Supporting sustainable and equitable coral reef and fisheries governance in SE Asia
Value
$37,000 p.a. scholarship
Duration
3.5 years duration
Status
Open
Opens
01/02/2025Closes
30/04/2025Overview
The ‘Enhancing marine environmental governance in Indonesia and the Philippines’ (EMERGE) project is a multi-disciplinary project supporting the governance of coral reefs and fisheries in Southeast Asia. The project is supporting a PhD scholarship to undertake work in the Philippines or Indonesia. Depending on the applicant’s preferred focus and skills/experience, the PhD will focus on reef governance in Palawan, Philippines, or fisheries governance in Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
In each case the intended focus of work is to support the development of evidence-based solutions that improve the sustainability of reefs and fisheries, while minimising impacts on dependent communities, particularly those who are vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity.
The successful candidate will be supported to work with project teams to identify a focus area and contribution in the context of the wider research program.
Examples of focus areas that may be helpful for candidates in considering this opportunity are:
• Working with reef and/or fisheries dependent communities to understand better the nature of their vulnerability and potential solutions.
• Undertaking focused studies gathering relevant biological/ecological data on reefs/fisheries, and/or socio-economic data on dependent communities,
• Development of scientific methods that combine biological/ecological data on reefs and fisheries with socio-economic data on dependent communities.
• Analysis of existing governance and management processes to identify how these data can be utilised to inform decision-making for reefs and fisheries.
• Development of principles and ideal processes for governance and management to be able to address both sustainability and social equity outcomes in reefs and fisheries in SE Asia.
Who is eligible?
- Domestic applicants (Australian citizens or permanent residents).
Selection process
Essential
Demonstrated experience in conservation, natural resource management or a related field.
Honours or Masters in a relevant field. Candidates may be from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds – e.g. social sciences, governance studies, law, reef ecology/fisheries sciences, conservation planning, or an interdisciplinary background.
A strong interest in integrated approaches to environmental and resource governance and interdisciplinary research approaches
Desirable
Relevant experience and knowledge in marine conservation or fisheries management.
Relevant knowledge and experience working in SE Asia or similar developing country settings.
Relevant knowledge and experience in working with communities.
Depending on the preferred focus of the candidate, relevant skills/experience in quantitative methods including modelling (e.g. household socio-economics, fisheries science, reef ecology).
Depending on the preferred focus of the candidate, relevant skills/experience in analysing governance, policy and decision-making processes.
How to apply
Applications open February 1st 2025.
Before applying to UTS please contact the project lead Dr Nick McClean to discuss your application.
Need more information? Contact...
Project lead Dr Nick McClean. E: nicholas.mcclean@uts.edu.au
