Research Scholarships

Carbonate platforms, coral reef frameworks, and modern shallow reef environments such as lagoons, reef flats and coral sand cays and carbonate sand islands and beaches, that are formed from neritic carbonate sediments, don’t only play a central role in the global carbon cycle, but they also provide a myriad of ecosystem services, such as habitats for marine life, fishing, tourism, and human habitation (Hoegh-Guldberg 2007; Storlazzi et al. 2018). Sediments represent the storage of detrital carbonate material (eroded from the solid reef) and the skeletal remains of other benthic producers that have accumulated over thousands of years (Smith et al., 2009). These sediments can comprise a very large proportion of the calcium carbonate in carbonate ecosystems, representing up to 95% of the aerial benthic coverage in some coral reefs ecosystems (Gattuso et al. 1998), and  a large proportion the sediment produced is transported off of the source reef ecosystem to local shelf environments (Ryan et al. 2001). However, for coral reef structures, and other carbonate ecosystems, to be in a state of net accumulation and vertical growth, the net production of carbonate (and external sediment supply) must exceed its loss through physical erosion and dissolution (Eyre et al., 2014). For this state of positive accretion to occur, net ecosystem calcification (NEC), or the chemical measure of the net production of carbonate material of an ecosystem, must be positive. As such, understanding the factors controlling net ecosystem calcification and associated carbonate sediment dissolution is important for understanding the future of coral reef ecosystems (Eyre et al. 2018).

This Australian Research Council Discovery project will look at the of role of advection, anthropogenic organic matter enrichment, ocean acidification and warming on net ecosystem calcification and carbonate sediment dissolution across the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. We are currently seeking two PhD students for 1) field measurements of carbonate sediment dissolution, and 2) experimental studies of carbonate sediment dissolution. Both PhD students will be based at Southern Cross University in Australia and will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of post-graduate, post-doctoral and senior biogeochemists from Southern Cross University, Georgia Southern University (USA) and Max Planck Institute (Germany).

PhD Project 1. Field measurements of carbonate sediment dissolution   

This project will quantify lagoonal and shallow shelf carbonate sediment dissolution rates across an aragonite saturation gradient in the Great Barrier Reef at current and future ocean acidification conditions. This project will use a combination of different techniques such as advective benthic chambers and electronic field equipment.

PhD Project 2. Experimental studies of carbonate sediment dissolution

The project will use flumes and mesocosm to (i) establish functional relationships between flow, light, temperature, carbonate chemistry, organic matter loading carbonate mineralogy and carbonate sediment dissolution and (ii) thresholds for when sediments change from net precipitating/calcifying to net dissolving.

Applicants for both projects must have an Honours (1^st, 2A class) or Master’s degree, undertaken in English, in a related field such as biogeochemistry, environmental chemistry, or closely related. The project will involve extended periods of intensive field work in remote areas, laboratory work and data analysis. Experience working from boats and island research stations, scientific diver qualifications (or be willing to obtain before the position commences), experience using automated electronic field instrumentation (e.g. SeapHOx), experience undertaking high precision DIC and alkalinity analysis, experience with flumes and mesocosms (PhD 2), and experience with the analysis of large data sets using R, Matlab or Python, will be viewed favourably.

The candidates will be based in the Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry - https://twitter.com/biogeochemSCU at Southern Cross University (Australia). The Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry has a world-class research group including a number of post-graduate, post-doctoral and senior researchers working in similar areas, providing an outstanding environment for intellectual stimulation and opportunities for exchange of ideas. The Centre has world-class infrastructure including access to an extensive stable isotope facility with full technical support, a membrane inlet mass spectrometer (MIMS), well equipped inorganic and organic chemistry laboratories, and a range of field equipment including benthic chambers, data sondes, and Picarro Cavity Ring-down Spectrometers. Southern Cross University received the highest rank of 5.0 (well above world standard) in geochemistry in all the national research excellence assessments.

Scholarships provide a tax-free annual stipend of $29,863 for 3 years and 3 months, and tuition fees will be exempt. Interested applicants should send a CV and short (< 1 page) statement highlighting (1) which project they are interested in (2) their research background and interests, with respect to the selection criteria above, to Professor Bradley Eyre bradley.eyre@scu.edu.au. Only short-listed applicants will be notified. Closing date for applications is April 9, 2023. Preferred starting date is mid to late 2023.

Southern Cross University is based in Lismore, northern NSW, Australia (near Byron Bay). The region is a great place to live with a perfect sub-tropical climate (not too hot, not too cold), some the best beaches and surfing in the world, plus great fishing, scuba diving and wilderness areas.  

PhD Scholarship Drone-based sampling and AI analysis of rocky shore biodiversity

A PhD project (with full scholarship) is available at Southern Cross University. The successful candidate will use cutting edge drone technology to sample rocky shores using LiDAR, thermal, and ultra-high resolution RGB sensors, as well AI-based image analysis to classify habitat-forming species and thermal microclimate refuges. The successful candidate will work on an ARC Discovery project aimed at creating artificial coolspots that support heat-resistant rocky shore communities. The project will be supervised by Professors Brendan Kelaher (SCU) and Melanie Bishop (MacU).

The successful candidate will receive training in the safe operation of drones in Australian airspace. They will be based at the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour. Situated next to the Solitary Islands Marine Park, this world-class facility is ideally place to support marine research. It is also located adjacent to pristine dive sites, world-heritage rainforest and outstanding surf breaks.

The position is open to Australian and international applicants.

The PhD scholarship will provide a tax free stipend of $29,863 pa (AUD) (2023 rate indexed annually) for 3 years and 3 months and tuition fees will be waived. Plus there is additional funding to support the research. International applicants please note that you will be responsible for your own travel costs to and from Australia, payment of your own Overseas Health Cover and any associated visa costs.  

Eligibility: The successful applicant will need to meet the entry requirements to enrol in a PhD at Southern Cross University on a full-time basis including Honours or Masters degree in marine science or a closely related field. The project will involve boat work and extended periods in the field.  

How to apply: Interested applicants should send expressions of interest to brendan.kelaher@scu.edu.au  with subject line “PhD Application for drone-based sampling of rocky shores”.

Please attach a single PDF file that includes: a brief cover letter/statement of interest and experience (one page max), a CV including the names and contact details of three referees (three pages max), and an academic transcript. Only short-listed applicants will be notified. 

Closing date for Applications: Friday 10 March 2023, but may be extended if the position is not filled.

Background: Drylands (hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid and dry-subhumid regions) cover 40–50% of the Earth’s land surface and are expanding as the planet warms (Huang et al. 2017). However, in addition to extended dry periods, drylands also have infrequent short periods of intense rainfall and associated extreme flood events (Tooth 2013). These large slow moving flood pulses are transmitted slowly through low-gradient, multichannel river systems (anabranching) with very large floodplains (Jarihani et al. 2015). Climate change is changing the frequency of these flood events, due to changes in tropical cyclones that drive flooding in some systems (e.g. Lake Eyre Basin) (Donohue et al. 2009). These river systems are found in drylands around the globe (Jarihani et al. 2015), but they are typically in remote, sparsely populated areas with few roads and these roads become impassable during flooding, which combined with the transient nature of floods (McMahon et al. 1992), makes field measurements extremely difficult. During the extended dry periods, large amounts of organic matter accumulate on these very large wide dryland floodplains (Robertson et al. 1999; Burford et al. 2008). When these floodplains are inundated during extended periods of flooding, the decomposing organic matter would be expected to release large amounts of the important greenhouse gases CO₂ and CH₄. However, despite the potential to produce large amounts of CO₂ and CH₄, emission measurements from dryland anabranching river systems, and their wetlands and terminal lakes, during flooding, have never be made. The Lake Eyre is the largest drainage basin in Australia. It covers around one-sixth of the continent Australia and has floods every one or two years during La Nina (wetter) periods.

This Australian Research Council Discovery project will measure CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes from flooded, and dry, dryland Lake Eyre basin anabranching river systems, their wetlands, and terminal lakes. We are currently seeking two PhD students for 1) field measurements of greenhouse gas emissions, and 2) modelling of greenhouse gas emissions from inland water systems. Both PhD students will be based at Southern Cross University in Australia.

PhD Project 1 Field measurements of greenhouse gas emissions

We are currently seeking a PhD student to focus on field measurements of greenhouse gases from the Lake Eyre basin, (central Australia), during wet and dry periods. This project will use a combination of different techniques such as stable isotopes, cavity ring down spectroscopy, process measurements and soil and floating chambers. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of post-graduate, post-doctoral and senior biogeochemists.

Eligibility: The successful applicant will need to meet the entry requirements to enrol in a PhD at Southern Cross University on a full-time basis, including a BSc (Hons, 2nd class 1^st div or above) or a MSc degree with a research component, undertaken in English, in a related field such as biogeochemistry, environmental chemistry, limnology, or closely related. The project will involve extended periods of intensive field work in very remote harsh areas, laboratory work and data analysis. Experience with remote field work, 4WD, bush camping, helicopters, large data sets, and stable isotopes will be viewed favourably.

PhD Project 2 Modelling of greenhouse gas emissions

The project will involve working with a team developing a process-based carbon cycle model and integrating knowledge gained from the field observations and measurements within this numerical framework. The work will focus on further developing an existing wetland methane model (LPJwsl) to represent the CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes from inland water systems.

Eligibility: The successful applicant will need to meet the entry requirements to enrol in a PhD at Southern Cross University on a full-time basis, including a BSc (Hons, 2nd class 1^st div or above) or a MSc degree with a research component, undertaken in English, in a related field such as biogeochemistry, environmental chemistry, or limnology, engineering, remote sensing or closely related. Interest and experience in coding with languages like R, Python, C and with high-performance computing is a benefit but not required as training will be provided through working with a larger team of scientists and coding developers. This position will be based a Southern Cross University in Australia, but will also require spending extended periods working with collaborators at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, USA.

The candidates will be based in the Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry (https://twitter.com/biogeochemSCU, at Southern Cross University (Australia). The Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry has a world-class research group including a number of post-graduate, post-doctoral and senior researchers working in similar areas, providing an outstanding environment for intellectual stimulation and opportunities for exchange of ideas. The Centre has world-class infrastructure including access to an extensive stable isotope facility with full technical support, a membrane inlet mass spectrometer (MIMS), well equipped inorganic and organic chemistry laboratories, and a range of field equipment including benthic chambers, data sondes, and Picarro Cavity Ring-down Spectrometers. Southern Cross University received the highest rank of 5.0 (well above world standard) in geochemistry in the most recent national research excellence assessment.

Scholarships provide a tax-free annual stipend of $29,863 (2023 rate indexed annually) for 3 years and 3 months and tuition fees will be waived.

How to apply: Interested applicants should send a CV and short (< 1 page) statement highlighting (1) which project they are interested in (2) their research background and interests, with respect to the criteria above, to Prof Bradley Eyre (bradley.eyre@scu.edu.au) and Dr. Judith Rosentreter (judith.rosentreter@scu.edu.au). Only short-listed applicants will be notified. Closing date for applications is January 29, 2023. Preferred starting date is mid 2023.

Southern Cross University is based in Lismore, northern NSW, Australia (near Byron Bay). The region is a great place to live with a perfect sub-tropical climate (not too hot, not too cold), some the best beaches and surfing in the world, plus great fishing, scuba diving and wilderness areas.  

Southern Cross University is seeking an enthusiastic Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student for doctoral or masters by thesis research on an agreed topic related to smoking in pregnancy.  The degree will align with the iSISTAQUIT Scale Up grant received from the Global Alliance for Chronic Disease (GACD) and the NHMRC.  The position will be based in Southern Cross University’s Coffs Harbour Campus, in NSW, Australia. One full-time PhD place is available to start in 2022.

Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience a disproportionate burden of disease due to high tobacco smoking rates, a legacy of colonisation and government sanctioned policies where rations of tobacco were widely distributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. In pregnancy, 44% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women smoke, compared to 12% of non-Indigenous mothers. Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are motivated to quit smoking to protect their unborn child, they typically receive inadequate health provider support to quit. Reductions in smoking prevalence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pregnant women to date have been slow, and culturally appropriate programs are not widely available. A national standardised approach, strategically implemented to maximise uptake into routine practice, with resources and supports, is urgently needed.

iSISTAQUIT (implementing Supporting Indigenous Smokers to Assist Quitting) is an evidence-based multicomponent model of care with resources that were co-designed with Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS). Most Australian AMS are community-controlled organisations that provide culturally appropriate care and iSISTAQUIT has been shown to be a feasible, acceptable and effective program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pregnant women in this setting in Australia. iSISTAQUIT incorporates free, online training for health providers in smoking cessation methods and educational resources for pregnant women. Building on the research our team has been undertaking over the last 7 years, the project is now funded for a nationwide scale up. This research will include an innovative adaptive trial design examining optimal implementation, cost-effective sustainability strategies and relevant means of evaluation for scale up of iSISTAQUIT.

Topics of interest include (but, not limited to);

• Tobacco control and smoking cessation
• Indigenous health
• health services research
• health equity
• maternal and child health
• Health promotion and health education
• mHealth and eHealth
• health policy

Activities: The selected PhD candidate will receive a unique opportunity to engage with a range of stakeholders and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities. The PhD student will have access to a worldwide network of the GACD Global Alliance for Chronic Disease and implementation science expertise. The successful candidate will be part of a vibrant inter-disciplinary research group that includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers including experts in: Indigenous knowledge, health promotion, communication, behaviour change, clinicians, health services, and representative of professional colleges.

The work will include:

• A critical review of existing relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Designing research studies
• Data collection
• Qualitative and/quantitative analysis of primary and secondary data
• Public presentations
• Writing and publishing scientific papers
• A thesis on the agreed topic
• Travel for fieldwork

What is required: The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated and passionate for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes through researching tangible solutions to preventable disease. 
The successful applicant will need to meet the entry requirements to enrol in a PhD at Southern Cross University on a full-time basis, including an equivalent second-class Honours degree (or above) or a relevant research masters degree in business, information systems, healthcare management or computer science. Masters level students require a bachelors degree in a relevant discipline.  Excellent communication skills, team skills and work ethic are expected. The position is open to domestic students. Students awarded a scholarship are allowed to engage with 8 hours only of outside work. The successful applicant will need to work with the team on the Coffs Harbour campus on least 4 days a week.

What is being offered: Successful candidates will be offered a tuition fee waiver and living stipend of AU$28,597 per annum (indexed annually). Stipend will be 3 years at PhD level and 2 years at Masters level. Masters students may upgrade to PhD at confirmation of candidature (after 6 months) subject to exemplary progress and only if they meet the PhD entry requirements. . The position is open to Domestic candidates only.  The supervisory team will include an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander academic.

Please note, this is an identified opportunity for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student. Proof of Indigeneity is required.

How to apply: Applicants are asked to submit an expression of interest, which must include a short video presentation of the proposed topic of less than 3 mins, a 1 page statement of your motivation for applying (up to 500 words), a detailed CV, and copies of previous research outputs. Email to Professor Gillian Gould at gillian.gould@scu.edu.au.

This PhD project aims to officially start in the last quarter of 2022, but there is some flexibility with the exact starting date (upon mutual agreement). Applications will remain open until filled in 2022.

Applicants are welcome to contact Professor Gillian Gould at gillian.gould@scu.edu.au for an informal discussion and any further information about this opportunity.

Invitation to attend an interview: If your expression of interest is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview. Further details about the interview will be provided in the invitation.

Southern Cross University is seeking enthusiastic students for their doctoral research on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Management. The positions will be based in Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast Campus, in Queensland, Australia. Up to three full-time PhD places are available to start in 2021-2022.

Background: This research is designed to explore the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in managing healthcare.  With the increasing potential of AI technologies, healthcare management has been offered substantial opportunities to improve its efficiency, effectiveness, and efficacy. For example, the current circumstances related to COVID-19 demonstrated the wide-spread applicability of AI capabilities in a range of circumstances, including AI‐assisted analysis and modelling helping to reconstruct the progression of an outbreak, predict transmission pathways, trace contacts, and determine impacts of various public health control measures. On the other hand, the use of AI raises increasing concerns from general public, industry and regulatory bodies. Issues of trust and transparency in data-driven and automated decision support are still to be consistently measured and validated for fairness and effectiveness. Similarly, anecdotal commentary suggests that low user acceptance and high degree of resistance for AI-led solutions in the healthcare sector from its primary stakeholders such as clinicians and nurses. The projects are designed to utilise both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to understand, evaluate current issues, mechanisms and procedures and future engagement models relating to AI in managing healthcare better.

Topics of interest include (but, not limited to);

• Confidence and trust in AI-led decision making
• AI and managing multi-stakeholder viewpoints in healthcare
• AI readiness in healthcare workforce and organisations
• Responsible AI use in healthcare management
• Increasing AI-led engagement of public healthcare
• Impact of AI in healthcare sector

Activities: The selected PhD candidates will receive a unique opportunity to engage with a range of industry partners in healthcare management and AI. The successful candidate will be part of a vibrant inter-disciplinary research group that includes researchers from management, information systems and health.  

The work will include:

• A critical review of existing relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Conducting case studies on the utility of AI in healthcare management
• Developing management frameworks and theories for impactful use of AI in healthcare management
• Travel for fieldwork

What is required: The ideal candidate is highly motivated for scientific business research in the broad topic of digital business transformation. The successful applicant will need to meet the entry requirements to enrol in a PhD at Southern Cross University on a full-time basis, including a second-class Honours degree (or above) or a relevant research masters degree in business, information systems, healthcare management or computer science. Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English as well as excellent communication and team skills are expected. The position is open to both domestic and international applicants currently based in Australia. International applicants currently based overseas are welcomed to apply, however, current Australian Government border restrictions may impact their application.

What is being offered: Successful candidates will be offered a tuition fee waiver and additional funding of up to $10,000 to support research activities.

International candidates are eligible to apply, however, if successful the successful candidate will need to fund their own travel to Australia to commence studies, application fees for any required visa and overseas health cover insurance expenses.

How to apply: Applicants are asked to submit an expression of interest, which must include a short video of the proposed topic of less than 3 mins, a detailed CV, copies of previous research outputs (email to Professor Darshana Sedera at darshana.sedera@scu.edu.au). This project aims to officially start in the last quarter of 2021, but there is some flexibility with the exact starting date (upon mutual agreement). Applications will remain open until filled in 2021.

Applicants are welcome to contact Professor Darshana Sedera (darshana.sedera@scu.edu.au) for an informal discussion and any further information about this opportunity.

Invitation to attend an interview: If your expression of interest is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview. Further details about the interview will be provided in the invitation.

PhD Scholarship in Archaeo-geochemistry: ISOTOPES AND TRACE ELEMENT IN HUMAN REMAINS

Primary Supervisor: Associate Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau

Background: Southern Cross University, in collaboration with Agilent technologies ®, is offering a fully funded PhD scholarship to work in the field of archaeo-geochemistry, in particular improving our understanding of hominid exposomes using LA-ICPMS/LA-MC-ICPMS on fossil remains. The PhD will contain both robust methodological and palaeoanthropological components. Several projects are available and shortlisted candidates will be offered specific projects, depending on skills and interests. We welcome candidate with particular human evolution interest to develop their own PhD proposal.

This scholarship represents an opportunity to complete a PhD and conduct a program of research on isotopes and trace element analytical research in human remains

The PhD student will work alongside scientists from Australia, USA, Germany, France, China and/or South Africa depending on the research topic, and who will contribute and provide guidance on characterisation techniques, trace element and isotopic analyses, dental anatomy, and/or human evolution.

The PhD candidate will be based in Australia, at Southern Cross University Lismore campus, (Northern NSW, close to Byron Bay), in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and will be part of the Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research Group. 

Eligibility: The position is open to all domestic applicants and international applicants currently based in Australia. International applicants currently based overseas are welcomed to apply, however, current Australian Government border restrictions may impact on their application. The successful applicant will need to meet the entry requirements to enrol in a PhD at Southern Cross University on a full-time basis, including a BSc (Hons, 2^nd class or above) or a MSc degree with a research component, in either Earth science, (geo)chemistry, environmental science or related fields.

Ideally, candidates will have some experience in geochemistry and either knowledge or a strong interest to work on human/primate evolution problematic. Candidate with experience with LA-CIPMS or Multicollector ICPMS from a different field of research such as medical geochemistry or related field are also strongly encourage to apply. Candidates with experience with matlab, R or similar packages is a plus.

Location: The successful applicant will be based in Lismore, New South Wales.

How to apply:  Please send your CV (2 pages max), a cover letter explaining your interest in and suitability for this scholarship (1 page), degree transcripts/certificates, details of two referees, and any other relevant research documents (e.g., publications/theses) in one PDF file via email to: renaud.joannes-boyau@scu.edu.au Please quote the PhD title in the subject line of the email.

1. Outcome of expression of interest: You will be notified of the outcome of your expression of interest by email after the closing date.
2. Invitation to attend an interview: If your expression of interest is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview. Further details about the interview will be provided in the invitation. Interviews will take place online via Zoom.

The successful candidate will receive a PhD stipend for a 3 year duration at the current Australian Research Training Program rate (the 2022 rate is $28,597 per annum, indexed annually).

Closing Date: Until position is filled 

Interviews:  (TBA)

Background: Cannabis sativa is a versatile fast-growing, herbaceous, annual plant that ranks among the earliest domesticated crops and has been cultivated for millennia as a source of for food, fibre and medicine (Clarke R and Merlin M; 2016).

Cannabis sativa seed, or hempseed, is rich and balanced in ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids, proteins and fibre. Moreover, it contains a range of nutraceutical secondary compounds, including tocopherols, phenolics and lignanamides, making it a potentially high value functional food (Farinon et al.; 2020). With recent changes to the Foods Standards Code (2019) de-hulled hemp seed is now permitted for human consumption in Australia and New Zealand.  There is a growing demand and market for hemp seed-based foods and hemp was recently acknowledged as an emerging crop by Agrifutures Australia. However, little is known about the exploitable genotypic and phenotypic variation in respect to hemp seed quality and understanding the underlying genetic control of these nutritional traits will have important implications for Cannabis sativa crop improvement.

This project aims to Determine the phenotypic variation and genetic control of the nutritional quality of hemp seed through use of forward genetic approaches. By exploiting natural Cannabis genetic variation in a diverse collection of Cannabis sativa, the successful PhD candidate will map and subsequently characterize quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and underlying allelic variation that affect hemp seed quality, including seed size, fatty acid composition, protein content and the amount of selected secondary compounds, using classic QTL mapping approaches, genome wide association study (GWAS) and functional genomic approaches.

• Optimize existing or develop novel methodology for targeted analysis of hemp seed nutrient composition
• Characterize a diverse collection of Cannabis sativa germplasm for nutritional parameters using methods established under 1)
• Perform controlled crosses between parents contrasting for a selected trait of interest and phenotype progeny
• Genotype the diverse collection and bi-parental mapping populations for GWAS and QTL mapping, using trait data obtained under 2) and 3)
• Use resequencing information and transcriptome/proteome data of phenotypic extremes to narrow down candidate genes within the QTLs identified under 4)

Experimental approaches:

The project will focus on analytical chemistry, quantitative genetics and functional genomics approaches using a unique genetic resource of proprietary and non-proprietary germplasm.

The work will include:

• Critical review of existing relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Use SCU analytical facilities to develop and refine quantitative protocols for hemp seed nutritional analysis
• Use SCU controlled Cannabis sativa growth facilities for phenotyping and genotyping of a diverse panel of germplasm
• Generate and analyse high density genotyping and re-sequencing data for quantitative genetics
• Use ‘omics’ data (genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics) to prioritize candidate genes underlying phenotypic variation
• Attend relevant local and international conferences and build relationships with relevant industry partners

Training:

This studentship would be suitable for a graduate in biological or chemical sciences and will provide training in:

• Experimental design
• Analytical chemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Functional Genomics
• Statistics/Quantitative genetics
• Report/publication writing

In addition, this PhD candidature will be managed within the SCU postgraduate training programme, which provides opportunities to benefit from a broader range of professional training alongside the focused research project.

Links to ongoing work and potential collaboration:

Southern Cross Plant Science (SCPS) is a research group within the Faculty of Science and Engineering of Southern Cross University (SCU), and carries out research underpinning the selection, cultivation and utilization of plants. SCPS infrastructure includes facilities for plant growth, analytical chemistry, high-throughput DNA sequencing, genotyping, proteomics and bioinformatics. SCU has achieved the highest rating of exceptional performance, well above world standard in the past two national assessments of research excellence (2012 and 2015) for crop and pasture production and agricultural science.

SCPS collaborates with the emerging Cannabis sativa industry and this project contributes to an existing ARC Linkage (New crop on the block: Genetic control of hempseed nutritional quality) in partnership with Kavsil Pty Ltd.

How to apply:  

Applications should contain an up to date resume (CV), a cover letter (outlining interest and suitability for the proposed project and contact details of two referees (to obtain letters of reference) and sent via e-mail to Associate Professor Tobias Kretzschmar (tobias.kretzschmar@scu.edu.au).

The value of the scholarship is an SCU stipend for 3 years and 3 months at RTP rate AU$29,863 (2023 rate indexed annually) per annum

This project will be based at SCU’s campus in Lismore, NSW, Australia.

Specific Requirements:

A NSW police check is required to work on Cannabis sativa at SCU

A valid drivers licence is needed to carry out work under this proposed project

Closing Date: 1 March 2023

Expressions of Interest for fully-funded PhD scholarship in Psychology - The impact of changing environmental conditions on mental health.

Background: 

Southern Cross University and the MANNA Institute invite expressions of interest from highly motivated and enthusiastic persons for a fully-funded PhD scholarship examining the impact of changing environmental conditions on mental health. The successful candidate will be welcomed into a highly supportive environment with strong career development and networking opportunities and excellent supervision and mentoring.

The successful candidate will receive a scholarship starting at $29,863 p.a. (with annual increases) for 3 years and 3 months, as well as a tuition fee waiver. They must meet the entry requirements to enrol in a PhD at Southern Cross University, including a second-class Honours or above from a relevant discipline.

Project Description: The proposed PhD study aims to investigate the impact of changing environmental conditions on mental health. The research will focus on exploring the relationship between environmental factors, such as extreme weather events caused by climate change, and their effects on the mental health of individuals and communities directly and indirectly impacted by these events. Based primarily in the fields of psychology and public health, the study program will explore the complex interactions between environmental conditions and mental health outcomes. The outcomes of this project will inform the development of targeted place-based mental health supports needed in impacted communities to supersede existing intervention approaches.

Responsibilities:

• Conducting a comprehensive literature review on the topic of environmental change and mental health
• Developing and implementing qualitative and/or quantitative studies (supported by supervisors)
• Analysing and interpreting data using appropriate statistical and/or qualitative methods
• Writing and presenting research findings to internal and external audiences

About you: You will be expected to have the following attributes:

• Strong research skills and experience in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Passion for the topic of environmental change and mental health

How to apply:  

Interested candidates are requested to submit one PDF file to eric.brymer@scu.edu.au containing the following:

• a cover letter explaining your interest in this scholarship (1 page max),
• your CV (2 pages max),
• relevant degree transcripts/certificates,
• contact details for two referees, and
• and any other relevant research documents (e.g., publications/theses)

Please quote the PhD title in the subject line of the email.

Invitation to attend an interview: If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview. Further details about the interview will be provided in the invitation.

Applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis until the role is filled.

Applicants are welcome to contact Professor Marie Hutchinson at eric.brymer@scu.edu.au for an informal discussion or any enquiries about this opportunity.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Closing Date: Until position is filled.