La Trobe University Industry Research Scholarship Farm-scale Natural Capital Accounting - biodiversity
Background
A full PhD scholarship is being offered to an outstanding candidate with a background in botany, landscape ecology and/or agricultural science to examine the distribution and diversity of native plants in farmland in south-eastern Australia. The successful applicant will join a team of researchers quantifying the importance of natural capital for biodiversity and ecosystem services at the farm-scale.
This project is part of a larger study examining farm-scale natural capital accounting on 50 farms. Natural capital accounting enables farmers to record and manage the natural capital on their farms. This project will explore the relationship between indicators that could be used in farm-scale natural capital accounts and field-based measures of native flora.
This Industry PhD Research Scholarship has been established by La Trobe University in partnership with Odonata Foundation. The PhD candidate will be based at La Trobe University (Bundoora) and will spend time on farms in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania, and working closely with our industry partner, Odonata Foundation, in promoting sustainable farming and unlocking the value of nature for agriculture.
Benefits of the scholarship include:
- a La Trobe Research Scholarship for three and a half years, with a value of $28,597 per annum, to support your living costs
- a fee-relief scholarship for up to four years
- relocation allowance and publication/thesis allowance
- operating funds included (as part of larger project)
- opportunities to work with La Trobe’s outstanding researchers, and have access to our suite of professional development programs
- opportunities to work as part of a larger project with exposure to network of professional organisations in the field of sustainable agriculture
Are you eligible to apply?
To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:
- have completed a Masters by Research or other significant body of research, such as an Honours research thesis or lead authorship of a peer-reviewed publication, assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 75 or above
- not be receiving another scholarship greater than 75 per cent of the stipend rate for the same purpose
- will be enrolled full-time and undertaking their research at a La Trobe University campus
- have demonstrated experience in field botany, with good species identification skills
- can work independently as well as in a team, show a high level of initiative and collaboration, and have good communication skills
- are Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
- have a valid driver’s license
- have well-developed quantitative skills (desirable)
- have experience with GIS (desirable)
How to apply
If you wish to apply for this scholarship, please contact Dr Jim Radford (J.Radford@latrobe.edu.au) for preliminary discussion. Once you obtain in-principle agreement to apply, follow Step 3 on our research application page – please ensure you submit a full application for scholarship and candidature by March 11, 2021.
Please address each of the eligibility criteria in a statement accompanying your application.As part of your application you are not required to identify a potential supervisor – Associate Professor John Morgan is the designated supervisor for this project.
In your application, clearly indicate that you wish to be considered for the La Trobe University Industry Research Scholarship Farm-scale Natural Capital Accounting - biodiversity.
- a research proposal is not required as part of the application
- the successful applicant will be required to have a police check and WWCC prior to commencing the position (to be paid for by applicant)
Selection process:
The University will carefully review your application and consider you for this scholarship.
If you are shortlisted for the scholarship and candidature, you will be invited to an interview with representatives of La Trobe and Odonata.
The final decision will be made based on your application and interview. The successful candidate will be made an offer for candidature and scholarship.
It is anticipated that the successful applicant will commence candidature in Semester 1 2021.
Who to contact for further information
Dr Jim Radford, J.Radford@latrobe.edu.au