The University of Adelaide is offering two exciting PhD scholarship opportunities for researchers passionate about biodiversity conservation and environmental genomics. These positions are part of a recently funded Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project aimed at preventing extinctions of Australia's threatened mammals through innovative DNA research.

About the Scholarships

The successful candidates will work alongside senior scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and conservation practitioners on groundbreaking research using ancient DNA extracted from sediment and bulk-bone deposits. The project aims to reconstruct historical distributions and habitats of Australian threatened mammals at geographic scales and spatial resolutions needed for evidence-based ecological restoration.

Two distinct positions are available:

  • Position 1: Establishing past mammals and their habitats using sedimentary DNA

  • Position 2: Quantifying losses of mammals at key conservation areas using bulk bone metabarcoding

Scholarship Benefits

Each scholarship offers:

  • Duration of up to 3.5 years

  • Annual stipend of $34,210 (2024 rate, indexed annually)

  • Likely tax exemption, subject to Taxation Office approval

  • Opportunity to work with a diverse and highly skilled research team

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be acceptable as candidates for a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Adelaide and able to commence as soon as possible in semester 1, 2025. The scholarships are open to:

  • Australian Citizens

  • Australian Permanent Residents

  • New Zealand Citizens

  • Permanent Humanitarian Visa Holders

  • International Students

Required Qualifications and Skills

Successful candidates should have:

  • First Class Honours or Master degree in genomics, population or conservation genetics, or bioinformatics

  • A strong interest in biodiversity conservation, paleoecology and/or community ecology

  • DNA laboratory experience and competency in statistical analysis

  • Excellent time and data management and interpersonal skills

  • Evidence of well-developed verbal and written communication skills

Desirable Characteristics

The following qualities are considered advantageous:

  • Publication record in peer-reviewed journals

  • Experience with ancient and/or environmental DNA

  • Familiarity with metabarcoding data and its analysis

  • Knowledge of advanced statistical languages such as R, Python, or Matlab

  • Familiarity with field-based data collection

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email their expression of interest to damien.fordham@adelaide.edu.au. Your application should include:

  • Your résumé/Curriculum Vitae and copies of any published papers

  • A response addressing the selection criteria

  • Your residency status

  • Names, addresses, and/or email details of two referees

Applications open on September 3, 2024, and will remain open until the positions are filled.

Contact Information

For further inquiries about these scholarship opportunities, please contact:

Associate Professor Damien Fordham
School of Biological Sciences
Tel: (08) 8313 6711
Email:
damien.fordham@adelaide.edu.au

Dr. Jamie Wood
School of Biological Sciences
Tel: (08) 8313 3952
Email:
jamie.wood@adelaide.edu.au

This is an exceptional opportunity for researchers interested in contributing to critical conservation efforts through cutting-edge genomic techniques. The research will directly impact evidence-based conservation strategies for Australia's threatened mammal species.

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