PhD Scholarship in Scalable AI Decoding for Quantum Error Correction, Monash University

Job Description

Monash University offers a PhD scholarship in AI decoding for quantum error correction. You will build fast neural-network decoders that fix errors in large quantum computers. International students can apply. The scholarship is about A$41,100 a year.

At a glance

• Position: PhD scholarship, up to 3.5 years full time (job no. 699201)
• Where: Scalable Quantum Systems Lab, Faculty of Information Technology, Clayton campus, Melbourne, Australia
• Supervisor: Prof. Muhammad Usman
• Stipend: About A$41,100 a year (2026 rate), plus A$4,000 project funding and up to A$1,265 for travel
• Who can apply: Australian and international students
• Apply: no earlier than 15 December 2026, 11:55pm AEDT. It closes once the place is filled, and strong applicants are interviewed as they come in

What the quantum error correction PhD involves

• Develop scalable AI decoders, such as deep neural networks or transformers
• Make them fast enough to run on microsecond time scales
• Make them handle error data from millions of qubits
• Work with postdocs and PhD students in the Faculty of IT
• The lab’s wider work includes the National Quantum Computing Testbed Facility and quantum AI for defence

Why this role matters

Quantum computers make errors all the time. Error correction only works if a classical decoder keeps up in real time, and that is a hard computing problem. Machine-learning people can make a real difference here. The skills carry over to quantum hardware companies and to AI work in general.

What Monash University is looking for

• A 4-year bachelor’s with a research thesis at First Class Honours level, or a master’s with a research part worth at least 25% of a year at the same level
• Strong machine learning and deep learning, and programming in Python and PyTorch
• Monash’s English language requirements
• You must not already hold a PhD, and you must be able to start in the year of the offer

Nice to have

• Knowledge of quantum computing; the ad says it helps but is not essential

Pay and location

The stipend is about A$41,100 a year at the 2026 rate, indexed each year. You also get A$4,000 of faculty funding for the whole PhD and a one-off travel grant of up to A$1,265. The scholarship runs for up to 3.5 years, full time, at the Clayton campus in Melbourne.

How to apply

Apply through the official Monash University page. The closing date is no earlier than 15 December 2026, 11:55pm AEDT. It closes once the place is filled, and strong applicants are interviewed as they come in. Applying has two stages. First, email an expression of interest to Prof. Usman with a CV, full transcripts with the grading scale, a cover letter and a draft research proposal of up to two pages. Shortlisted applicants then talk with the supervisors and send a full application.

See all our PhD positions, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.