PhD position in methane cycling in mangroves in Australia

PhD position in methane cycling in mangroves in Australia

Background: Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas that contributed 35% of the greenhouse gas-driven global warming in 2010-2019. Resolving the sources and sinks of methane is critical for achieving our global ambitions to rapidly reduce methane emissions in the near-term future and to develop effective climate mitigation strategies.

About half of global methane emissions come from aquatic ecosystems, mainly wetlands. Coastal “blue carbon” wetlands account for ~10% of global wetlands and are abundant along Australia’s coast. Mangrove ecosystems show high productivity and carbon burial efficiency that have been highlighted as a nature-based solution to climate change. Importantly, mangroves also represent methane hotspots that could reduce their net climate benefit, but global methane fluxes are still poorly understood and underlying processes largely unknown.

Project: This Australian Research Council funded project aims to unravel the complex methane cycle in mangrove ecosystems in Australia. More specifically, we will address current research gaps by investigating methane production (source) and methane oxidation (sink) pathways in coastal mangrove forest in Australia.

We are currently seeking a highly-motivated PhD candidate to focus on field measurements of methane fluxes and controlling processes in mangrove forests, including sediments, waters, and trees. This project will use a combination of different techniques such as stable isotopes, cavity ring down spectroscopy, incubation experiments and diverse chamber methods. The project will involve periods of intensive field measurements, laboratory work, and data processing.

The successful candidate will be based in the Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry at Southern Cross University (Australia). The Centre has a world-class research group with a multidisciplinary, collaborative and diverse team of post-graduate, post-doctoral and senior biogeochemists. The candidate will also work within the collaborative Catchments, Coasts and Communities research cluster and have access to world-class facilities and infrastructure.

Requirements:

Master’s degree or equivalent in biogeochemistry, environmental science, limnology or marine science

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Strong experience with field measurements, laboratory work, and data processing

Good teamwork abilities

Additional experience:

Experience with stable isotope techniques

Experience with modelling and programming (e.g. R, Matlab)

Experience with biogeochemistry techniques such as soil, aquatic and tree-stem greenhouse gas measurements

Eligibility: The successful candidate will receive a PhD stipend at the RTP rate of AU$32,192 per annum (2024 rate indexed annually) for 3 years and 3 months, tuition fees will be exempt, and will need to meet the entry requirements to enrol in a PhD at Southern Cross University on a full-time basis: https://www.scu.edu.au/graduate-school/higher-degrees-research/doctor-of-philosophy/

How to apply: Prospective candidates who are interested in this opportunity should send a CV (including 3 referees) and short (< 1 page) statement highlighting their research background and interests, and addressing each of the selection criteria above, to Dr. Judith Rosentreter (judith.rosentreter@scu.edu.au). Co-supervisors may include Prof. Bradley Eyre and Dr. Luke Jeffrey. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. The application deadline is 14^th April 2024 and the preferred starting date is mid-late 2024 (negotiable).