PhD opportunity: Rehabilitating landscapes by restoring digging mammals
The Ecosystem Restoration and Intervention Ecology research group (ERIE; http://www.erie-research.org/) at The University of Western Australia is seeking applications from highly qualified and motivated candidates for a PhD program investigating the restoration of habitats through the reintroduction of native digging mammals. The successful student will work as part of a team within the ERIE group, and in conjunction with government and non-government conservation agencies. Mammals that dig for food or create burrows have the ability to alter their environment. The digging actions of some mammals have been linked with altered soil properties, microhabitat resources and seedling recruitment, with many digging mammals being considered ecosystem engineers. In Australia, the majority of digging mammals have suffered widespread declines and the loss of digging mammals has been linked with deterioration in ecosystem function of landscapes. Where digging mammals have been reintroduced into predator-proof sanctuaries, their foraging or burrowing activities are associated with the restoration of ecosystem processes. The main aims of this project are to i) further investigate the ecosystem engineering capabilities of Western Australia’s threatened digging mammals; and, ii) to examine whether the reintroduction of previously abundant digging mammals can assist in the restoration of landscape processes. The student will be supervised by IAS Distinguished Fellow Professor Richard Hobbs and Dr Leonie Valentine at The University of Western Australia; and be part of the National Environmental Science Programme's Threatened Species Recovery Hub (NESP – TSR). Funding This project is funded with a UWA PhD Scholarship (AUD$26,682 p.a.) and a NESP – TSR top-up scholarship ($7,000 p.a.) tax free in fortnightly instalments for 3 years. UWA provides funding for research activities ($2,500 p.a.) and students are encouraged to seek additional research funds by applying for student grants. Eligibility The successful candidate will have a background in ecology and conservation biology or environmental science and will be capable of collecting high-quality field data. We are looking for a candidate who is enthusiastic and driven, wants to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, but with the ability to work independently when required. Excellent academic results and existing publications are desirable, but not essential. The following eligibility criteria apply to this scholarship: The scholarship is open to Australian and International candidates. Applicants must hold a Bachelors degree with honours or a research Masters degree or be able to demonstrate relevant and substantial research experience in a comparable field. Applicants must be able to demonstrate knowledge of field research, including the ability to independently plan and execute field-based research. Demonstrated high level communication skills (written and oral) and analytical skills are desirable. How to apply Interested individuals are invited to discuss the project with Dr Leonie Valentine (leonie.valent...@uwa.edu.au) and Prof. Richard Hobbs (richard.ho...@uwa.edu.au) in the first instance, before the UWA closing date. Applicants are asked to submit a CV, academic transcript and a short letter outlining their suitability for the project. The candidate will be expected to commence the doctoral program in mid-late 2017 (negotiable). UWA Closing date: 31st May 2017; visit http://www.scholarships.uwa.edu.au/ for more information
