PhD Scholarship for Designing Dignity: Civic equity through public bathroom architecture
Job No.: 692149
Location: Caulfield campus
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a Faculty-funded Stipend scholarship (Living Allowance) and Tuition Fee Remission Scholarship, Relocation Allowance (up to $1000 interstate and $1,500 overseas) and Single coverage of Overseas Student Healthcare Cover (OSHC) for a maximum of 57 months. (overseas applicants only). Living Allowance current value: $36,063 p.a. 2025 full-time rate (tax-free stipend); (annually indexed plus allowances as per RTP/MGRO stipend conditions: www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/support/scholarship-conditions-of-award)
The Opportunity:
This is an opportunity for an outstanding PhD candidate with a background in architecture, urban design/planning, geography and/or co-design, and an interest in developing innovative new research exploring the future needs of Australian cities by reconceptualising the role and function of public bathroom amenities as anchor buildings, social assets and “Infrastructures of Care”.
This scholarship is set within the ARC Discovery Project “Designing Dignity: Civic equity through public bathroom architecture” funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project awarded to Professor Nicole Kalms and Professor Emily Potter (2026-2028). The project will undertake new research to analyse the value of public bathroom architecture using place-based methods to reimagine these modestly-scaled buildings as outward demonstrations of civic innovation and inclusion for future Australian communities. This innovative approach will shift the current focus on public bathroom design from a pragmatic, minimalist view of technical and ergonomic specifications to an ambitious, multipurpose concept – where a responsive network is shaped by the complexities of rapid urban change, population growth, housing stress and social insecurity.
The PhD student will be located in XYX Lab at Monash University, Australia’s most innovative research group dedicated to inclusive urban design. Located in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, they will work with Professor Kalms and a Post Doctoral Research Associate.
The XYX Lab, co-directed by Professor Nicole Kalms is a team of interdisciplinary design researchers exploring gender-sensitive design practices and theory. XYX Lab research brings together planners, policy makers, local government and stakeholders to make tangible the experiences of underrepresented communities in urban space and planning.
The successful applicant will receive a Faculty-funded Stipend scholarship (Living Allowance) and Tuition Fee Remission Scholarship, Relocation Allowance (up to $1000 interstate and $1,500 overseas) and Single coverage of Overseas Student Healthcare Cover (OSHC) for a maximum of 57 months. (overseas applicants only). Living Allowance current value: $36,063 p.a. 2025 full-time rate (tax-free stipend); (annually indexed plus allowances as per RTP/MGRO stipend conditions: www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/support/scholarship-conditions-of-award).
To be considered for this position you should fulfil the energy requirements for Monash HDR candidates and have a background in architecture, urban design/planning, geography and/or co-design and an interest in developing innovative co-design methodologies. You will undertake your own original research, designed to contribute to the ARC Discovery Project agenda, supervised by Professor Nicole Kalms and one or more appropriate supervisors. You will also collaborate in team projects within the research programme and have opportunities to participate in the XYX Lab’s international research community.
This position has a two-stage selection process:
Your research will align with and contribute to the Discovery Project programme of research through a focus on the contemporary potential for public bathrooms to positively influence cities and communities as “Infrastructures of Care”. The wider agenda of the research programme is as follows:
As the first examination to use a place-based approach to public bathroom provision “Designing Dignity” is focused on participatory methods undertaken with communities in their local areas. The research draws critical urbanism, gender-sensitive design and
narrative approaches to explore how socio-cultural and spatial dynamics intersect and influence urban design, architecture and policy. At once collaborative and discursive, this evidence-based approach has repeatedly shown that developing inclusive communities requires significant investment in participatory methodologies. Leveraging the extensive partnership networks of Kalms and Potter and their work with diverse communities across Australia, the project will capture perspectives not yet surfaced in traditional quantitative research related to public bathroom amenity. The Discovery Project mediates across different, and often separate, fields of urban placemaking, crime prevention, sustainability, gender, co-design, and social planning.
Your EOI will include a research proposal. When writing your proposal please keep in mind the following focus: Our research focuses on how current public bathroom provisions impede/progress cultures of inclusion? How can these “Infrastructures of Care” provide dignity and communicate shared social value? How place-based community co-design across different cities, suburbs and regions create new discourses and insights to reimagine the civic role of public bathroom architecture and design? How can public bathrooms be reimagined, reconceptualised and reformed to meet the needs of Australians?
The EOI for this position should: outline your interest in being a PhD candidate within Professor Kalms’ Discovery Project; summarise the theoretical, methodological and practical approaches you are interested in pursuing in a PhD and your interests in engaging with innovative architectural, urban design, or co-design methodologies. The proposal should demonstrate an enthusiasm for research via comparative case study and place-based research methods; use both traditional and non-traditional research multi-modal methods, mapping methods, engagement with diverse communities and participatory co-design. A CV should be included and should demonstrate a strong track record of research excellence. Applications for both written thesis and practice-based research are both welcome.
Candidates who pass this stage of the selection process will be invited to discuss their ideas with Professor Kalms before developing a full proposal and submitting an application.
EoI should be emailed directly to Professor Nicole Kalms, Nicole.kalms@monash.edu.
Enquiries: Professor Nicole Kalms, Nicole.kalms@monash.edu
Applications Close: Wednesday 8 April 2026, 11:55pm AEST
Supporting a diverse workforce
