[Aqualist] Exciting PhD opportunities at Macquarie University!

Wed Nov 24 07:34:58 EST 2010

To AQUA members,

There are currently 3 PhD opportunities at Macquarie University for 2011 in
the fields of luminescence and U-series dating of archaeologically-relevant
sites. I would greatly appreciate if you could forward these details to
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.

This project will involve fieldwork to remote areas and laboratory analysis
of luminescence samples in red light conditions (in the newly established
OSL lab at Macquarie) 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.westaway at 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 is currently 6th December 2010 but this
will be extended to January/February 2011

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

*2. *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.

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.westaway at mq.edu.au*Phone +61-2-9850 8429. The 2010 APA full-time
stipend rate is $27,222 pa tax
exempt for 3 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 is currently 6th December but this will
be extended to February 2011.

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

*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 initiative and independence in extreme fieldwork
conditions

Other Important information:

This project will involve fieldwork to remote areas and laboratory analysis
in red light conditions (in the newly established OSL lab at Macquarie) 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.westaway at mq.edu.au*Phone +61-2-9850 8429. The 2011 APAI
full-time stipend rate is $27,222 pa
tax exempt for 3 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.
Closing date for applications is 5th January 2011.

Cheers Kira

-- 
Dr. Kira E. Westaway
Room E7A 632
Department of Environment and Geography
Faculty of Science
Macquarie University
NSW 2109
Australia
Tel: +612 9850 8429
Fax: +612 9850 8420
Email: kira.westaway at mq.edu.au

Check out the opening of our new luminescence laboratory at Macquarie
University:
http://www.mq.edu.au/newsroom/control.php?page=story&item=4076
http://www.international.mq.edu.au/globe/default.aspx?id=215&EditionID=298

Home page: http://www.es.mq.edu.au/physgeog/staff/kw/index.htm
National Geographic
http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0504/feature1/gallery3.html
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