New PhD opportunities for joint Adelaide-Copenhagen projects

PhD Scholarships in eco-evolutionary dynamics and macroecology

School of Biological Sciences

A number of dual award PhD Scholarships are available through the School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide and the University of Copenhagen’s Museum for Natural History.  Applications are open to both domestic and international students.

Dual award PhD degrees are now available in the related fields of ecological modelling, global change biology and biogeography at the University of Adelaide’s School for Biological Sciences, with joint external supervision from staff at the University of Copenhagen’s Centre for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC).

We are currently looking for enthusiast PhD students to work on multi-disciplinary projects that are improving our understanding of how the geographical ranges of species contract and erode biodiversity. These projects are utilizing the latest developments in quantitative ecology, paleoclimatology, geochronology and genomics to establish the processes that drive species to contract their ranges in response to climate change, overexploitation and habitat modification. To do this we are reconstructing the past range dynamics of vertebrates and plants using models, fossils and species genes. The research outputs will be used to directly inform the conservation and management of future biodiversity.

The School of Biological Sciences at the University of Adelaide, and CMEC at the University of Copenhagen’s Museum for Natural History, are international leaders in the fields of quantitative and paleo ecology, climate change science, macroecology, genetics, genomics & evolutionary biology. They both deliver postgraduate education, training and research with both national relevance and global outreach.

The successful candidates will spend 2 years studying at the University of Adelaide and 1 year studying at the University of Copenhagen.

Eligibility:

You should have:

• A commitment to research excellence


• Good data management skills


• Competency in statistical and spatial data analysis


• Excellent time management and interpersonal skills


• Evidence of well-developed verbal and written communication skills

• Research expertise in global change biology,  quantitative or paleo ecology, or population genetics


• Experience in ecological modelling


• Familiarity with advanced statistical languages such as R; and/or programming languages such as python

Qualifications: BSc with Honours or a Masters degree in ecology, climate science, mathematics, conservation biology or population genetics.

Value: Stipends of AUD$26,682pa (in 2017 indexed annually) are available to suitably qualified candidates. Students can apply for top-up scholarships for periods spent studying in Copenhagen.

Closing date: Open until filled.

Applications for Scholarship: should be emailed to damien.fordham@adelaide.edu.au. Please address the selection criteria, and include your résumé (Curriculum Vitae), residency status and the names and email details of three referees.

If you would like to know more about these positions, please contact Dr Damien Fordham (damien.fordham@adelaide.edu.au); A/Prof David Nogués-Bravo (dnogues@snm.ku.dk); or Prof. Carsten Rahbek (crahbek@snm.ku.dk).

Application for Admission: to the University of Adelaide must be submitted using the Online application Form available at: https://hdrapp.adelaide.edu.au/auth/login