We have fully funded positions available for two outstanding PhD candidates, who will work towards evaluating the potential of restorative aquaculture to reverse human impacts on coastal marine environments, through the co-culture of seaweed and shellfish within the Moreton Bay marine park. The scholarships align with a FRDC funded project on the economic, environmental and social benefits of aquaculture.
Southeast Queensland is home to several large, urbanised estuaries that fall within multi-zone marine parks. This region is also one of the fastest growing in Australia. Rapid population growth creates a challenge for wastewater utilities to deal with the increase in nutrient loads. At the same time, aquaculture producers face reduced productivity due to environmental change, disease and algal blooms, and challenges associated with the business risks presented by monoculture. Aboriginal communities and corporations in the region are also investigating new opportunities to diversify income through sustainable projects that provide benefits for the environment and people.
Seaweed production offers a unique and timely solution to address some of the economic, environmental and social challenges in southeast Queensland. Seaweed farming is a ‘no-feed’ form of aquaculture; it is zero waste and compatible with shellfish farming and marine park zoning. Seaweeds grow quickly and strip nutrients from the water column, draw down carbon dioxide and can remove pollutants such as heavy metals. At the right scale, seaweed farming will reverse environmental change.
Project Objectives
The objectives of the PhD projects are to assess the broader environmental benefits and impacts of restorative aquaculture by assessing:
The benefits and impacts of existing shellfish aquaculture on the surrounding marine ecosystems as a baseline for restorative aquaculture
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated academic excellence in ecology, biology or a related discipline relative to career stage and a strong commitment to improving the world with science. The ideal candidate will have the capacity to work with a diverse range of people and stakeholders as part of a large, multidisciplinary team. Strong quantitative, statistical and programming skills (preferably R) are desirable and the candidate must have fieldwork experience and an interest in broader communication of research findings.
Prior to completing an official application and for specific information about the research project, please contact one of the below supervision panel members.
Selection criteria
Value
Application
To apply: Prior to completing an official application, applicants are required to contact the supervision panel to discuss the project.
Eligible programs
PhD
The University of the Sunshine Coast is committed to environmental sustainability for the benefit of students, staff and the wider community. USC has an active program of sustainability initiatives that address both large-scale issues such as energy, waste, recycling and the campus environment, and targeted activities such as the development and use of green cleaning practices.
USC students receive a high quality educational experience, while enjoying the relaxed lifestyle that the Sunshine Coast offers and students benefit from a friendly and supportive campus environment, access to highly qualified teaching staff, personal attention, and modern technology and facilities. Study choices are wide and degrees are complemented by opportunities to gain practical experience and travel overseas.
The University is registered in the Australian University category in the National Register of Higher Education Providers, meaning USC complies with the Higher Education Standards for Australian universities, made under Australia’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011. The University of the Sunshine Coast will be a university of international standing, a driver of capacity building in the Sunshine Coast and broader region, and an unsurpassed community asset.
USC is one of Australia’s fastest growing universities, serving the Sunshine Coast and extended region from north Brisbane to the Fraser Coast. The University opened in 1996 with 500 students. It was the first greenfield public university to be established nationally since the early 1970s. Today, with around 12,000 enrolled students, USC is on track to reach projected student enrolments of 20,000 by 2020.
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