Hi All,
Apologies for cross-posting, please see below:
HONOURS
OPPORTUNITY
with the AUSTRALIAN
MARINE
MAMMAL CONSERVATION FOUNDATION (AMMCF) and DEAKIN UNIVERSITY
for PROJECT BURRUNAN
Australian
citizen
applicants only.
The
Australian Marine Mammal
Conservation Foundation (AMMCF),
in
affiliation with Deakin University, is currently seeking
applications from
highly qualified candidates for a BSc Honours project
(research-based)
investigating the spatial ecology of the Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis) in Victoria, Australia.
This
project is a
part of AMMCFs larger research program Project
Burrunan led by Dr Kate Charlton-Robb and
will be offered in
affiliation with Deakin University, co-supervised by Associate
Professor John
Arnould.
Background &
Project overview
A new species of dolphin, the
Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops
australis), endemic to southern
Australia, has recently been described (Charlton-Robb et al.
2011). Tursiops australis
are currently known
to inhabit inshore regions of Victoria, Tasmania and South
Australia. Recent
research shows the species consist of small genetically distinct
populations
susceptible to numerous threats and is likely to be of grave
conservation
concern (Charlton-Robb et al. 2014). Tursiops
australis has also recently been listed under the
Victorian State Flora and
Fauna Guarantee Act as ‘threatened’. Gippsland Lakes is one of
only two places
in Victoria that T.
australis has an
established a resident population, as such greater scientific
knowledge
underpinning the correct management and conservation is crucial.
The
Australian Marine Mammal
Conservation Foundation (AMMCF), a newly established
not-for-profit
organisation, has it's primary mission to “strive to support and
work with
Australia’s marine mammal scientists and researchers to
establish and advance
the knowledge, conservation and protection of our marine
mammals.”
AMMCFs Project
Burrunan focuses
on using applied research to further investigate the Burrunan
dolphin. The general
aims of the project is to assess the species' distribution and
range, gain
better estimates of overall population size & structure,
assess the level
of gene flow between the discrete populations and to assess
potential migration
pathways. This project will also investigate the presence and
habitat use of
the Burrunan across
coastal and
offshore regions of Victoria to identify regions of significance
to the
dolphin.
We
are
seeking applications from highly motivated, dedicated, high
achieving
students for the following Project;
Spatial
ecology of Burrunan
dolphins in the Gippsland Lakes using Geographic Information Systems
(GIS). Mapping
environmental, spatial and dolphin sighting data to identify
areas of
significance within the Lakes and Gippsland coastal region.
Project
One
will be offered as a Trimester One January 2015 start.
Requirements
·
Bachelor
of
Science degree, with a minimum of Distinction average.
·
Experience
in
collecting and processing ecological data.
·
Proficiency
in
Microsoft and statistical packages.
·
Experience
with
GIS software.
·
Experience
in
marine mammal research.
Application
Process
Please
send
your applicant containing the following:
1.
A
covering letter outlining your relevant experience and interest
in the project.
2.
Curriculum
Vitae
3.
Current
academic
transcript
4.
Two
relevant
referees who are familiar with your academic, research and
ethical
record.
Please
forward the above to
Dr Kate Charlton-Robb kcr@ammcf.org.au.
Applications
will
be considered and we will contact you with further information.
Australian
citizen
applicants only. Unfortunately given the timing restrictions
of the Honours
course we are only able to offer the project to Australian
citizens.
CLOSING
DATE: 1st
November 2014
-- Dr Kate-Charlton-Robb Principal Researcher Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation PO Box 2046 Hampton East VIC 3188 e: kcr@ammcf.org.au w: ammcf.org.au