If you are thinking of furthering your career with a research degree and solving real world problems, ECU is seeking a PhD candidate to undertake research in Microbial Ecology.
Project Title: Understanding soil microbial community shifts in response to fire and weed invasions in urban banksia woodlands.
Project overview: The PhD project will examine how changes in fire frequency and season, invasive weeds, and climate interact to affect soil microbial communities in banksia woodlands in and around Perth. Changes in the soil microbial communities could have profound impacts on regeneration, recruitment and ecosystem stability in these fragile urban woodlands, yet there are is a dearth of information about soil microbes in these ecosystems. The improved understanding of soil microbial communities will inform the management of these unique urban ecosystems. The research project forms part of a collaboration with our partner, Kings Park Science and the applicant will be embedded within a large, established and multidisciplinary team. The applicant will also be a member of the internationally recognised Centre for Ecosystem Management in the School of Science.
If you are interested in applying for this project, please contact Dr Anna Hopkins for further details regarding the scholarship.
Please contact Dr Anna Hopkins (a.hopkins@ecu.edu.au).