Prof Kirstie Fryirs
No more applications being accepted
About the Project
Macquarie University invites applications for PhD positions in the rivers research group at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. The river recovery research project is fully funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage program and you will work in collaboration with our industry partners Landcare Australia and NSW Local Land Services (Hunter).
After 200+ years of river degradation our rivers are now showing noticeable signs of geomorphic and vegetative recovery. River recovery is most pronounced in coastal valleys of NSW, Australia. However, foundation science is needed to understand the geomorphic and vegetative processes by which river recovery occurs, its impact on flood flow hydrology for natural flood management, trial new on-ground rehabilitation and vegetation management techniques (including the use of hazard reduction burns). It will investigate where corridors of recovery are in NSW, where to prioritise rehabilitation and the cost:benefit of working with recovery in river management practice. The science will be focussed in the fields of fluvial geomorphology, riparian vegetation ecology, flow hydrology and environmental economics.
There are 5 aims to the ARC Linkage project:
Aim 1) What geomorphic recovery are we seeing and why?
Aim 2) What has been the role of vegetative recovery?
Aim 3) What effect is recovery having on flood flow hydrology for natural flood management?
Aim 4) What is the cost:benefit of working with river recovery in practice?
Aim 5) What river management options are available to us to work with river recovery?
POSITION DESCRIPTION
International candidate to undertake a direct entry 3-year PhD program. To be eligible for this scholarship you will have a Masters by Research degree in Hydrology, Geomorphology, Physical Geography, Earth Science, Environmental Science or a related subject. You will also have a record of excellent academic performance and additional relevant research experience and/or peer-reviewed research, in line with the University’s scholarship rating guidelines. Refer to the Rating Scholarship Applicants section for more information about these guidelines.
This position will focus on research Aims 3 and 5 of the ARC Linkage project. You will investigate the effects of geomorphic and vegetative recovery on flow hydrology and what this means for high-flow flood risk assessment and natural flood management particularly under a changing climate. This is both a field-based and modelling-based position. You must have training in, or a strong ability in:
• Fieldwork design and execution
• Working with historical hydrological datasets, that may be of coarse resolution
• Working with large hydrological datasets, that may be of high resolution
• Modelling historical flood analysis and future flood forecasting
• Baseline understanding of the geomorphology of river systems
• Applications of science in applied contexts – e.g. flood risk assessment and natural flood management
• Working as part of an integrative team and with industry partners
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
Funding Notes
Position open to:
This iMQRES scholarship is open to a non-Australian citizen or resident for a maximum of 3 years. It is comprised of a Tuition Fee Offset and a Living Allowance Stipend. The value of the full-time stipend is $28,092 per annum (in 2020 tax exempt - indexed annually).
Visa and relocation expenses:
The program of research is fully funded by the ARC Linkage project, however candidates on all positions are responsible for their own (and accompanying person’s) visa and relocation expenses.
References
ABOUT SYDNEY AND MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY
Sydney is a vibrant global power city rated in the world’s top-ten for economy, research and development, cultural interaction, live-ability, environment, and accessibility. Macquarie University is a major research-based institution situated in the heart of Sydney’s high technology precinct. It is considered one of Australia’s best universities and is rated among the top 1% of universities globally. Macquarie is a University engaged with the real and often complex problems and opportunities that define our lives. Since our foundation 54 years ago, we have aspired to be a different type of University. Over the years, we’ve grown to become the centre of a vibrant local and global community. Connect with us today.
Macquarie’s departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Biological Sciences provide an outstanding research setting for the study of the environment and environmental management. We have world-leading research strengths in fluvial geomorphology, vegetation ecology, and pride ourselves on undertaking impactful science to inform river and environmental management.
At Macquarie University, we are committed to providing a working environment where each individual is valued, respected and supported to progress. Our priority is to ensure culture, policies and processes are truly inclusive and that no-one is disadvantaged on the basis of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity, gender, culture, disability, LGBTIQA+ identities, family and caring responsibilities, age, or religion. We encourage everyone who meets the selection criteria and shares Macquarie University’s values of scholarship, empowerment and integrity to apply. Learn more about our progress towards Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
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