ARC Australian Postgraduate Award – Industry

Integrative assessment of disturbance and land-use change on total greenhouse gas balance and nutrient cycling in savanna ecosystems

Applications will remain open until the position is filled.

Motivated students are sought to undertake an ARC Linkage funded PhD (APAI) project that seeks to provide a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and soil nitrogen dynamics from tropical savannas of northern Australia.

This ARC Linkage grant (2007–2009) is held by Charles Darwin University with Chief Investigators Dr Lindsay Hutley (Charles Darwin University), A/Prof J Beringer (Monash University); Dr SK Arndt, Dr S Livesley (Uni of Melbourne); Dr GD Cook (CSIRO); Dr K Butterbach-Bahl (Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research, Germany).

Industry partners include the NT Government’s EPA and the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO), Canberra.

Soil derived emissions of nitrous oxide and methane, plus carbon sequestration, will be assessed at savanna sites of contrasting land use (cleared vs. uncleared, burnt vs. unburnt). Emissions from termites will also be examined, a potentially significant but unquantified source.

Emission estimates, plus data describing emissions from savanna burning will be integrated into the AGO’s National Carbon Accounting System to improve model precision and calibration to provide a management tool for managers that can track emissions from tropical savannas, a biome occupying 25% of the Australian continent. Soil measurements will be made in conjunction with on-going measurements of carbon fluxes from vegetation and the project will provide a complete greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions estimate for these extensive tropical landscapes.

Research themes 

This project will have three major research themes:

1. Temporal variability of soil GHG fluxes in savanna ecosystems;
2. Effect of land-use change on GHG; and
3. Effect of fire on soil fluxes.

The PhD students will contribute to these research themes through two projects.

Project 1 will examine the influence of fire, land-use change and the role of termites on the magnitude of carbon based greenhouse gas fluxes (CO₂, CH₄) in savanna ecosystems.

Project 2 will examine the influence of fire and land-use change on nitrogen dynamics and GHG fluxes in savanna ecosystems. These projects will utilise sophisticated field trace gas analysis system for periods of continuous measurement and the students will receiving training in a wide a range of field and laboratory analytical techniques, such as ¹⁵N and ¹³C stable isotope mass spectrometry and gas chromatography.

The projects will focus on the Daly and Howard River catchments of the Northern Territory.

PhD projects will be supervised by Dr Lindsay Hutley (School of Science and Primary Industries, CDU) and the Chief Investigators at the University of Melbourne (Drs Arndt and Livesley) and Monash University (A/Prof Beringer) with students based in Darwin and/or Melbourne.

Selection criteria

Applicants need a relevant Honours or postgraduate qualification at a standard that meets the University’s PhD and scholarship entry requirements (minimum H2A average). Relevant previous study for the PhD scholarship would include environmental science, biology, chemistry, climatology, agricultural science or equivalent.

We are looking for people who have a demonstrated ability to work and think independently, but who are also excited by working within a cross-disciplinary team. The successful candidates need excellent communication skills and a demonstrated capacity to work in the field and in remote areas.

How to apply

Please contact the Research Office to obtain an application kit (contact details below). 

Applications need to include a two–three page letter explaining your research interest in this project, describe relevant prior knowledge and experience, and outlining your research skills and aptitude for this project and CV. 

Please note that applicants for this scholarship must be Australian citizens or hold current Australian residency. Original documents will not be returned.

Mail your application to: Research Degrees and Scholarships Officer
Research Office, Charles Darwin University
Darwin NT 0909

General information and application forms contact:
Research Degrees and Scholarships Officer
Email: research@cdu.edu.au
Tel: (08) 8946 6548 (Int. + 61 8 8946 6548)

Further information on the projects contact Lindsay Hutley, details below.