Assessing the role of scientists within conservation management agencies.
We are offering a PhD scholarship to work with an international team led by Dr Carly Cook at Monash University (School of Biological Sciences) in Australia. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with research interests in the integration of conservation science into management action for an exciting project investigating the role of scientists within conservation management agencies.
The project:
Conservation agencies are increasingly aiming to achieve evidence-based management. In order to support this goal, there is a growing focus on mechanisms for knowledge exchange that can help support the integration of the best available evidence into conservation decisions. An understudied mechanism for knowledge exchange is the role of in-house scientists within conservation management agencies. This project will explore the contribution agency scientists make to supporting evidence-based decision making across a range of countries and management contexts. Working with an international team of researchers, this project will assess the science capacity within conservation agencies, the roles scientists play within these agencies, and the impact internal scientists have on supporting evidence-based management.
The project team:
Dr Carly Cook is a conservation biologist interested in evidence-based conservation. Her research group is interested in a range of topics related to improving conservation management through the integration of the best available science. To find out more please visit: www.carlycookresearch.wordpress.com
Professor Richard Kingsford is a conservation biologist in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of New South Wales, and Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science. To find out more about Prof. Kingsford’s research please visit: https://www.bees.unsw.edu.au/richard-kingsford
Dr Dirk Roux is a conservation scientist in the Science Division of the South African National Parks. SANParks is a world leader in evidence-based conservation management, e.g. through its ongoing development of Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM) as a decision making framework and governance approach. In addition to his role as a scientist within SANParks, he is adjunct professor at Nelson Mandela University. To find out more about Dr Roux’s research please visit: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=tcWJKJoAAAAJ&hl=en
The opportunity
Scholarship details:
The PhD stipend is fully-funded for a period of 3.5 years and is open to both Australian/NZ domestic and international students. The stipends include all course fees plus approximately $27,872 AUD per annum tax-free (~$1,067 per fortnight). Applicants can apply for up to $1,500 in relocation allowance.
Monash and the School of Biological Sciences:
Monash is a member of the Group of Eight, a coalition of top Australian universities recognized for their excellence in teaching and research. The University is located in Melbourne, one of the most liveable cities in the world and a cultural and recreational hub.
Application process:
Interested candidates should send their CV and academic transcript, along with a cover letter outlining their research interests and motivation to undertake this project to carly.cook@monash.edu. Applicants must have undertaken Masters’ or Bachelors’ degree with a significant research component. Short-listed candidates will be asked for further information and will be interviewed.
Applications close on the 17thof June 2019.
