PhD Position on Coral Reef Biogeochemistry under Climate Change and Eutrophication

This Australian Research Council Discovery project will look at the of role of advection, anthropogenic organic matter enrichment, ocean acidification and warming on water column and carbonate sediment biogeochemistry across disturbance gradients on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. This project will use a combination of different techniques such as advective benthic chambers and electronic field equipment. We are currently seeking a PhD student to be based at Southern Cross University in Australia, who 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).

Selection criteria: 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), analytical chemistry experience, 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 (see http://scu.edu.au/coastal-biogeochemistry). 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 their research background and interests, and addressing each of the selection criteria above, to Prof Bradley Eyre (bradley.eyre@scu.edu.au). Only short-listed applicants will be notified. Closing date for applications is July 31, 2023. Preferred starting date is late 2023 (negotiable).

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.