Flinders University 2023 PhD Scholarship: In Early Vertebrate Evolution, Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Grant

We are inviting applications for a fully funded PhD scholarship based at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Alice Clement and Prof John Long working on the ARC-funded project “The Devonian Gogo Fauna: Diversity, Palaeoecology and Global Significance.”

This project will identify the total Gogo biota diversity using new and undescribed material in order to reconstruct the ancient reef ecosystem, determine its trophic hierarchies using direct evidence from stomach contents, and test resilience of the reef ecosystem to change, based on comparisons to other fossil and modern reef faunas in Australia and elsewhere. This is a unique project uniting vertebrate and invertebrate palaeontology specialists to tackle the problem holistically using the entire fauna. The student will have the opportunity to travel to visit museum collections in Perth and Melbourne to view additional Gogo material, as well as conduct fieldwork, and share results of their research via national and international conferences.

• Table of Content
• About Flinders University
• PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of PhD Scholarship
• Requirements for PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Flinders University

Flinders University is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century. Flinders is a verdant university[citation needed] and a member of the Innovative Research Universities (IRU) Group and ranks in the 10-16 bracket in Australia and 36th in the world of those established less than 50 years. Academically, the university pioneered a cross-disciplinary approach to education, and its faculties of medicine and the humanities are ranked amon... continue reading

PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of PhD Scholarship

The scholarship includes:

• A stipend valued at $33,000 per annum (2023 rate) tax free
• The scholarship will be awarded for 3 years

Requirements for PhD Scholarship Qualification

To be eligible for the award of this scholarship a student must:

• Be an Australian citizen; or New Zealand citizen; or have been granted permanent resident status or are International citizens; and 
• meet PhD admission requirements including having an Australian Honours degree Class 1 or 2A or equivalent qualification (at least AQF Level 8), including a research component of at least 6 months’ full-time study achieving Distinction (75%) OR including evidence of equivalent research experience, such as a substantial first-author refereed publication or track record as an investigator on a competitive grant; and
• be available to commence as a full-time PhD student at Flinders University in Semester 1, 2024. 

Desirable knowledge and experience includes:

• Knowledge of vertebrate anatomy, evolution, biomechanics, and taxonomy, particularly early vertebrates
• Experience of handling and managing 3D and large data
• Prior publication of a peer-reviewed article in an academic journal 

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Prior to submitting an application for the scholarship, prospective applicants are advised to contact the Project lead, Dr Clement via email  to discuss your interest and eligibility in the opportunity.  The Project lead may invite you to apply and request (add relevant docs you might want) a copy of your CV together with a covering letter outlining your relevant qualifications, experience, research experience and reasons for applying for the scholarship.

The application for admission and the scholarship will be a separate processes; applications for admission to candidature are submitted electronically

Those who apply for the scholarship opportunity that have not already applied for admission to a relevant HDR course must also apply. Instructions on how to apply for admission can be found here: https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/apply/apply-research-degree/how-to-apply

For further details regarding this scholarship opportunity please contact: 

Supervisors:

Dr Alice Clement

Research Fellow

[email protected]

For more details, visit Flinders University website.