Quantify PhD student inducted into WA Government program

Curtin University and Quantify-sponsored PhD student Timothy O’Grady has been formally acknowledged as a successful candidate for the WA Government’s Science Industry PhD Fellowships Program.

Tim was presented his award by the Hon Dave Kelly MLA, Minister for Science; Innovation and ICT on Wednesday morning.

The Fellowship Program was brought to life by the State Government in order to support the collaboration between academia and industry.

Talking on the podium, the Hon Dave Kelly MLA said the program worked to match university students with industry, so they could work together on issues and innovative projects, instead of working in silos.

This is where Quantify comes in.

Quantify has officially partnered with Curtin University as a sponsor of Tim’s PhD – with Quantify funding half and the Government funding the other half of the PhD project. The Quantify products will be installed throughout a Curtin-funded modular building, known as the Legacy Living Lab. The lab will employ innovative and sustainable technologies from various organisations to increase building efficiency and reduce material consumption and waste.

Tim will use the living lab and Quantify’s technology to explore how smart home automation systems can add value by reducing the energy used by the home.

Quantify’s modular product design ties in with the modularity of the living lab – meaning Quantify will be able to transform or make changes to installed devices as and when desired, while being able to conduct data collection and monitoring, which will be particularly handy for Tim’s research.

Quantify is one of several other organisations who are involved in the trial building, which will be built on a LandCorp site in East Village at Knutsford in Fremantle, WA

The Hon Dave Kelly MLA said the program will also help promote additional jobs in emerging industries, with some high-quality science and innovation happening in WA.

Timothy received his award alongside 10 other successful candidates at the Technology Park Function Centre in Bentley. The State Government will take on a further 13 PhD students in the next round, with applications open until 30 April 2019.

The event was hosted by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

More information about the project is available HERE and HERE.