Download 20 Aug 2014 NMMU PhD and MSC

• PO Box 77000 • Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
• Port Elizabeth • 6031 • South Africa • www.nmmu.ac.za
PhD and Master’s Research Opportunities in Temporary Wetlands Ecology
PhD and MSc funding available for research on a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research project entitled:
Ecosystem Process and Function of Temporary Wetlands: Baseline Data for Climate Change Predictions. This project
funded by the Water Research Commission through NMMU, led by Drs Phumelele Gama and Denise Schael.
Ephemeral wetlands are aquatic ecosystems that experience variable water inflow (e.g. surface, and subsurface inflow,
shallow or high water table, and direct precipitation) and as such are increasingly becoming vulnerable in light of
changing climate conditions. This research seeks to better understand ephemeral, peri-urban and urban wetlands in the
Nelson Mandela Bay area of the Eastern Cape. Development pressures in the Nelson Mandela Bay in concert with
changes in climate conditions linked to global climate change, threaten the survival of the remaining wetland habitats.
Research:
Opportunities for MSc and PhD projects within the broader context of the Water Research Commission project are available.
MSc study in wetland health and provision of ecosystem services of peri-urban and urban systems and modelling of changes with
different climate change scenarios predicted for South Africa. This project will combine field study of selected wetland systems in
term of general ecosystem health and services they provide and develop a conceptual model of changes with changes in climate.
MSc/PhD study in ecophysiology and ecology of microalgae and/or aquatic plants. This project will combine field studies of selected
wetlands systems with laboratory experiments to examine the effects of different environmental factors on algal (or aquatic plant)
community structure and production. Size and scope will be dependent on degree focus. PhD candidate will also combine a
modelling component to the research.
Requirements:
PhD candidates must have a strong Master’s degree (final mark >65%) in Botany or Zoology, in aquatic ecology, ecology, and/or
phytoecophysiology, experience with GIS and modelling (mathematical and conceptual) would be an added advantage.
MSc candidates must have a strong BSc and Honours degree (final mark >65%) in Botany or Zoology, previous training in aquatic
ecology (Botany/Zoology) and/or GIS is preferable.
All candidates must be able to work well both independently and within a team, be able to communicate progress and results of
research both orally and in written form. As this project is aquatic in nature, applicants should not be afraid of water and preferably
know how to swim. The project will be conducted in the NMB and successful candidates will be working from NMMU.
For more information/Applications:
A covering letter, a curriculum vitae and recent transcripts, including any research outputs and relevant experience, two
references with email addresses, should be sent to Dr Denise Schael in electronic format at:
[email protected].
Please submit on or before 20 August 2014.
Successful applicants will be invited to apply via NMMU application system and will be subject to final approval by
the University and the Faculty of Science. NB: It is highly recommended that students apply for NRF-freestanding (or
any similar) bursaries for 2015, including submitting an application for an NMMU post-graduate bursary.