[Aqualist] Ph.D scholarship in dating and mapping historical changes in Great Barrier Reef coral communities

[Jian-xin Zhao]

Dear All,

Wishing you all a great Christmas and a relaxing New Year break.

We are looking for a recent Honour's or MSc graduate with a background in 
geology, geochemistry, physical geography or coral reef ecology to apply for 
a University of Queensland joint research scholarship (UQPRS) jointly funded 
by a 4-year-term MTSRF grant (see 
http://www.deh.gov.au/programs/cerf/06-07researchproject-summary.html) and 
UQ Graduate School. The standard UQPRS stipend is $19,616 pa tax free (see 
http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/uqjrs) for 3 years with possible 6-month 
extension if needed. We will provide extra $5502 pa top-up using our MTSRF 
grant (thus the total stipend will be $25,118 pa tax free, equivalent to 
APAI levels).


This research aims to obtain accurate information about patterns of coral 
deaths in the Great Barrier Reef over the past several hundred years and 
what coral communities were like in earlier periods. Modern dating methods 
using the TIMS Uranium-series will allow accurate identification of when 
coral deaths took place particularly in relation to the earliest European 
settlement of Queensland and back further into pre-settlement time. This 
information, matched with existing knowledge of major human activities and 
recent mass coral bleaching, will identify events that may have caused coral 
deaths. This knowledge can be used to improve management of today's reefs 
and will provide information about what constitutes the reef's 'natural' 
state.  Our recent pilot study shows that age precisions up to ±1 year 
(2-sigma) can be achieved for dead corals in the region.  The preliminary 
results show branching coral population has severely decreased as a result 
of farming and coastal development in the 19th century.



The student will be hosted at the University of Queensland and the project 
will involve extensive collaborations with researchers at Australian 
Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park 
Authority (GBRMPA).



Please direct enquiries as soon as possible to:
Jian-xin Zhao <j.zhao at uq.edu.au> (anytime) or John Pandolfi 
<J.Pandolfi at cms.uq.edu.au> (available after 23 January).


Cheers,
Jian-xin Zhao

22 December 2006


*************************************
Jian-xin Zhao
Associate Professor
Radiogenic Isotope Laboratory
Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis
University of Queensland
Brisbane, Qld 4072

Ph. (07) 3346 9754 (W), (07) 3411 4369 (H)
Fax (07) 3365 8530 (W)
Mobile 0410683866
Email: j.zhao at uq.edu.au