently incorporated into current frameworks. The proposed research is competitive because it targets a clear and underexplored knowledge gap at the interface of microbiology, materials durability, and corrosion science. Current multi-physics and reactive transport models used to assess concrete performance in marine environments largely neglect biological processes, despite growing evidence that biofilm formation and microbially mediated geochemical transformations can influence permeability evolution, local chemistry, cracking, and reinforcement corrosion. By generating new knowledge on the microbial communities, functional processes, and environmental drivers associated with marine concrete biodeterioration, the project will deliver an evidence base that can support more comprehensive durability models and future intervention strategies. The outcomes of this work have the potential to extend beyond fundamental understanding by informing future monitoring, asset management, and mitigation strategies for marine infrastructure. In the Australian context, where ports, coastal transport systems, and marine assets are central to economic resilience and regional connectivity, improved capacity to anticipate biologically influenced deterioration would provide both scientific and practical value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideal Candidate <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are seeking a highly motivated HDR applicant with exceptional capabilities and skillsets for this scholarship opportunity. The ideal candidate should possess a master’s degree or bachelor’s degree with first or upper second-class honours in the field of microbiology, materials science, or chemical engineering. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills as well as time management skills and ability to work self-directed. Strong understanding of corrosion principles and familiarity with surface analysis techniques are desired for this project. Eligibility for enrolment in a PhD program at Curtin University is a prerequisite for this position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This project is open to Domestic applicants only.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scholarship <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are identified as the preferred candidate for this project, you may be considered for an RTP scholarship<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Enquires and How to Apply <\/p>\n\n\n\n For enquires about this opportunity contact Dr Silvia Salgar Chaparro at silvia.salgar@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n