Dear MARMAM Colleagues,

The Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutant Program (SOPOPP), at Griffith University, Australia, currently has a PhD position opening.

Project Description

SOPOPP oversees the Humpback Whale Sentinel Program (HWSP), a long-term biomonitoring program for circum-Antarctic surveillance of the Antarctic sea-ice ecosystem. Five of seven distinct populations of southern hemisphere humpback whales have been incorporated into the HWSP, translating to ‘eyes’ on 80% of the circum-Antarctic region.

The HWSP targets the sentinel parameters of diet, adiposity and fecundity. Among the ecological tracers used to quantify these sentinel parameters are; steroid hormone analysis and Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) burdens. Using existing data sets and ongoing measurements, this project seeks to target inter-disciplinary research questions surrounding population endocrinology and fecundity, endocrine impacts and immune suppression.  The project will entail field work but is laboratory intensive.

The Applicant

The ideal applicant will have laboratory experience and a keen interest in biochemistry, ecotoxicology and mammalian physiology. The successful applicant will hold a first class honours equivalent degree, a minimum prerequisite for competitive application for a Griffith University post-graduate scholarship https://www.griffith.edu.au/research-study/scholarships.  

Applicants should send their CV to Associate Professor Susan Bengtson Nash s.bengtsonnah@griffith.edu.au by the 27.11.20.

Associate Professor Susan Bengtson Nash 

Program Director

Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program (SOPOPP)

HWSP: Coordinator | SCAR: Chair of ImPACT | ARC: College of Experts | Scientific Reports: Editor

Environmental Futures Research Institute (EFRI),  Griffith University,  Nathan Campus.

170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia.

Email: s.bengtsonnash@griffith.edu.au | Phone: +61 (0)7 3735 5062  | Mobile: +61 (0)437 888 711  

Twitter: @Dr_Suz; @Antarctica_POPs | Skype: s.bengtsonnash | Website: https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-sciences/southern-ocean-persistent-organic-pollutants-program