Ecosystem Impacts of Tree Dieback

About this project

Help direct conservation management efforts under climate change

If you are excited about advancing your career in environmental science and keen to develop our knowledge of dieback in eucalypt trees due to climate change, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD with societal impact within Sustainable Infrastructure and Resource Management (SIRM), in partnership with non-government organisations and state and local governments. 

The large-scale dieback of Eucalyptus trees due to drought stress is increasingly reported across Australia. After dieback, ecosystems can abruptly transition into different systems with reduced carbon storage and lower productivity. As hot and prolonged droughts are forecast to become more frequent under climate change, the problem is likely to escalate. 

Our project will investigate the impacts of dieback on ecosystems, which is a problem that has received limited research attention thus far. It will build on current research within our group to address the impacts of the dieback of stringybark eucalypts in the Adelaide Hills on the physical environment (microclimate), biodiversity, and ecological processes in stringybark communities. 

Our project will integrate data from remote sensing, microclimate, environmental DNA, and fieldwork to provide a clearer understanding of how ecological communities are changing under dieback and why. Integration of these data will be one of the key challenges of our project. 

You will be encouraged to further develop aspects of the project that interest you. Understanding ecosystem changes with dieback is extremely important for conservation management and you will be expected to liaise with key stakeholders throughout the project.

You will be based at SIRM, within the Ecology of Global Change Lab. We create an inclusive and stimulating environment which includes several HDR students, and we meet weekly to exchange ideas and share information and feedback. 

We work with stakeholders from various levels of government and different non-government organisations. This strong engagement with stakeholders provides opportunities to experience integrated, applied research and for networking with the wider community. 

What you’ll do

In this project-based research degree, you will undertake some specific activities, but there is a degree of flexibility in how you execute the project. The main focus should be on integrating available data, including detailed field observations, high-resolution remote sensing imagery, and environmental DNA, which has been collected by the research team.

You are encouraged to work with supervisors and current PhD students to develop research questions and identify priorities for additional data collection. We will support field trips to collect additional data and visits to other lab groups in Australia undertaking dieback-related research.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based in SIRM. Our future depends on the increased application of sustainable infrastructure and responsible use of our natural resources. SIRM facilitates this goal by conducting research in three main streams:  natural resources and environmental resilience, innovative infrastructure and asset management, and smart communities. 

SIRM brings together diverse research expertise to address significant challenges for industries and the society at the interface of the natural and the built environments at both the macro and micro level to sustainably manage natural and built environments by applying innovative and efficient resource use.

We build resilient ecological and human systems through active engagement of diverse stakeholders and implement circular economy principles (rethink, reduce, re-use, and recycle) and innovative technologies for construction and other built environment sectors. We also promote smart resource recovery and the design and construction of efficient net-zero buildings and support liveable cities and regional communities, tourism and agri-food production. Financial Support

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 per annum (2025 rate) is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents of Australia, including permanent humanitarian visa holders. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 per annum (2025 rate). A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information.
 
Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to applications from Australian or New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents or permanent humanitarian visa holders. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. 

Additionally, applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

• Background in both Environmental Science and Geospatial Science
• Software skills in ArcGIS (or similar) and R

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our Mawson Lakes campus in the north of Adelaide.

Essential Dates

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Tuesday 7 January 2025.