A PhD scholarship is available in the School of Biological Sciences
(The university of Auckland, New Zealand) for a project on the
demography of the leatherjacket, Meuschenia scaber (Teleostei,
Monacanthidae). The main goal of this project is to obtain the
necessary parameter estimates required for constructing demographic
and growth models of this fish species. Leatherjacket are the
subject of a significant coastal bycatch fishery, but little is known
concerning their age and growth. Consequently, demographic data are
required for the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries to meet
its strategic priority of ensuring that the use of this fishery
resource is sustainable. Maximum age and growth rates will provide
important information on the productivity of leatherjacket. This
research provides an excellent opportunity for training in fish
biology in general, and in particular the skills necessary to
assemble the parameters required for fishery management, i.e.
variability of length at age, length-weight relationship, natural
mortality rate, and proportion mature at length or age. Some diving
experience would be useful, as the project will involve a field
component. The project will be supervised by Professor Kendall
Clements (University of Auckland), and Dr Elizabeth Laman Trip
(Massey University, Albany).
The project is supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries and
University of Auckland Partnership Postgraduate Scholarship Fund. The
Scholarship consists of a tax-free stipend of $25,000 and tuition
fees of $6,014 per year. The Ministry for Primary Industries
contribution is half the value of the stipend and half the value of
tuition fees. The School of Biological Sciences is also supporting
half the value of the stipend and half the value of tuition fees per
year plus the standard student support. This Scholarship will
provide support for up to 36 months of study. The stipend applies to
full-time enrolment only; therefore, the value for part-time students
will be pro-rated accordingly. The Ministry for Primary Industries
will provide additional funding for operational costs.
The estimated start date of the project is in Semester 1 2014. The
University of Auckland will administer the funding. Scholarship
payments will be arrangedonce the student is confirmed as enrolled in
the doctoral programme of the School of Biological Sciences.
Interested students should contact Prof. Kendall Clements by email
(<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]) by
Friday, December 20 2013. Students with queries about eligibility for
the doctoral program should contact Sue Skelly, Manager (Academic
Operations) (<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]).
Please forward to anyone anyone you know might be interested.
All the best,
Elizabeth
