10 PhD projects: Forest ecosystem science (Biodiversity, Water, Carbon, Vulnerability, Socio-Economic)

The University of Melbourne - Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science

The University of Melbourne’s Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) have established a new $10M research program that will examine the effects of climate, management, and disturbances on forest ecosystem processes at landscape scales.

We seek expressions of interest from prospective PhD students in the following research areas:

1. Forest Biodiversity: quantify relationships between future fire regimes and risks to forest biodiversity (particularly fauna), structure and function.
2. Forest Water: help identify key threats to future water security from forested catchments.
3. Forest Carbon: contribute to mechanistic understanding of carbon stocks and fluxes in forested landscapes, including how carbon cycling varies with forest type, disturbance, and climate.
4. Forest Vulnerability: improve understanding of how forest species and ecosystems respond to disturbance, management and climate.
5. Forest Socio-Economic:impact of wildfires on community safety

All PhD projects will involve field-based, experimental and modeling approaches, and will benefit from the team-based approach and considerable infrastructure underpinning the broader program. Students will receive a laptop computer, access to research assistance, and support for conference and training opportunities.

Project partners: University of Melbourne, Department of Sustainability and Environment

Location: Creswick and/or Melbourne, Victoria

Salary/Conditions: Ten top-up scholarships valued at $10,000 p.a. each are available as part of a new research programme by the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

Expressions of interest: Expressions of interest are sought from enthusiastic and dedicated, First Class or 2A Honours students. All expressions of interest should include a 500 word personal statement outlining which research area is of interest to you, a detailed CV, transcript of all academic degrees and contact details for two referees.

Ideally applicants will be excited about field-based ecological research. Selected students will be encouraged to apply for a Postgraduate Scholarship to cover living expenses (2011 rate - $22,800 p.a.), which we will top up by a further $10,000 per year for each of three years (Total - $32,800 p.a. tax free). Note: applications for postgraduate scholarships close 31st August 2011 for international applicants and 31st October 2011 for local applicants (AUS citizens and permanent residents) – see http://cms.services.unimelb.edu.au/scholarships/pgrad/home.

Expressions of interest are to be submitted by no later than 15 August 2011.

Applications and General Enquiries:
Sharnie Bilston
Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science
University of Melbourne
Phone: 03 5321 4321
Email: sbilston@unimelb.edu.au

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