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After the bushfire catastrophe: Recovering our missing marsupial species

Summary

Many of us watched in horror as the Black Summer fires caused devastation for people and wildlife alike. Here is your opportunity to help direct future wildlife rescue efforts! This project aims to assess the outcomes of wildlife rehabilitation practices through monitoring rehabilitated animals after release into the wild and comparing survival outcomes to those of control animals at the release sites.

Supervisor

Associate Professor Catherine Adderton Herbert.

Research location

School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Synopsis

The research project, funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, will determine the survival of marsupials rehabilitated following bushfire induced injury or ill-health. Working collaboratively with wildlife carers, the successful candidate will determine if post-release survival outcomes are correlated with specific intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including severity/type of injury, time in care, degree of habituation to humans, individual personality, sex and release habitat, for at least two common marsupial species. By identifying the factors correlated with successful release outcomes, this research will help wildlife carers to develop an evidence-based framework for marsupial rehabilitation in Australia.

Internal collaborators and potential co-supervisors at the University of Sydney include: Prof. Chris Dickman, Prof. Clare McArthur, Dr Tom Newsome and Dr Rachael Gray. 

Additional information

Scholarship: PhD candidates must be competitive to receive scholarship funding under the Commonwealth Government Research Training Program and be available to start in the first half of 2022. Scholarship applications are due at the beginning of December 2021 (Date TBC).

Essential: A drivers license and capacity to conduct field work.

Contact details: Contact Associate Professor Catherine Herbert before the 25th November at The University of Sydney for more information and to discuss scholarship requirements catherine.herbert@sydney.edu.au

HDR Inherent Requirements

In addition to the academic requirements set out in the Science Postgraduate Handbook, you may be required to satisfy a number of inherent requirements to complete this degree. Example of inherent requirement may include:

  • -       Confidential disclosure and registration of a disability that may hinder your performance in your degree;
  • -       Confidential disclosure of a pre-existing or current medical condition that may hinder your performance in your degree (e.g. heart disease, pace-maker, significant immune suppression, diabetes, vertigo, etc.);
  • -       Ability to perform independently and/or with minimal supervision;
  • -       Ability to undertake certain physical tasks (e.g. heavy lifting);
  • -       Ability to undertake observatory, sensory and communication tasks;
  • -       Ability to spend time at remote sites (e.g. One Tree Island, Narrabri and Camden);
  • -       Ability to work in confined spaces or at heights;
  • -       Ability to operate heavy machinery (e.g. farming equipment);
  • -       Hold or acquire an Australian driver’s licence;
  • -       Hold a current scuba diving licence;
  • -       Hold a current Working with Children Check;
  • -       Meet initial and ongoing immunisation requirements (e.g. Q-Fever, Vaccinia virus, Hepatitis, etc.)

You must consult with your nominated supervisor regarding any identified inherent requirements before completing your application.

Want to find out more?

Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 2983

Other opportunities with Associate Professor Catherine Adderton Herbert