MPhil Studentship in Aquatic Biology: The marine acoustic environment and megafauna around the coast of the Inishowen Peninsula

Background: -

The area around the coast of the Inishowen Peninsula is rich in marine life and sits on the Malin Shelf close to the southern reaches of the Islay front. New technologies allow for a better insight into the area's acoustically active species and acoustic environment. The successful student will be expected to generate and undertake the analysis of data from passive acoustic recording units which will require mathematical and computational skills to process large, high bandwidth data-sets. Both bio-acoustic analysis and ambient noise assessments will be undertaken, and the results considered with respect to developing marine tourism and the potential interactions of megafauna with anthropogenic activities.

General objectives: -

To develop a data base and an analysis of the marine acoustic environment and megafauna around the coast of the Inishowen Peninsula.

Supervision: -

The project will be supervised by Dr Jon Houghton of Queen's University School of Biological Sciences and Dr Adam Mellor of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).

Start date: -

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed shortly after the closing date of 5pm, Friday 7 June 2013. Successful candidates will be expected to start by 15 July 2013.

Essential requirements: -

2.1 degree in a relevant biological discipline – clean driving licence and access to a car.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide documentary evidence when applying that they can meet the required standard of English (TOEFL 87 with minimum scores of 22 in reading; 21 in listening; 23 in speaking and 21 in writing).

Desirable skills/experience: -

Field sampling on boats, good mathematical and computational skills.