Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 October 2024
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic / International
Scholarship
$32,192pa + Top-Up $6,000pa for 3.5 years
About the research project
How do localised sea-ice free areas (aka polynyas) along the Australian Antarctic Territory's extensive coastline support high marine productivity and rich ecosystems, attracting iconic animals such as marine mammals and seabirds to form "biological hotspots"? Polynyas are recurrent areas of open water or fragmented thin sea ice surrounded by higher density sea ice. They are sites of earlier, longer lasting and more intense phytoplankton blooms than thicker sea ice, where productivity can be boosted by early light availability and iron supply from nearby coastal sources, including glacial melt. However, logistical challenges in measuring characteristics of these critically important systems restrict our capacity to predict how they will respond to the rapid climate-related changes already manifesting in the Southern Ocean.
The overarching aim of this project is to determine the physical drivers of primary productivity in and around coastal polynyas within Australia's priority area of interest, East Antarctica. This project will take advantage of miniaturised animal-borne sensors and autonomous floats, providing in situ observations of both standard physical (pressure, temperature, salinity) and novel biological (fluorescence, light, oxygen) parameters, to compile a unique set of ocean observations across the broader East Antarctic coastal domain. This data will be combined with synoptic satellite information on icescapes and wind fields. Through the direct measurement and monitoring of ocean dynamics (convection and restratification), sources of nutrient-rich water masses including glacial meltwaters, light availability, and algal bloom characteristics, we can evaluate how these interconnected processes currently govern primary productivity and reduce uncertainty on the prognosis for these important systems.
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Primary Supervisor
Funding
The successful applicant will receive a scholarship which provides:
- a living allowance stipend co-funded by ARC of $32,192 per annum (2024 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Additional funding
- If successful, applicants will also receive a top-up scholarship of $6,000 per annum for 3.5 years. This scholarship is funded the Quantitative Marine Science (QMS) Program
- If successful, international applicants will receive single Overseas Health Cover (OSHC), funded by the Quantitative Marine Science (QMS) Program
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
- English language score must be above minimum entry requirements for this project
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Demonstrated strong programming skills in a relevant language for processing, integrating and analysing marine science datasets (in situ and remote observations) e.g. R, Python or MATLAB
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Prior experience in biological oceanography of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments is desirable
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Sophie Bestley to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 October 2024.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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