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

[Jian-xin Zhao]

Dear All,

I am resending this ad that we posted around Christmas time.

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

10 January 2007


*************************************
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