PhD scholarships, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

February 1, 2010

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PhD scholarships, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

Job Description : I am presently seeking applications for two PhD scholarships, attached to recently funded Australian Research Council grants.

The projects are based in the Coastal Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences and Climate Risk CORE, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

1. Management of coastal lakes to minimise invasion – APAI PhD scholarship

A PhD student is sought to contribute to an Australian Research Council Linkage project investigating how the morphology of estuaries influences their susceptibility to invasion by European shore crabs. The European shore crab has the potential to undermine the productivity of Australia’s estuaries and devastate our shellfish industries, worth over $50 million p.a.

The successful applicant will use a combination of field surveys, mesocosm experiments, field manipulative experiments and genetic studies to provide critical information about how management of coastal lakes influences their invasion by European shore crabs. The student will attain experience in a range of aspects of experimental estuarine ecology as well as gain valuable interdisciplinary skills. The student will work closely with industry partners, Batemans Marine Park, Industry and Investment NSW, the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre.

Applicants should have a strong academic record with Honours (First Class) or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as ecology, invertebrate biology or marine science. They must be able to work within a team and should have high level written and oral communication skills. Experience in designing, conducting and analysing multi-factor ecological field experiments is desirable. A current drivers license and experience in handling small boats would be advantageous

Closing date for applications is 19 February, 2010. The candidate should be available to commence no later than 31 March 2010.

Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, submit a cover letter addressing the essential and desirable criteria, a CV that includes contact details for two referees, and an academic transcript to the principal supervisor: Dr Melanie Bishop, email: mbishop-at-bio.mq.edu.au, telephone: +61 2 9850 4075.

The 2010 APAI full-time stipend rate is $27,222 pa, tax exempt. The stipend is indexed to increase each year and is initially available for 3 years.

2. More than mud: how will disruption of soft-sediments threaten coastal biodiversity? – MQRES PhD scholarship

A PhD student is sought to contribute to an Australian Research Council funded project investigating how climate change and human activity are acting upon the total supply and mix of detrital resources that fuel bottom-dwelling organisms and the productive fisheries that they support. They will use large-scale field experiments to determine how disturbance of estuarine ecosystems influences detrital pathways of nutrition. The results they generate will be used to forecast future impacts of changed detrital resources under different management scenarios. Outcomes of this research will help prevent economic and ecological losses caused by eutrophication of Australia’s estuaries.
Applicants should have a strong academic record with Honours (First Class) or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as ecology, invertebrate biology or marine science. They must be able to work within a team and should have high level written and oral communication skills. Experience in designing and analysing multi-factor ecological field experiments is desirable, as is experience and interest in the taxonomy of marine and estuarine invertebrates. Domestic and international applicants will be considered.

Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, submit a cover letter detailing relevant experience, a CV and an academic transcript to the principal supervisor: Dr Melanie Bishop, email: mbishop-at-bio.mq.edu.au, telephone: +61 2 9850 4075. Following a pre-selection process, a prospective candidate will then be selected for submission of a full scholarship application to the University, subject to Faculty approval.

Applications close 19 Feb 2009.

Job Homepage :
Category : scholarship
Contact address : Dr Melanie Bishop
Department of Biological Sciences
Macquarie University NSW 2109
Australia
+61 2 9850 4075
Keywords : Ecology, Marine science, biology, marine biology

Scholarship