Welcoming the first Ariel Liebman PhD students at Monash University, Indonesia
A milestone meeting marking the start of the Ariel Liebman PhD Program’s first students
BSD City, Tangerang – On Tuesday, 11 November 2025, Monash University, Indonesia proudly hosted two of the first PhD students under the Ariel Liebman PhD Program on campus. This milestone marked an important step in advancing collaborative, impact-driven research in the energy landscape, aligned with the program’s vision of strengthening Australia–Indonesia research partnerships.
The first student, Ruly Bayu Sitanggang, is supervised by Professor Taufiq Asyhari and co-supervised by Associate Professor Markus Wagner from Monash University Australia. Ruly’s research focuses on Data-Driven Modeling for Grid-Integrated Renewable Energy Distribution, with particular emphasis on demand-side forecasting and grid optimisation. His work aims to contribute to more resilient and efficient grid systems as renewable energy penetration continues to grow.
The second student, Imam Maulana Arief, is supervised by Associate Professor Muhamad Risqi Saputra, and co-supervised by Associate Professor Markus Wagner from Monash University Australia and Dr. Nur Ahmadi from Institut Teknologi Bandung, one of the Ariel Liebman PhD Program’s local university partners. Imam’s research explores Smart Home Energy Management using Pervasive AI, addressing how intelligent systems can optimise household energy consumption and support broader energy efficiency goals.
The meeting also brought together the core leadership and working group of the Ariel Liebman PhD Program. Participants included Professor Taufiq Asyhari as Academic Director, Dr. Johan Alibasa as Deputy Academic Director, and Sari Octaviani as Program Coordinator. Dr. Julie Karel, Deputy Director (Research) at the Monash Energy Institute, Australia, was also present and will play a key role in supporting the students during their future 6-month mobility period in Melbourne.
During the discussion, the team identified key academic, network, and facility-based support that can be provided to ensure a smooth and enriching journey for the students throughout their candidature. This meeting reflects the spirit of the Ariel Liebman PhD Program by fostering high-quality research, strong supervision, and meaningful international collaboration in the energy transition.