Planning to conserve biodiversity in the planet’s most southern extremities (PhD scholarship)

QUT offers a PhD scholarship focused on conserving Antarctica's biodiversity through policy and planning. The successful candidate will receive a stipend of $33,637 per annum for up to 3.5 years, with potential extensions. Applicants must enroll full-time by June 2025 and have relevant qualifications in fields like conservation science or environmental management. The project involves collaboration with leading researchers and aims to develop decision-making strategies for conservation in Antarctica.
Future student scholarship

This PhD project will generate new knowledge on how to best conserve Antarctica’s unique biodiversity through policy and planning.

What you’ll receive:
• You’ll receive a stipend scholarship of $33,637 per annum for a maximum duration of 3.5 years while undertaking a QUT PhD. There is also the possibility of an extension of up to six months if approved for your candidature. This is the full-time, tax-free rate which will index annually.
• If you’re an international student, you will also receive a tuition fee sponsorship for your research degree and support for health cover.
• As the scholarship recipient, you will have the opportunity to work with a team of world leading researchers in the Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative ‘Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future’.

Eligibility:

You need to meet the entry requirements for a QUT Doctor of Philosophy, including any English language requirements. You must:
• enrol as a full-time, internal student by 30 June 2025
• have an honours degree (or equivalent) and/or a master degree in one or more of these or related areas:
• conservation science
• applied ecology
• Antarctic science
• environmental management
• geography
• environmental economics.

How to apply:

To apply for this scholarship prepare a cover letter, outlining your suitability for this PhD project and explaining your motivations for undertaking a PhD, together with a CV and email these to Professor Jonathan Rhodes and Associate Professor Justine Shaw before the closing date.

About the scholarship:

This PhD project will generate new knowledge on how to best conserve Antarctica’s unique biodiversity through policy and planning. The student will work with some of the world’s leading experts in Antarctic science and conservation planning in the Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative ‘Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future’ to develop new decision-making approaches to conservation planning for the Antarctic continent. The project will tackle decision-making problems within the context of the unique governance structure for managing Antarctica’s environment and explore how conservation values drive conservation priorities.

The successful PhD candidate will also have the opportunity to work with end users of research, such as the Australian Antarctic Division, and therefore have a pathway to impact for their research. This project will suit candidates with excellent analytical skills and a strong interest in applied conservation problems.

The project will be supervised by Professor Jonathan Rhodes, with expertise in conservation planning, and Associate Professor Justine Shaw, with expertise in Antarctic science.