Previous Positions

PhD Student in Biodiversity Change

Status: Closed

Are you wanting to do a PhD in Biodiversity Change / Biodiversity Monitoring / Biological Invasions?

About McGeoch Lab

We use plant and animal populations and communities to understand how biodiversity is responding, and what it will do in the future, as the climate and environment changes. Our research includes projects on biological invasions, climate change, community ecology, ecological theory, biodiversity informatics – in terrestrial ecosystems. Some of the research questions we are interested in are:

  • How does biodiversity change over space and time, how can we better model and predict this and what does it mean for conservation?
  • How do we identify priority sites and priority species to act against the negative impacts of biological invasions?
  • What does the future of Antarctic biodiversity look like under climate change?
  • What approaches can be developed to make biodiversity information more relevant and accessible to decision-makers?

Our research often feeds into environmental policy and management. https://melodiemcgeoch.com/

Eligibility

To apply for this PhD:

  • meet the entry requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at La Trobe University
  • have background in environmental science, conservation biology or related quantitative disciplines
  • an interest in studying biodiversity change or biodiversity monitoring or biological invasions

More detail on the position below:

PhD Position – Biodiversity Change.pdf

 


PhD Student in Antarctic Biodiversity – (SAEF)

Status: Closed

PhD in Biodiversity Monitoring / Biological Invasions / Antarctic Biodiversity?

About McGeoch Lab

We use plant and animal populations and communities to understand how biodiversity is responding, and what it will do in the future, as the climate and environment changes. Our research includes projects on biological invasions, climate change, community ecology, ecological theory, biodiversity informatics – in terrestrial ecosystems and in the Antarctic. Some of the research questions we are interested in are:

  • How does biodiversity change over space and time, how can we better model and predict this and what does it mean for conservation?
  • How do we identify priority sites and priority species to act against the negative impacts of biological invasions?
  • What does the future of Antarctic biodiversity look like under climate change?
  • What approaches can be developed to make biodiversity information more relevant and accessible to decision-makers?

Our research often feeds into environmental policy and management. https://melodiemcgeoch.com/

About SAEF

SAEF is an Antarctic research program, funded by the Australian Research Council as a Special Research Initiative. Established in 2021, our mission is to understand the changes taking place across the Antarctic region – to its climate and its biodiversity – and develop innovative ways to forecast, mitigate and manage these changes. We also seek to collaborate with policymakers to identify conservation priorities and help make the right decisions for Antarctica’s future. https://arcsaef.com/

Eligibility

To apply for this PhD:

  • meet the entry requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at La Trobe University
  • have background in environmental science, conservation biology or related quantitative disciplines
  • an interest in studying biodiversity monitoring or biological invasions or Antarctic biodiversity

PhD Position 2 – SAEF.pdf 


Research Assistant, Biodiversity and Ecology

Status: Closed

Details:

SAEF (Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future) is an Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative to strengthen Antarctic science, policy and governance at a time of rapid environmental and geopolitical change – https://arcsaef.com/.

Primary responsibilities will include assistance with primary research, research communication, research project administration and research group management. This may cover tasks such as literature reviews, data management, analysis, and figure production, working predominantly with biodiversity data. Other responsibilities could include general research group support, such as social media management, website content production, purchasing, logistics and organisation.

More detail on the position below:

Research Assistant.pdf 


Modelling biodiversity status and trends: Antarctica in a global context

Status: Closed

Level A_6 – Postdoctoral Fellow

Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Fixed-Term (3 years)

Details – Postdoctoral Research Officer, La Trobe University

Apply for an opportunity to work with an international, interdisciplinary, Australia-based research program to produce transformative insights about the structure, function, drivers and future of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. Outcomes will inform spatiotemporal planning for conservation and will provide a scientific basis for leading environmental stewardship.

SAEF (Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future) is an Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative to strengthen Antarctic science, policy and governance at a time of rapid environmental and geopolitical change – https://arcsaef.com/

Position details:

  • The successful candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field, an excellent publication record, significant biodiversity modelling skills, knowledge of and experience with biodiversity informatics and big data handling, evidence of successful, self-led collaboration, and have an interest in the Antarctic.
  • A background in Antarctic science is not a requirement.
  • The initial 3-year position has potential for renewal for an additional term based on performance.
  • The position is based at LaTrobe University (Melbourne campus), working closely with the SAEF program (headoffice at Monash University) and the Australian Antarctic Division (Hobart), and opportunity to work with the GEO BON community (https://geobon.org).
  • This position is now open for recruiting to be filled by the 4thquarter of 2021.

Research Assistant: Biodiversity Informatics

Status: Closed

Higher Education Officer Level 5 (HEO5_1)

Part-time (FTE 0.6), Fixed term (3 Years)

Details – Research Assistant, Biodiversity Informatics, La Trobe University

This Research Assistant position in Biodiversity Informatics will work on current and ongoing research projects involving specialized environmental and biodiversity data science work with Prof. McGeoch’s research group, with a particular focus on SAEF research.

SAEF (Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future) is an Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative to strengthen Antarctic science, policy and governance at a time of rapid environmental and geopolitical change – https://arcsaef.com/

Primary responsibility will be data analytics, production of graphics and reporting, working predominantly with biodiversity data. Secondary responsibilities include general research group support, such as social media management, purchasing, logistics and organisation. Suitable candidates will have skills and experience in data science to collate, synthesize and analyse biodiversity and environmental data and to build and manage environmental and biodiversity information systems. They will have a high level of analytical, statistical and programming skills in R, as well as excellent verbal and written communication skills. One or more of the following will be an advantage: familiarity with biodiversity data and biodiversity informatics, nomeclature and systematics, use of Python.

Position details:

  • The successful candidate will have a Bachelor qualification in a relevant field and experience in the fields of data science and biodiversity, the ability to synthesise and analyse biodiversity and environmental data and to build and manage environmental and biodiversity information systems, plus an interest in the Antarctic.
  • The position is based at LaTrobe University (Melbourne campus), Australia
  • This position is now open for recruiting to be filled by the 4thquarter of 2021.

PhD – A sustainable monitoring system for invasive alien species in Australia

Status: Closed

Start Date: 2020/2021

One of the key challenges with managing invasive alien species once they have arrived and established in a country, is monitoring their spread. The information obtained from monitoring is needed to quickly identify newly invaded localities so the weed or pest can be eradicated, or to identify priority areas that it is expanding into so that the invader can be contained. Australia does not yet have a nation-wide monitoring program for invasive alien species. This PhD research project will combine citizen science, data science and information on species distributions to develop a monitoring approach and indicators for tracking priority invaders in Australia.

Candidate requirements: The successful candidate will have majored in ecology, have a working knowledge of R and a background and interest in statistics/data analysis.

If you are interested in this position, please contact me at m.mcgeoch@latrobe.edu.au with:

  • A statement of your interest in the PhD project
  • A current curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Copies of academic record

Postdoctoral Fellow – Modelling the role of common species in biodiversity change

Status: Closed

We seek a biodiversity scientist to lead research on the contribution of common species to biodiversity change and function. The research involves combining modelling and empirical approaches to quantify the nature and causes of the dynamics (increases and declines) of common species in communities, and the outcomes thereof for function.

Suitable candidates for this Postdoctoral Fellowship will have an ecological background and significant biodiversity modelling skills, and ideally with experience in biodiversity informatics.

This opportunity falls under a research programme led by Prof. McGeoch (melodiemcgeoch.com), in collaboration with Prof. Cang Hui (Stellenbosch University) and Prof. Walter Jetz (Yale University).


Research Assistant – Environmental Data Analysis

Status: Closed

I am looking for a fixed-term, half-time research assistant whose primary responsibility will be data analytics and reporting, working predominantly with biodiversity data. Secondary responsibilities include general research group support, such as social media management, purchasing, logistics and organisation.

Suitable candidates will have skills and experience in data science to collate, synthesise and analyse biodiversity and environmental data and to build and manage environmental and biodiversity information systems. They will have a high level of analytical, statistical and programming skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.

One or more of the following will be an advantage: familiarity with biodiversity data and biodiversity informatics, and the topics of invasive alien species and systematics, use of Python.


PhD – A sustainable monitoring system for invasive alien species in Australia

Principal supervisor: Melodie McGeoch

Status: Closed

One of the key challenges with managing invasive alien species once they have arrived and established in a country, is monitoring their spread. The information obtained from monitoring is needed to quickly identify newly invaded localities so the weed or pest can be eradicated, or to identify priority areas that it is expanding into so that the invader can be contained. Australia does not yet have a nation-wide monitoring program for invasive alien species. This PhD research project will combine citizen science, data science and information on species distributions to develop a monitoring approach and indicators for tracking priority invaders in Australia.

Candidate requirements: The successful candidate will have majored in ecology, have a working knowledge of R and a background and interest in statistics/data analysis.


Postdoctoral Fellow – Measurement and Modelling of Antarctic Biodiversity

Status: Closed

This position is associated with the Australian Research Council SRI – Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF – https://arcsaef.com/), and falls within Theme 2 of the Research Program – Biodiversity Status and Trends.

Candidate requirements: The successful candidate will have an excellent publication record, significant biodiversity modelling skills, ideally with experience in biodiversity informatics, and have an interest in the Antarctic.


Research Assistant – Biodiversity Informatics

Status: Closed.

This position is associated with the Australian Research Council SRI – Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF – https://arcsaef.com/), and falls within Theme 2 of the Research Program – Biodiversity Status and Trends.

Candidate requirements: The successful candidate will have significant data science expertise, the ability to synthesise and analyse biodiversity and environmental data and to build and manage environmental and biodiversity information systems, plus an interest in the Antarctic.


PhD – Impacts of climate change on the conservation status of Antarctic plant species

Status: Closed

This position is associated with the Australian Research Council SRI – Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF – https://arcsaef.com/), and falls within Theme 2 of the Research Program – Biodiversity Status and Trends.

Principal supervisor: Melodie McGeoch

Candidate requirements: The successful candidate will have majored in botany and ecology, have a working knowledge of R, and an interest in the Antarctic. 


Postdoctoral Fellow – Modelling the role of common species in biodiversity change

Status: Closed

We seek a biodiversity scientist to lead research on the contribution of common species to biodiversity change and function. The research involves combining modelling and empirical approaches to quantify the nature and causes of the dynamics (increases and declines) of common species in communities, and the outcomes thereof for function.

Suitable candidates for this Postdoctoral Fellowship will have an ecological background and significant biodiversity modelling skills, and ideally with experience in biodiversity informatics.

This opportunity falls under a research programme led by Prof. McGeoch (melodiemcgeoch.com), in collaboration with Prof. Cang Hui (Stellenbosch University) and Prof. Walter Jetz (Yale University).


 

Research Assistant – Environmental Data Analysis

Status: Closed

I am looking for a fixed-term, half-time research assistant whose primary responsibility will be data analytics and reporting, working predominantly with biodiversity data. Secondary responsibilities include general research group support, such as social media management, purchasing, logistics and organisation.

Suitable candidates will have skills and experience in data science to collate, synthesise and analyse biodiversity and environmental data and to build and manage environmental and biodiversity information systems. They will have a high level of analytical, statistical and programming skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.

One or more of the following will be an advantage: familiarity with biodiversity data and biodiversity informatics, and the topics of invasive alien species and systematics, use of Python.


Research Fellow: Invasion Biology and Ecoinformatics

Status: Closed

Monash University, Clayton Campus. Melbourne 

This is a full-time, fixed term position (Academic Level A) for an initial one year period with the possibility of an extension for a further 1-2 years.

The position

We are seeking a Researcher in the fields of invasion biology, biosecurity risk analysis and ecoinformatics. A background in entomology and/or plant pathology and a thorough understanding of systematics will be a significant advantage. The person should be interested in invasion pathways assessment and environmental risk analysis for biological invasions, biodiversity information management and the science-policy interface.

Location

The position is based in the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia), and the project is a collaboration between Prof. Melodie A. McGeoch (Monash University) and the Invasive Species Council (https://invasives.org.au/).

Minimum qualifications

A PhD in the natural sciences, in one or more of the areas outlined above. Applicants with an MSC qualification will be considered if they have significant experience in the relevant subject areas and meet the selection criteria.

Selection criteria

  • Advanced skills and demonstrated experience in scientific writing, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Knowledge of biodiversity data standards and biodiversity data management.
  • Significant skill using a range of software, including Geographic Information Systems, R and Access.
  • Other relevant experience includes systematic review methods and expert elicitation.
  • The person should have initiative and the ability to work independently, as well as be able to communicate effectively across scientific disciplines and with practitioners.

Starting Date: Early 2017. The position will be closed once a suitably qualified person is identified.

 

 


Postdoctoral Research Fellow Position

TITLE: Biodiversity Dynamics in Space and Time

POSITION STATUS: Closed

You may view and access the job online at the following link:

http://www.jobs-monash.jxt.net.au/academic-jobs/research-fellow-biological-sciences/574179

Final closing date for applications is Monday 14 March 2016.
Two year fixed-term appointment, with the possibility of one year renewal

A/Professor Melodie McGeoch (Monash University, Melbourne, Australia) is seeking an experienced Quantitative Ecologist/Biodiversity Scientist to work on modelling biodiversity dynamics in the context of climate change and biological invasion.

Persons with an interest and track record in the following areas are encouraged to apply:

Spatial biodiversity modelling, biodiversity scaling and turnover,
Species abundance and distribution responses to climate change and the identification of microrefugia,
Landscape level approaches to conservation planning.
The research will require skills and experience in spatial modelling of biodiversity, including species and assemblage distributions, spatial scaling, systematic conservation planning and/or qualitative network modelling. A botanical background would be an advantage but is not essential.

As the successful candidate, you will be expected to maintain high research output in the form of quality publications, supervise students, develop and submit grant proposals to external funding agencies, contribute more generally to communicating the research activities of the group, and participate in appropriate career development activities.

The successful candidate will:

Hold a PhD in a relevant area of ecology, biodiversity science or numerical/mathematical ecology, numerical ecology or community ecology with a significant modelling component
Have a publication track record in high-quality journals that clearly reflects evidence of independent ability to conduct and publish research in a relevant field
Demonstrated expertise in R and the use of Geographic Information System software
Be enthusiastic about collaborative research
Have the ability to communicate effectively with other scientists at the interface of empirical and theoretical ecology
Have a strong command of English
For further information about the research group and environment see:

www.melodiemcgeoch.com and http://www.monash.edu/science/schools/biological-sciences

If you are interested in applying, please send your c.v. along with the names of 3 possible references, and a cover letter outlining your interests to melodie.mcgeoch@monash.edu

 


 

POSITION: PhD

TITLE: Nowhere to hide? Climate change refugia for threatened plants in the sub-Antarctic

POSITION STATUS: Closed

A PhD position is available to work with Associate Professor Melodie McGeoch (Monash University) and Dr Dana Bergstrom (Australian Antarctic Division) in Melbourne, Australia. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with research interests in botany, ecology and conservation.

The research will investigate the relationship between species traits, microclimate and management options in a climate change sensitive genus found across multiple sub-Antarctic islands. From a management perspective the project will focus specifically on Australia’s Macquarie Island, where Azorella macquariensis has recently experienced significant decline in conservation status.

Candidates with the following background and skills set are encouraged to apply:

  • Training and an interest in botany
  • Well-developed skills in Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
  • Good quantitative skills.

Start date

As early as possible but before July 2016.

Interested applicants are encouraged to express their interest in the position as early as possible, well-before the official deadlines if possible.

Research Group

Melodie McGeoch works on the responses of natural systems to climate change and biological invasion, with a particular focus on protected areas (for further information see www.melodiemcgeoch.com). Dana Bergstrom is part of the Antarctic Conservation and Management Program at the Antarctic Division working towards scientific foundations for biodiversity conservation.

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 $25,849 AUD per annum tax-free. Domestic students will be encouraged to apply for an Australian Postgraduate Award, with a top-up scholarship awarded to successful recipients (tax-free 2015 rate of approximately $25,849 AUD, top up of $5000).

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 School of Biological Sciences is a dynamic unit with strengths in both ecology and genetics and the nexus between these disciplines (monash.edu/science/about/schools/biological-sciences/). 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, their skills in relation to data management and manipulation (particularly using GIS) to melodie.mcgeoch@monash.edu.

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s or equivalent degree with first-class Honours, or a Master of Science. Short-listed candidates will be asked for further information and interviewed.


POSITION: PhD

TITLE: Understanding the implications of changes in protected area networks for their performance

POSITION STATUS: Closed

A PhD position is available to work with Dr Carly Cook and Associate Professor Melodie McGeoch at Monash University (School of Biological Sciences) in Australia. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with research interests in ecology and conservation to undertake a project investigating the how changes in the characteristics of protected area networks influence their ability to conserve biodiversity.

For more information see this pdf – PhD position CookMcGeoch