The coastal zone is a hotspot for carbon production, burial and export and associated CO2 and CH4 emissions. Little is known about how the complex hydrological connection between inland, coastal and oceanic water and tidal wetlands controls trade-offs that maximise carbon burial but minimize CH4 emissions under current and future climates. This project brings together coastal carbon process and CH4 emission measurements, including surface water-groundwater interactions, and hydrodynamic-biogeochemical modelling to quantify and model carbon export and burial and CH4 emissions under current and future climates.

We are currently seeking a PhD student to focus on tidal and seasonal effects on carbon exports and burial and CH4 emissions, and controlling processes in Australian tidal wetlands. This project will use a combination of different techniques such as stable isotopes, cavity ring down spectroscopy, process measurements and benthic and floating chambers. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of post-graduate, post-doctoral and senior biogeochemists, groundwater hydrologists and biogeochemical modellers across several institutions.

The candidates will be based in the Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry (CCB, Website) at Southern Cross University (Australia). The Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry has a world-class research group including a number of post-graduate, post-doctoral and senior researchers working in similar areas, providing an outstanding environment for intellectual stimulation and opportunities for exchange of ideas. The Centre has world-class infrastructure including access to an extensive stable isotope facility with full technical support, a membrane inlet mass spectrometer (MIMS), well equipped inorganic and organic chemistry laboratories, and a range of field equipment including benthic chambers, data sondes, Picarro Cavity Ring-down Spectrometers, Los Gatos isotope N2O analyzer and a transportable Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS). Southern Cross University received the highest rank of 5.0 (well above world standard) in geochemistry in the most recent national research excellence assessment.

Applicants must have an Honours or Master degree, undertaken in English, in a related field such as biogeochemistry, environmental chemistry, limnology, or closely related. The project will involve periods of intensive field measurements, laboratory work, and data processing. Experience with large data sets, stable isotopes and field work from small boats will be viewed favorably.

Scholarships provide a tax-free annual stipend of $29,863 for 3 years and 3 months, and tuition fees will be exempt. Interested applicants should send a CV and short (< 1 page) statement highlighting (1) which project they are interested in (2) their research background and interests, and addressing each of the selection criteria above, to Prof Bradley Eyre (bradley.eyre@scu.edu.au). Only short-listed applicants will be notified. Closing date for applications is April, 30 2023. Preferred starting date is mid to late 2023 (negotiable).

Southern Cross University is based in Lismore, northern NSW, Australia (near Byron Bay). The region is a great place to live with a perfect sub-tropical climate (not too hot, not too cold), some the best beaches and surfing in the world, plus great fishing, scuba diving and wilderness areas.

Further information about this opportunities, click here.