[Aqualist] PhD Project - Australian rivers in the LGM

[Timothy Cohen]

PhD Project title: Fluvial evidence for glacial-age runoff: a palaeohydrological record for SE Australia.

PhD Project description:
The understanding of glacial age climates in continental Australia is based on a restricted number of sites located in the temperate SE corner of the continent.  Geomorphic evidence from the inland riverine plains has provided valuable evidence of glacial-age environments, including well preserved palaeochannels that have yielded rare evidence of runoff from their catchments in the Great Dividing Range (GDR).  To date, vegetation histories and other proxies have not been able to clearly distinguish between the effects of aridity and extreme cold on the discharge regimes of rivers in SE Australia, and quantitative estimates of runoff for the last glacial maximum have not yet been attempted.  This project involves geomorphological and chrono-stratigraphic investigations of fluvial landforms and sediments in the transitional zones at key sites between the inland plains and the highland plateaux of the Great Dividing Range.

You will integrate with a large multi-disciplinary international team as part of an Australian Research Council (ARC) funded project on LGM climates in south-eastern Australia. Supervisors:  Dr Tim Cohen (University of Wollongong), Dr Justine Kemp (Griffith University) and Tim Pietsch (Griffith University)

Requirements:

 *   A strong knowledge in geomorphology and hydrology is required, as well as comfortable knowledge in sedimentology. You must be keen on both field and laboratory work.
 *   You must have a Masters or Bachelor of Science  (Honours 1st class) to be competitive for a post-graduate scholarship.

Funding details and host institution:
The student will be expected to pick up an Australian APA scholarship (2010 value AUS$22,500 per annum + extras, tax free - open to Australian or New Zealand citizens) or an international scholarship from either of the host institutions. This position can be based out of the University of Wollongong or Griffith University (both open to international candidates).  A top up scholarship valued at $4777 per annum will be provided from this ARC project.  All fieldwork costs are covered.

Application details:
Send a CV to Dr Tim Cohen (tcohen at uow.edu.au<mailto:tcohen at uow.edu.au>) along with reference letters. The project is available to start from January 2013. Please contact Dr Tim Cohen (tcohen at uow.edu.au<mailto:tcohen at uow.edu.au>) or Dr Justine Kemp (j.kemp at griffith.ac.uk<mailto:Justine.Kemp at northumbria.ac.uk>) for more information.

Online applications for the University of Wollongong end on the 17th October. http://www.uow.edu.au/research/rsc/prospective/UOW064399.html

Online applications for the University of Wollongong end on the 8th October.   http://www.griffith.edu.au/higher-degrees-research/news-events


Dr Tim Cohen
Lecturer - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 2522.

Ph: + 61 2 4239 2375
Fax: + 61 2 4221 4250
E-mail: tcohen at uow.edu.au
Tim Cohen - School of Earth & Environmental Sciences (SEES) @ UOW<http://www.uow.edu.au/science/eesc/eesstaff/UOW101441.html>