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PHD SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AVAILABLE IN TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE (TEC)
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/geog/research/tec.html
The QS World University rankings (2016) place National University Singapore (NUS) in the
top 12 universities in the world and number one in Asia. In the same rankings, and for the
third year running, the Department of Geography, NUS, is ranked in the top ten Geography
programmes globally.
The Tropical Environmental Change (TEC) research group in the Department of Geography,
NUS, currently comprises around 40 faculty and graduate research students whose interests
focus on the dynamic nature of geo‐ecological processes and the human dimensions of
changes in low latitude (tropical) environments. Environmental changes at low latitudes are
amongst the least studied and therefore most poorly understood on Earth, despite their
global importance.
Several fully funded scholarships (fees and maintenance) of up to four years are currently
available in the TEC research group in the Department to support research and training to
the award of a PhD. Opportunities also exist to apply for additional funding to support
fieldwork and laboratory costs, if relevant, to participate in international conferences and to
contribute to the Department’s teaching programmes.
Graduate research students in TEC follow a semi‐structured programme, which involves a
taught component in the first two years of registration. The programme allows a PhD
student to acquire and develop to a high standard both subject‐specific and transferable
skills, thus enabling a student to access a broad range of future employment opportunities
– in business, industry, consultancy, education, research etc. For information on how to
become a PhD student at one of the world’s top universities in one of the most culturally
diverse and technologically advanced cities in the world, and on enriching careers following
your PhD, see: http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/geog/graduates/
Please note that there are two application deadlines each year: 1 November and 15 May
(for entrance in, respectively, August and January of the year following the application
deadline). For further information, please contact in the first instance Ms Pauline Lee (email
[email protected] ). Pauline is the administrator in the Department with responsibility
for providing support to the Graduate Studies programme in Geography.
The TEC research group is particularly interested to receive enquiries and applications from
suitably qualified candidates (excellent performances in bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
relevant subjects) who are interested in pursuing research relating to the topics/themes
listed below. We are also happy to consider enquiries and applications within the broad
field of Tropical Environmental Change from suitably qualified applicants. In the case of the
latter, applicants are advised from early in the process of drafting their application to
consult with a member of TEC faculty whose research interests most closely match their
own. For further advice, including whom among the TEC faculty might be best able to help
develop a proposal, please contact Professor Lu Xi Xi ([email protected] ) – Chair of TEC.
Please note that all applications must include a Statement of Purpose. Details are at:
http://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/geog/graduates/application.html Essentially the Statement of
Purpose places less emphasis on the “Research Proposal” and more on the ability of an
applicant at the application stage to write concisely, precisely and with effect. The
underpinning assumption is that the successful applicants will spend much of their first year
as a PhD student in the Department working on their PhD research proposal, as part of the
Qualifying Exam (Q/E).
TEC PhD topics/themes open to applicants during the current Academic Year
For further details on specific topics/themes please contact the PI(s) listed):
Spatiotemporal data modelling and analysis in GIS
(Associate Professor Feng Chen-Chieh, email: [email protected])
Geographic information systems (GIS) provide an integrative platform for analysing and
understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics our physical and built environments and
the activities that take place there. Central to the success of such efforts is the ability to
correctly model important events at both the technical and semantic levels. Under this
general research umbrella, we are currently looking for people interested in two research
directions–three dimensional virtual environment and historical GIS of Chinese institution in
Singapore–with the following research topics:
(1) Three-dimensional virtual environment
• Efficient workflow for creating high quality (LOD2.5 and above) 3D models
• Adaptive 3D models for rendering at multiple levels of detail
• Semantic-rich model for efficient queries of metric and topographic nature
• Sense-making analytics and simulation models for time-sensitive applications
• Innovative 3D analysis tools for urban sustainability
(2) Historical GIS of Chinese institution in Singapore
• Data models for capturing trajectory of historical events
• Approaches to handle uncertainty in historical data
• Approaches to visualize and explore historical spatial interactions
• Ontologies for Chinese institution
• Linked open data for historical data exploration
Mangrove forest ecosystem services and conservation
(Assistant Professor Daniel Friess, email: [email protected] )
Mangroves provide a multitude of important ecosystem services and support the livelihoods
of millions of people in Southeast Asia, though are in rapid decline. Research in the
Mangrove Lab at NUS Geography focuses on the geomorphological, ecological and social
factors that affect mangrove stability and ecosystem service provision, using field‐based and
remote sensing techniques. We are particularly interested in conservation and policyrelevant research.
Topics may include :
1) quantification and modelling of mangrove ecosystem services under different
management scenarios
2) mangrove deforestation and land cover change
3) policy aspects of mangrove conservation
Current study locations include Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Madagascar.
Students will be expected to work closely with our regional University and NGO partners.
Students with an interest in ecology, physical geography and/or GIS/remote sensing are
encouraged to apply. For more information on current projects and students see
www.themangrovelab.com
High-resolution palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate of Southeast Asia
(Assistant Professor Christos Gouramanis, email: [email protected])
The long-term climatic history of South-east Asia is still poorly constrained with the
interaction of the Indian Ocean Dipole, Monsoon and El Niño Southern Oscillation having
profound effects on drought, fires, floods and typhoons in the region and further afield.
Several lacustrine and marine sites in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia have been
identified as sources for sediment archives that will produce palaeoenvironmental and
palaeoclimate histories. These histories will tease out how the climate systems interact and
provide important climatic context for future climate variability in this region. An interested
student will analyse a series of archives in very high resolution from these lacustrine systems
using a multi-proxy approach including geochemistry, sedimentology, micropalaeontology
and geochronology. The ultimate aim is to derive palaeoenvironmental change histories for
the region and relate these to both climate and people in the past, present and future.
Riverine sediment fluxes and carbon cycles
(Professor LU Xi Xi, email: [email protected] )
Riverine sediment and its associated carbon fluxes, burial and emission (or outgassing or
evasion) are an important part of carbon exchange between terrestrial, oceanic and
atmospheric environments (Raymond et al. "Global carbon dioxide emissions from inland
waters." Nature 503.7476 (2013): 355-359) and thus must be considered in strategies to
mitigate climate change (Chappell et al., The global significance of omitting soil erosion from
soil organic carbon cycling schemes." Nature Climate Change, 2015). However,
understanding of spatial and temporal dynamics of such exchanges is very limited for the
large Asian rivers that originate from the Himalaya mountains and Tibet Plateau.
We are particularly interested in the topics listed below:
1) quantification of sediment/carbon fluxes and carbon burial/outgassing from
large Asian rivers
2) impacts of dams construction and land use change on sediment fluxes and
carbon cycles
3) impacts of climate change and resultant glacial retreat or permafrost thawing on
sediment/carbon fluxes in the headwater region in Tibet Plateau
On-going study locations include Huanghe (Yellow River), Changjiang (Yangtze River), and
Mekong River. For more information please see
https://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/geoluxx/homepage/index.htm
Tropical peatland forest and its role in the global carbon cycle
(Assistant Professor Max Lupascu, email: [email protected])
Tropical peatlands holds about 88.6 Gt C or equal to 15-19% of the total global carbon (C)
pool. The majority (84%) of these peatlands are situated in Indonesia (21 Mha), followed by
Malaysia (2–2.5 Mha) (Page et al. 2011). Due to increased demand for palm oil production,
pulpwood plantations and agriculture, tropical peatlands are subject to intensifying
pressures, including deforestation and drainage. This practice exposes previously
undecomposed organic matter to oxidation, which results in a) peat subsidence, b) increase
in CO2 and N2O emissions, and c) increase in peat flammability.
Within this context our lab wants to answer the following question: how land-use change
and climate change are affecting and will affect the carbon cycling of the peat swamp forest
of SE Asia? What are the implications in the global carbon budget?
Possible topics of investigations:
a) Ecosystem functioning of peat swamp forest
b) Peat accumulation/decomposition models
c) Peat subsidence under different land uses
d) Refining carbon stocks estimates under different land uses
e) How to improve peatland restoration
f) Soil ecology and biogeochemistry of burnt peat areas
g) Fire disturbance on intact forest
Research methods include
a) Greenhouse gases analysis through cavity ring-spectroscopy (Picarro)
b) Soil incubation
c) Stable and radiocarbon isotopes (13C-14C)
d) Soil chemistry analysis
e) Remote sensing
Interested students with prior training in terrestrial biogeochemistry, ecology or physical
geography are encouraged to apply. Previous fieldwork experience would be beneficial.
Publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals is strongly encouraged.
For more info check www.massimolupascu.com
Understanding human impacts on climate caused by urban development
(PIs: Associate Professor Matthias Roth, email: [email protected] &
Assistant Professor Winston Chow, email: [email protected] )
PhD projects under this research theme investigate the broad question of how land‐use and
land cover changes affect local climates with a particular focus on cities and the role they
play in climate change. Our group uses experimental approaches (observations in the field,
analysis of GIScience and Remote Sensing data, and application of numerical climate
models) to study various aspects of the urban climate, including (i.) the development of the
urban heat island (UHI) effect and its consequent impacts on exposure to thermal
discomfort, (ii.) cycling of heat, mass and carbon dioxide as well as (iii.) fundamental flow
and turbulence properties.
Our laboratory is primarily Singapore, an increasingly important hub for urban climate
research in the tropics. Findings from this research are important to improve our
understanding of the physical transfer processes and energy balance in the urban
environment, as well as in assessing the vulnerability of urban populations towards
detrimental impacts of urban climate change. Applications include the prediction of the
exchanges of energy and moisture at the surface, dispersion of pollutants, cycling of
atmospheric trace species that play a key role in climate change or human thermal comfort
and climate sensitive urban design.
Interested students with strong science backgrounds as well as those with prior training in
atmospheric sciences, climatology or physical geography are encouraged to apply. The
development and completion of own research agenda, leading to scientific publications is
strongly encouraged.
Reconstructing past environmental dynamics in eastern Tropical East Asia based on
palaeolimnological approaches
(Professor David Taylor, email: [email protected])
Tropical East Asian environments are amongst the fastest changing in the world. However,
there is little well-dated, high-resolution evidence of past environmental changes against which
current rates and magnitude can be compared. This raises questions regarding the long-term
sustainability of environmental change in the region, and the degree to which environmental
resilience – or the ability of ecosystems to recover - may be being exceeded.
This PhD research opportunity targets Luzon, the largest of the archipelago of islands that
make up the Philippines and a particularly dynamic part of Tropical East Asia (TEA). Inhabitants
of Luzon face a number of environmental hazards: the island lies across a major tropical
cyclone track and is tectonically highly active, being located along a boundary between
colliding plates (Eurasian to the west and Philippines to the east). Volcanic activity is also
common. Luzon, along with many other parts of the Philippines, has also long been impacted
by human activity, with deforestation presumably linked to the early production of food
commencing at least ca. 4000 years ago and environmental pollution now widespread. In
particular, the research will target up to three lakes on Luzon, all volcanic in origin. Lake
sediments potentially contain a rich diversity of sources of evidence of environmental changes
that have and are taking place in the air- and watersheds.
Three lakes have been identified as having high potential for the type of palaeolimnological
research envisaged here. The lakes span around 5° of latitude on the island of Luzon and lie
across a main typhoon track. All are located at relatively low altitude (<500m above mean sea
level) and are thought to be relatively pristine. They also likely support conditions that are
highly suitable for the accumulation and preservation of undisturbed sediments (e.g. deep
water, a stratified water column for large parts of the year, strongly anaerobic benthic
conditions etc.). The three lakes identified are Nalbuan in the north of the island and Bulusan
in the south. Danao is located between the two. Bulusan is protected as a National Integrated
Protected Area (NIPA), with the designation based on its known biodiversity value.
Palaeolimnological data will be combined with existing evidence, including information from
contemporary aquatic ecological studies, to provide detailed information on environmental
changes in the lakes concerned and in their air- and watersheds during the Holocene, with a
particular emphasis on the Great Acceleration of the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene is
regarded as the (current) period of maximum human impact, with the Great Acceleration
commencing around 60 years ago in many parts of the world.
Sediment-based evidence used in the reconstruction of environmental conditions will include
the remains of plants (diatoms, pollen, plant pigments [including those associated with toxic
algal blooms]) and animals (zooplankton, Crustacea). Sediment geochemistry will provide
additional information on variations in heavy metal concentrations and other toxins, such as
PAHs, which can have long residence times in the environment. Spheroidal Carbonaceous
Particles (SCPs), a by-product of fossil fuel combustion in power stations, are also a proxy of
variations in acidification pressures (they are linked to SO2 emissions) and have proved a useful
marker for the Great Acceleration in other parts of the world.
The PhD student recruited to this project will work in collaboration with partners in the
Philippines (in particular staff and research students at University Santo Tomas in Manila) and
in the UK (UCL and University of Nottingham).
Spatial Ecology in Asia: Linking Patterns and Processes
(Associate Professor WANG Yi-Chen, email: [email protected] )
Spatial ecology investigates the spatial patterns of the organisms and the landscape, and
their ecological consequences, through the applications of GIS, remote sensing, and spatial
statistical analysis. Within this research area, students interested in the research themes of
(a) urban ecology and (b) health and environment are encouraged to apply. Topics may
include:
(a) Impacts of landscape patterns on urban ecology and sustainability
- Assessing the effectiveness of remote sensing images in depicting patterns of urban
green space.
- Developing approaches to incorporate the three-dimensional data to better
characterize the urban landscape.
- Quantifying patterns and structures of urban green space and investigating their
impacts on ecological processes and/or the health of human well-beings.
- Incorporating historical GIS for land change analysis and approaches to handle data
quality in multi-temporal data sets.
(b) Health and environment: landscape determinants of infectious disease
- Impacts of land change on disease ecology.
- Environmental and social determinants of disease prevalence and transmission.
- Spatial analysis and modeling of disease host/vector distributions and disease risks.
Water, Environment & Life
(Professor Alan Ziegler, email: [email protected])
This broad topic is aimed at suitably qualified candidates with an interest in various aspects
of water resource management, environmental health, natural hazards, and/or
hillslope/catchment hydrology. Ideally the successful candidate will be interested in
exploring the risks of rural populations in developing areas to ingestion of contaminated
drinking water, exposure to anthropogenic contaminants (heavy metals and pesticides),
exposure water-borne pathogens (e.g., parasites, bacteria). This type of research requires
extended fieldwork in foreign countries, language training, and hands-on work with local
populations. The research is a multi-disciplinary balancing act, grounded in science, but with
an interest in incorporating elements of human geography.