Start Date: 2026
Duration: 3–4 years
Funding: Postgraduate scholarship, plus operational funding
Project Overview:
We are looking for an interested PhD candidate to join an exciting research project focused on understanding the interactions between wetland ecosystems and grazing dynamics in the Gayini wetlands, an area of more than 80,000 ha, owned and managed by the Nari Nari Tribal Council. UNSW’s Centre for Ecosystem Science is part of a consortium, with The Nature Conservancy and the Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group managing land and water over this nationally significant wetland. Our supervisory team is led by a specialist remote sensing researcher, supported by ecologists. The project is supported by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust. We aim to use a combination of remote sensing technologies, including satellite imagery, Nearmap, UAVs and LiDAR to track spatial and temporal patterns in vegetation communities, water regimes, and livestock grazing across this unique landscape.
Key Objectives:
Develop remote sensing workflows to map wetland vegetation structure and composition.
Examine long-term remotely sensed surface water dynamics with respect to changing land use and wetland restoration.
Determine the capabilities of different remote sensing platforms and instruments for assessing changes in floodplain vegetation across different spatial and temporal scales.
Requirements:
Bachelor degree with first class honours or Masters degree with a substantial research component.
Skills in remote sensing, GIS, ecology or environmental science.
Strong analytical and programming skills (Python, R, or similar).
Interest in wetland conservation and ecosystem management.
How to Apply:
Send your CV, academic transcripts, and a brief statement of interest to adrian.fisher@unsw.edu.au by 9/1/26 [Scholarship deadlines for applications are 16/1/26 or 17/4/26].