[Aqualist] PhD Project, Massey University NZ

[Holt, Katherine]

Hi All
Some of you may have seen this circulated earlier in the year. We are still looking for a suitable candidate for this fully-funded PhD project.
Regards
Kat Holt



The Physical Geography Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand, is seeking applicants for a fully-funded PhD project on the Holocene evolution of the Lake Wairarapa basin and connecting catchments.
Project Details:
This research will seek to assess the tectonic, environmental, and anthropogenic controls on sedimentation in the Wairarapa basin over the past c.10 ka through analysis of lacustrine, coastal, and fluvial sedimentary archives, together with historical records of river behaviour and coastal changes.
Lake Wairarapa is strategically important for the Wairarapa Flood Control Scheme as a flood attenuator, and is an important habitat for native flora and fauna. However, the longevity and effectiveness of the lake reservoir depends on the balance between reservoir capacity and sedimentation rates, both of which are presently poorly resolved. The successful applicant will seek to address these issues of resolution in this project using a range of  methodologies, which will be tailored to suit the candidate's particular expertise. The proposed approaches include:

1.       Lake coring, palaeoecological and sedimentological analyses: to resolve current lake sedimentation rates and change in sedimentation rate over time, linked with palaeovegetation changes in the catchment.

2.       Floodplain coring and mapping: to resolve long-term (centennial and millennial) changes in potential sediment delivery in the key sediment transfer zone within the catchment. Additional floodplain bore-log data will be supplied by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC).

3.       LiDAR interrogation: to resolve off-slope sediment delivery in contributing catchments. LiDAR data will be supplied by GWRC.

4.       River bed level analyses (data supplied by GWRC): to resolve current (last 50 years) changes in sediment delivery in the catchment.

5.       Estuarine and lagoon coring and mapping: to resolve long-term changes in the coastal zone character, linked to 1 & 2.

6.       Coastline mapping (data supplied by GWRC): to resolve historic coastal change (erosion / progradation) in the context of sediment delivery and catchment changes derived from 1-5.
This ambitious project aligns with two of New Zealand's National Science Challenges ('Our Land and Water', and 'Resilience to Nature's Challenges'), is likely to secure co-funding from Wellington Regional Council, and draws upon multi-disciplinary expertise contained within the Physical Geography Group.
Requirements:
Applicants must have a good first-class Honours degree and/or a Masters degree in Geography or Earth Science with an equivalent Grade Point Average of 7.5 or higher. The successful candidate will be proficient in written and spoken English, be prepared to undertake arduous fieldwork, and have a driver's license. We are seeking a well-rounded physical geographer/geomorphologist with training in, or experience with, at least two of the following: field mapping and surveying, GIS (mapping and spatial analysis), geophysical survey tools (e.g. sub-bottom Sonar, GPR), sedimentology, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, palaeoecology, so that a range (not necessarily all) of the listed approaches can be deployed.
Award:
The three year PhD scholarship includes full waiver of PhD course fees, annual stipend of $NZ 25,000 (tax-free), and $NZ 1000-2000 per year research support. There will be additional opportunities for generating income via teaching support (demonstrating and marking), which are encouraged.
Location:
The Physical Geography Group is part of the Soils & Earth Sciences grouping in the Institute of Agriculture & Environment, based on the Turitea campus in Palmerston North: http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/learning/colleges/college-of-sciences/research/agriculture-environment-research/soil-earth-sciences/physical-geography.cfm. The successful applicant will be based here full-time. Field sites in the Wairarapa are c.1-2 hour drive from campus.
Palmerston North is located within easy reach of the capital city Wellington, vineyards in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand's largest ski-field (Ruapehu) and most popular Great Walk (Tongariro Crossing), as well as a range of beaches, rivers, forests and mountain ranges offering day and multi-day recreational activities.
Application Procedure:
To apply, please email Dr Ian Fuller (I.C.Fuller at massey.ac.nz<mailto:I.C.Fuller at massey.ac.nz>) with a full C.V. (with the contact details of at least one academic referee) and accompanying letter of application. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted and discussion may begin immediately. You should assume your application has been unsuccessful if you have not heard from the university by the end of December. The closing date is noon (NZDT) 21 November 2014.
Start date:
The successful candidate should be available to start on, or as soon as possible after, 1st March, 2015.
More information:
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Dr Ian Fuller (I.C.Fuller at massey.ac.nz<mailto:I.C.Fuller at massey.ac.nz>), +64 6 356 9099  ext. 84852<tel:%2B64%20%2806%29%20356%209099%C2%A0%20ext.%2084852>