Marine Biology PhD scholarship or top-up: Seagrasses as weapons against climate change
Project: Seagrass ecosystems are among the most powerful carbon (C) sinks in the world, meaning that they can capture and store C from the atmosphere, thereby mitigating climate change. Their efficiency is truly remarkable: burying C into the seabed at a rate 35x faster than tropical rainforests; and where rainforests bury C for decades, seagrasses are capable of storing C for millennia. However, due to pollution seagrass beds are declining at an alarming rate, thereby accelerating global warming, and potentially causing the release of thousands of years of ancient stored C into the atmosphere. This project will identify strategies to minimize this leakage and maximize C capture and storage, thereby capitilizing on these powerful weapons against climate change. Selection criteria: I am looking someone who is hard working, organised, efficient, with good initiative. The exact project will be tailored the background of the successful applicant, but would suit an individual with skills in microbiology, chemistry, geology, or ecology. The project will involve both field and laboratory work. Ideally, I would like a student with at least 1 first-authored publication (I consider the ability to publish as one of the best indicators of someone's abilities to succeed in science). International applicants will be considered, although the bar will be slightly higher given the higher cost of supporting international students (e.g. international fee waiver). The Australian PhD system allows theses to be submitted as a series of submitted/accepted publications, and there is no expectation to teach - this allows for a fast-tracked PhD (i.e. 3 years). Value: The value of the scholarship (stipend) is ~AUD$75,000 tax-free over 3 years (AUD$25,000 pa). Students who bring their own scholarship may instead receive a top-up scholarship of AUD$21,000 (AUD$7,000 pa). Location: The successful applicant will be based at the Deakin University Burwood campus within the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, but will have the opportunity to also work at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). How to apply: Applicants should send me an email with: (1) their CV; (2) a copy of their academic record (with subjects and scores); (3) a ~1 page letter describing their career aspirations and research experience; and (4) details of 3 referees (incl. Honours or Masters supervisors). Closing date for applications is 24 February. Contact: Dr Peter Macreadie, [email protected] More information: www.petermacreadie.com
