PhD Opportunity – (Full Time or Part Time) Earth Surface Processes in a Rehabilitating Coastal Wetland
Applicants must have Honours or Masters (research) completed or be near completion at application time.
Project Significance
Blue Heart project is one-of-a-kind opportunity and a 'living laboratory' on the Sunshine Coast that tests whether rehabilitating wetlands keep pace with local sea level rise (elevation -0.2 to 0.7m). The PhD project will build on the preliminary findings of a 3-year project that shows changes in elevation, sedimentation rates and hydroperiods due to natural and man-made variations.
Project Focus
Develop and validate models linking RSET-MH elevation change, sediment accretion and hydroperiod to predict keep up/fall behind thresholds. Opportunities to explore geochemistry, Earth surface processes & carbon storage mechanisms.
* Strong Field/Safety Leadership on land and water (i.e., canoe)
* Extend RSET-MH measurement campaign & significance
* Maintain monitoring infrastructure in place
* Liaise with University staff, students & local government
* Build statistical and process-informed models
Existing Platform & Training
* Continue research on a multi-site network that compares rehabilitating wetlands and reference mangrove sites.
* Training in RSET, estuarine sediment dynamics, hydroperiod time series, geochemical processes; links to blue carbon sequestration outcomes.
About you
* First-class or 2A Honours or Masters (research) in Earth/ Environmental disciplines or equivalent; or near completion.
* Essential: Field work leadership skill or willing to develop; as well as current driver's license
* Desirable: field instrumentation (loggers, GPS/RTK) experience; R/Python time-series/statistics; interest in coastal wetland processes.
How to apply & Information
Primary Supervisor: Dr Gareth Chalmers | Start: 2026 (negotiable); Review of applications begins March 2026.
Email: : one PDF: CV, transcript, 1-page statement on research interests, contact for 2 referees.
* Some operational funds available and applicants can apply for a competitive research training scholarship (RTP). Domestic students may be eligible for a tuition fee scholarship. For international students please visit HDR Fee Structure website for more information. Domestic students include Australian citizen; or New Zealand citizen; or Australian permanent residency visa holder; or Australian permanent humanitarian visa holder.
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