Mapping challenge: the hidden complexity of desert ecosystems in Australia

Australia has a large diversity of arid and semi-arid ecosystems, from spinifex hummock grasslands, Acacia shrublands and chenopod semi-deserts, through salt pans and ephemeral salt lakes, to artesian springs and oases. Most ecosystem types are found nowhere else in the world.  Current maps of terrestrial vegetation and ecosystems in Australia have large gaps and inconsistencies between state borders. Sparse field samples combined with long-term and landscape level dynamics hamper our ability to accurately map complex spatio-temporal mosaics of ecosystem types. Consequently, current maps do not reflect the diversity and variation in Australian desert ecosystems, and are mostly inadequate for assessment, management and monitoring. 

This PhD will produce foundational spatio-temporal data on desert ecosystems to meet needs such as development of the National Reserve System, protected area management, prioritising restoration investments, livestock production, pest control, and ecosystem risk assessment and management. It will focus on innovative modelling of ecosystem distribution and dynamics based on remote sensing and other spatio-temporal data to reveal the hidden patterns in our deserts and semi-deserts. It will forge new directions applicable to other desert ecosystems around the world.

The PhD project will focus on the translation of ecosystem-specific knowledge of ecological features and processes into geospatial methods for ecosystem mapping. The candidate will combine ecological data with remote-sensing data streams and machine learning or AI methods for image classification to explore the best approaches to map ecosystem dynamics and trends at different spatial and temporal scales. 

The PhD candidate will join a team of postdoctoral fellows and students led by Prof David Keith working to deliver state-of-the-art ecosystem data streams and reproducible workflows for ground-breaking thematic risk assessments that will have impact in nature-positive agendas in Australia and worldwide. The PhD student will have opportunities to work and interact with state partners of the ARC Linkage Fellowship. 

Eligibility:

• Domestic full-time PhD candidates only

Scholarship:

• $39,206 per annum (2026 rate), up to 3.5years
• Candidates successful with UNSW scholarship will receive a $12,000 per annum top up.

How to apply:

To apply please submit an application including your CV and a cover letter explaining your suitability for the role to Dr. Jose R. Ferrer-Paris (j.ferrer@unsw.edu.au) on or before 21 October 2025.