Advertisement for funded PhD project I am seeking a highly motivated PhD student to study the ecology of feral cats at James Cook University, Townsville. Project/research support will be provided, but students are expected to apply for an APA (Australian Postgraduate Award) or other similar scholarship. The goal of this project is to determine the abundance and distribution of feral cats in the Queensland wet tropics region, and understand the ecological role of feral cats in relation to native prey species and introduced predators (dingoes). The main project will involve extensive camera trapping in the Townsville/Cairns region. Future work may include using GPS collars on feral cats to better understand their behavior and movement ecology. The scale of the project is somewhat large, and students will be encouraged to focus on a particular part of the project as well as develop their own studies within the larger project umbrella. Previous field work experience is required, and advanced analytical skills (computer programing, GIS, advanced stats experience) may be helpful. Students will need a competitive resume (typically an honours degree, masters degree and/or scientific publications) for a successful scholarship application. Final applications are due 31, October 2016, but students should contact [email protected] by 31, September to discuss their application.
