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From: ECOLOG-L <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> on behalf of Ivan Nagelkerken <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Ivan Nagelkerken <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 11:56 PM
To: ECOLOG-L <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] PhD scholarship opportunities – climate change effects on Australian fish and fisheries species
Resent-From: Jim Schneider <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Resent-Date: Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 5:48 AM

PhD scholarship opportunities –  climate change effects on Australian fish and
fisheries species

Funding has been obtained from the Australian Research Council for a 3-year
project studying the effects of climate-driven range extensions of tropical coral
reef fishes on temperate Australian coastal ecosystems. I am seeking several
excellent prospective PhD students to participate in various parts of the project.

Projects summary:
We tackle the Research Priority ‘Environmental change’ by innovatively analysing a
long-term dataset to reveal the drivers of successful native invasions,
experimentally evaluating their effect on fish diversity and productivity, and
developing holistic models that forecast their impacts on the near-future
distribution and stocks of inshore fisheries species. In a changing world where
many people depend on oceans for food and livelihood, predicting the future
distribution of fisheries species is one of the big challenges we face. Many
inshore fisheries species are being stressed simultaneously by native invasions
and ocean warming, but rigorous empirical data and models that can provide
reliable forecasts of these impacts are lacking.

The project involves field work and/or experimental lab work in Adelaide and along
the east coast of Australia (New South Wales), and is a collaborative project
between the University of Adelaide, University of Technology Sydney and the
University of the Sunshine Coast. Multiple PhD projects are available on
behavioural ecology, food-web dynamics (including stable isotope analysis),
otolith bio-chronology, community dynamics, population biology, ecophysiology, and
(aut)ecology, all of which with a focus on the above project objectives.

Research funding is available to support several PhD projects but candidates need
to obtain a scholarship to cover their tuition and living expenses. International
candidates can apply for an IPRS or ASI scholarship through the University of
Adelaide (next deadline: 31 Jan 2017) while domestic candidates (Australian and
New Zealand citizens and Permanent Residents of Australia) can apply for an
Australian Postgraduate Award (next deadline: 31 May 2017). Applicants with
funding from other sources are also welcome to apply. Only excellent candidates
will be invited to apply for these competitive scholarships. Successful
international scholarship applicants typically have at least a few scientific
articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals (with high ISI impact factor), with
at least one as lead author. Other requirements are high B.Sc./M.Sc. grades,
excellent writing skills, good referee reports, relevant research experience, and
being able to operate successfully in a team. Applicants should be native English
speakers or show recent evidence of English language proficiency (e.g. TOEFFL,
IELTS).

The University of Adelaide is a research-intensive university, and one of
Australia’s top eight Universities. The School of Biological Sciences has strong
expertise across the disciplines of marine ecology and global change biology
(www.marinebiology.adelaide.edu.au). Successful candidates will join a dynamic
group of students and academics working on climate change at the School. They will
perform research leading to a Doctoral degree in Marine Biology.

To apply: Send your cover letter, CV, list of publications, and
Bachelors/Masters/Honours transcripts to Prof Ivan Nagelkerken
([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>;
http://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/ivan.nagelkerken) before 16 January
2017. Applications will also be considered after this date for the next rounds of
scholarships later this year.