[Aqualist] PhD projects at Macquarie University

Fri Jan 22 21:52:20 EST 2010

From: Kira Westaway [kwestawa at els.mq.edu.au]

To AQUA members,

There are currently 3 PhD opportunities at Macquarie University in the fields of luminescence and U-series dating of archaeologically relevant sites. I would greatly appreciate if you could forward these details onto potential HDR students in your department.

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1.  A full-time PhD scholarship is available in the Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University to apply luminescence dating to fossil sites in Southeast Asia

Project Name: Unlocking archives of faunal dispersal and extinction: the key to reconstructing palaeoenvironmental change in Southeast Asia

Project Description: This project will provide critical new insights into previous phases of environmental change over the last 500,000 years, and the impacts on fauna (including humans) in one of the most populous regions on Earth - East Asia. During this time, the expansion of the rainforests caused faunal turnovers, extinctions and enticed modern humans into this region. Despite the significance of these events, their timing is uncertain because a lack of dating applications has meant that the age of many of the key fossil sites is not known.

Bone breccias (cave rock composed of angular fragments and bone), represent an alternative dating material, are well-preserved, can span millions of years, are easy to access, do not suffer from bioturbation, reworking or subsidence, contain environmentally-diagnostic species (e.g., rainforest-dwelling orang-utans), and contain hominin remains, which can provide evidence for their dispersal and extinction. However, this valuable source of fossil evidence has yet to be fully exploited due to the apparent lack of a suitable dating strategy. The successful candidate will develop the technique of red thermoluminescence dating and apply it to breccia deposits at key fossil sites in Southeast Asia to establish new robust chronologies for modern human arrival in Southeast Asia.

Candidate to start mid-year as primary supervisor will be away on maternity leave until October 2010 - Acting supervisor will be provided during this period. This project will involve fieldwork to remote areas and laboratory analysis of luminescence samples in red light conditions and therefore requires experience in science related disciplines and or geoscience fieldwork. (MQRES associated with DP1093049)

For further discussion regarding the project, applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor, Dr Kira Westaway; email kira at els.mq.edu.au<mailto:kira at els.mq.edu.au> Phone +61-2-9850 8429. The 2010 MQRES full-time stipend rate is $22,500 pa tax exempt for 3.5 years. Further details can be found on the University of Macquarie HDR website (http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/scholarships) Applicants will need to complete a candidature/scholarship application form and arrange for two academic referee reports to be submitted to the Higher Degree Research Office. Refer to: http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/applications for further application instructions. Macquarie University will advise the successful applicant of entitlements at the time of scholarship offer. Please quote the allocation reference number 2010101 on your application form. Closing date for applications 28th February 2010.

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3. A full-time PhD scholarship is available in the Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University to apply U-series dating to fossil sites in Southeast Asia

Project Name: Unlocking archives of faunal dispersal and extinction: the key to reconstructing palaeoenvironmental change in Southeast Asia

Project Description: This project will provide critical new insights into previous phases of environmental change over the last 500,000 years, and the impacts on fauna (including humans) in one of the most populous regions on Earth - East Asia. During this time, the expansion of the rainforests caused faunal turnovers, extinctions and enticed modern humans into this region. Despite the significance of these events, their timing is uncertain because a lack of dating applications has meant that the age of many of the key fossil sites is not known.

Bone breccias (cave rock composed of angular fragments and bone), represent an alternative dating material, are well-preserved, can span millions of years, are easy to access, do not suffer from bioturbation, reworking or subsidence, contain environmentally-diagnostic species (e.g., rainforest-dwelling orang-utans), and contain hominin remains, which can provide evidence for their dispersal and extinction. However, this valuable source of fossil evidence has yet to be fully exploited due to the apparent lack of a suitable dating strategy. The successful candidate will develop the technique of TIMS U-series dating and apply it to flowstones capping breccia deposits at key fossil sites in Southeast Asia to establish new robust chronologies for modern human arrival in Southeast Asia.

Candidate to start mid-year as primary supervisor will be away on maternity leave until October 2010 - Acting supervisor will be provided during this period. This project will involve fieldwork to remote areas and laboratory analysis in sterile conditions and therefore requires experience in science related disciplines and or geoscience fieldwork. The U-series analyses will be conducted at UoQ working with Dr Jian-xin Zhao, but the PhD is centred at Macquarie University, therefore would suite Brisbane or Sydney resident.

(MQRES associated with DP1093049)

For further discussion regarding the project, applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor, Dr Kira Westaway; email kira at els.mq.edu.au<mailto:kira at els.mq.edu.au> Phone +61-2-9850 8429. The 2010 MQRES full-time stipend rate is $22,500 pa tax exempt for 3.5 years. This scholarship has yet to be posted on the University HDR website and further details will follow shortly.

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3. A full-time PhD scholarship is available in the Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University to apply luminescence dating to archaeological sites in Northern Kimberley, Western Australia

Project Name: Continuity and Change: chronology, archaeology and art in the North Kimberley, Western Australia.

Project Description: The project will investigate the history of human occupation across the northern Kimberley region and will document the ways in which people have responded to changes in climate, local environments, in situ social processes and outside contacts.  In particular, the project will use a range of dating techniques to obtain a more robust regional chronology for changes in rock art, technology, economy and landuse. The successful candidate will conduct geomorphological and palaeoenvironmental research related to the rock art of the Kimberley, and will be trained in the technique of luminescence dating at the newly established luminescence laboratory at Macquarie University. They will use this technique and develop new methodologies to establish chronologies for known Rock art sites and newly discovered archaeological sites in the region. They will be part of a multidisciplinary team of geochronologists and archaeologists but will be expected to display initia!

 tive and independence in extreme fieldwork conditions Other Important information:

Primary supervisor will be away on maternity leave from April until October 2010 - Acting supervisor will be provided during this period. This project will involve fieldwork to remote areas and laboratory analysis in red light conditions and therefore requires experience in science related disciplines and or geoscience fieldwork. (MQRES associated with LP0991845)

For further discussion regarding the project, applicants are encouraged to contact the supervisor, Dr Kira Westaway; email kira at els.mq.edu.au<mailto:kira at els.mq.edu.au> Phone +61-2-9850 8429. The 2010 MQRES full-time stipend rate is $22,500 pa tax exempt for 3.5 years. This scholarship has yet to be posted on the University HDR website and further details will follow shortly.

Cheers Kira

Dr Kira E. Westaway

Room E7A 632

Environmental Science

Department of Environment and Geography

Faculty of Science

Macquarie University

NSW 2109

Australia

Tel: +612 9850 8429

Fax: +612 9850 8420

Email: kira at els.mq.edu.au<mailto:kira at els.mq.edu.au>

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0504/feature1/gallery3.html

http://www.international.mq.edu.au/globe/default.aspx?id=244&EditionID=281

http://hobbitography.indonesiawild.com/