Phillip Island Nature Parks (PINP) Research Masters Scholarship
Title: Masters research project - GIS database expansion to aid management decisions to protect Little Penguins and their habitat, Phillip Island.
Employer: Monash University, Phillip Island Nature Park and The Penguin Foundation
Location: Summerland Peninsula, Phillip Island.
Phillip Island Nature Parks (PINP), together with the School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, has been offered a research grant from The Penguin Foundation (Phillip Island, Victoria) so that a digital spatial database relevant to managing and monitoring the terrestrial and nearshore components of the local habitat of the Little Penguin, Eudyptula minor, can be expanded.
The successful applicant must be eligible to enrol for a masters degree in either the Science or Arts faculty of Monash University, Clayton. It is expected that the candidature will be "masters degree by 100% research" and will be a local, domestic student or permanent resident enrolling on a full-time basis. In collaboration with PINP and Monash supervisors, the student will be expected to formulate her/his own research questions relevant to gaining a database of current usage/natural values of Summerland Peninsula with a view to determining further protection works. They will refer to decision support systems for environmental management and work closely with Nature Park rangers.
Prerequisites is an Honours qualification at H2A or above in environmental science (or similar). Experience in use of GIS is essential.
The study grant is $10,000 ex GST per annum for two years. The student will be required to live on or close to Phillip Island and will be offered free accommodation in purpose built semi self-contained volunteer facilities along with other research students on Summerland Peninsula, on an as needs basis in discussion with the Phillip Island Nature Park.
It is preferred that the successful applicant commence study as soon as possible.
Interested parties need to contact A/Prof James A. Peterson at 9905 2920 or email: Jim Peterson in the first instance.