Applications are invited for October 2013.

The collaboration is targeted at research links between the Environment and Food Security Theme (University of Aberdeen) and the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment (University of Western Sydney). Potential projects are -

• Differential utilisation of phosphorus by plants in species-rich grassland and its response to drought


• Dining in the Dirt Down Under - How does climate change alter plant and soil chemical and biophysical effects on root-feeding insects?


• Manipulation of black carbon to increase soil carbon sequestration


• Phosphorus limitation of ecosystem carbon sequestration


• Tritrophic interactions among plants, mycorrhizal fungi and soil fauna in contrasting forest biomes

This new collaboration provides an exciting opportunity for a PhD student to register at the University of Aberdeen and spend the second year of their studies in Australia at the University of Western Sydney. Upon completion, the student will graduate with a joint PhD from both institutions. The Scholarship includes tuition fees at UK/EU rate, stipend and research budget. Funding will also be available to support travel costs and ancillary costs e.g. accommodation, during the year abroad.

Deadline for applications Friday 5 July 2013

Interviews will be held end July

Requirements

Applicants for a studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a minimum of an upper second class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK.

Applications

Applications should be made via http://www.abdn.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply.php.

Enquiries should be made to sbspgadmin@abdn.ac.uk