*Postdoc and 2 PhD positions at RMIT University, Melbourne *
We are looking for one postdoctoral fellow and have scholarships
available for 2 PhD students to work on two ARC funded projects at RMIT
University, Melbourne. Both projects will be based at RMIT (city campus)
within the Interdisciplinary Conservation Science Group
<http://www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-education/academic-schools/global-urban-and-social-studies/research/research-centres-and-groups/interdisciplinary-conservation-science/>
with the potential for national and international travel.
*Evaluating environment policy that has immediate costs but long-term gains*
PhD and postdoctoral fellow opportunity
A fundamental challenge for environmental policies is the different
timescales over which ecological and financial costs and benefits occur.
For example, whilst revegetation to offset land clearing incurs
immediate costs, it can take decades for it to become suitable habitat
for wildlife. These long time lags can lead to inefficiencies in
spending and poor environmental outcomes. This project will develop
novel approaches for evaluating the future impacts of environmental
policies and new methods for improving their design. The methods will be
tested and demonstrated in the policy context of biodiversity
offsetting, which is set to play a key role in nature conservation globally.
The postdoctoral fellow and PhD positions will undertake research around
developing integrated approaches for model-based evaluations of the
ecological impacts of biodiversity offset policies. There will be a
focus on applying strategic foresight techniques such as backcasting, as
well as new approaches to assess the robustness of policies to different
types of failure. There is also the potential to work on both Australian
and international case studies and to spend time visiting the University
of Helsinki.**
The project will be led by RMIT researchers Dr Ascelin Gordon and A/Prof
Sarah Bekessy, with external Partner Investigator Prof Atte Moilanen
(University of Helsinki).
Contact: Ascelin Gordon ascelin.gor...@rmit.edu.au
<mailto:ascelin.gor...@rmit.edu.au>
**
*Socio-ecological models for environmental decision making*
PhD opportunity
The success of efforts to solve environmental problems will hinge, at
least partly, on human responses. Yet environmental decision analysis
tools typically do not include social processes, due to theoretical and
methodological obstacles including strong disciplinary divides. For the
first time, this project will combine computational social science and
ecology to develop a new approach to environmental decision science.
Using case-studies in the design of biodiversity markets, this project
will provide concrete examples of how socio-ecological models can
support management decisions. The use of socio-ecological models will
represent a paradigm shift in environmental decision theory that will
lead to more effective environmental management.
The PhD project will undertake research that seeks to understand and
predict human behaviours that drive the success (or failure) of
environmental initiatives, with a particular focus on biodiversity
conservation.
The project will be led by RMIT researcher A/Prof Sarah Bekessy.
Contact: Sarah Bekessy sarah.beke...@rmit.edu.au
<mailto:sarah.beke...@rmit.edu.au>
*To Apply*
Candidates from diverse disciplines are welcome to apply for all
positions and international applicants will be considered. Successful
applicants will have a demonstrated capacity and aptitude for conducting
research and it is desirable that they possess strong quantitative
skills including ecological modelling, spatial and statistical analysis.
Applicants interested in either project should email a letter of
interest and a CV including 3 referees to the contacts listed in the
project descriptions above.
The application deadline for the PhD positions is 13 April 2015. The
postdoctoral fellow position will remain open until filled.
