[Aqualist] An opportunity to date King Kong!!

[Kira Westaway]

To the AQUA community.

An exciting opportunity to be part of an international research team has arrived - the successful candidate will help to determine why Gigantopithecus blacki (the real King Kong!!) became extinct in Asia.....

A full-time PhD scholarship is available in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University to apply luminescence dating to fossil sites in Southern China

Project Name: The timing of the great ape's last stand in southern Asia; defining a precise extinction window

Project Description: A highly motivated student that is passionate about Quaternary Science is invited to join an international research team supported by an ARC funded Discovery Project (“Unravelling the mystery of the great ape’s last stand; primate extinction versus human survival in southern Asia”) led by Dr Kira Westaway in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University. The aim of the project is to determine precisely when and why a large megafaunal species become extinct in Southern China

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Gigantopithecus blacki, the largest ever primate, has never been resolved despite evidence for contemporaneous human survival in the region. This project will provide critical new insights into the fate of primates in southern Asia where evidence for megafaunal extinction is rare. Applying multiple dating techniques modelled across key sites will identify a precise extinction window and enable a focused comparison of behaviour and past environmental conditions to determine why the ape failed and humans persevered. This will generate a new understanding of past extinction in comparison with human adaption and survival. The successful candidate will apply luminescence and U-series dating techniques to cave sites in the southern China region of Guangxi to define a precise window of extinction for G.blacki – knowledge or experience of luminescence techniques is recommended but not required.

This project will involve fieldwork to remote areas in Southern China, working in cave environments and laboratory analysis of luminescence samples in red light conditions and therefore requires experience in science related disciplines and/or geoscience fieldwork.
(MQRTP associated with DP170101597)

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 2017 MQRTP full-time stipend rate is $26,682 per annum (in 2017 tax exempt, for up to 3 years (indexed annually). The scholarship is comprised of a Tuition Fee Offset and a Living Allowance Stipend.

Applicants will need to complete a HDR Candidature and Scholarship Application Form and arrange for two academic referee reports to be submitted to the Higher Degree Research Office. The application form and further information can be found on the Application page (will be posted in the next few days!) (http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/scholarships)

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants are expected to have a record of excellent academic performance and preferably, additional relevant research experience and/or peer-reviewed research activity, awards and/or prizes in line with the University’s scholarship rating guidelines. Refer to the Rating Scholarship Applicants section for more information about these guidelines.
Macquarie University will advise the successful applicant of entitlements at the time of scholarship offer.
Please quote the allocation number on your application.
Closing date for applications is currently July 2017.


Cheers Kira



Dr Kira E Westaway

Senior Lecturer - Geochronologist and Quaternary Scientist
Director of 'Traps' MQ Luminescence Dating Facility


Department of Environmental Sciences

Level 2, Room 2.341 Australian Hearing Hub  |  University Ave
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia

T: +61 2 9850 8429<tel:%2B61%202%209850%208429>  |  Staff profile<http://web.science.mq.edu.au/directory/listing/person.htm?id=tralph>
F: +61 2 9850 8420<tel:%2B61%202%209850%208420>  |  envsci.mq.edu.au<http://envsci.mq.edu.au/>

kira.westaway at mq.edu.au<mailto:kira.westaway at mq.edu.au>

[Macquarie University]<http://mq.edu.au/>

Modern Human discovery in Laos
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/08/21/3571657.htm

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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