The Vertebrate Ecology Lab, headed by Professor Lin Schwarzkopf, is located at the James Cook University campus in Townsville, Australia. Research in our lab focuses on the intersections between the ecology, evolution, and behavioral ecology of vertebrates.
Our lab currently hosts about 14 postgraduate students and collaborates with a variety of researchers and institutions worldwide. In conjunction with our students, we investigate a wide range of ecological and conservation questions using vertebrates, mostly reptiles and amphibians, as model organisms.
Our lab currently hosts about 14 postgraduate students and collaborates with a variety of researchers and institutions worldwide. In conjunction with our students, we investigate a wide range of ecological and conservation questions using vertebrates, mostly reptiles and amphibians, as model organisms.
Interested in Joining Us?PhD opportunities in Biodiversity Assessment: Right now, we have 2 great PhD opportunities:
Worldwide, there has been rapid development in automated methods of quantifying biodiversity, and recently, in Australia, an ARC LEIF-funded "Acoustic Observatory" has been established, designed to record sounds made by vocal species in 100 locations around Australia. But how well does biodiversity measured by such recorders reflect the animal biodiversity of an area more generally? This question is the subject of a recently funded ARC-Discovery project, which will fund two upcoming PhD projects in the laboratory. One project will use standard methods of assessing animal biodiversity, trapping, active search, survey, etc. as well as species distribution modelling to assess animal biodiversity at 5 sites along the east coast of Australia. These sites will also be equipped with acoustic recorders and the other PhD project will assess the biodiversity of vocal species, using artificial intelligence methods such as machine learning to reduce the large amounts of data that will be collected. The distribution of work, including field work, in the two projects is highly negotiable, and will be shaped by the students' interests and willingness to develop skills in these areas. The students will be based in the School of Science and Engineering at James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, under the supervision of Lin Schwarzkopf. The students will receive expert training in biodiversity assessment fieldwork, and/or AI skills. Requirements: The successful applicant will have a First Class Honours (or equivalent) in biological science or a related field and will pick up extra points in the scholarship scoring system if they have a first-authored paper in a reputable journal. Preference will be given to those applicants with previous experience in biodiversity survey, or use of machine learning to analyse biodiversity data. Journal publications in these fields are desirable but not essential. Applicants will need to apply for a JCU competitive Research Scholarship and should be familiar with the Higher Degree by Research Requirements. Closing date for scholarship applications is 30 Sept 2020. Funding: $28,092 pa for 3.5 years (tax exempt), comprising both an APA stipend (2020 rate) and a $1,500 pa top-up provided. Field and laboratory expenses will be supported by the broader project. Contact: Interested applicants should send their 1) CV, 2) academic transcript and 3) a short (max. 1 page) letter outlining their suitability and interest in the project to Lin Post-doctoral Opportunities: I am conducting a search for a post-doctoral candidate. I am looking for a good ecologist interested in assessing vertebrate biodiversity for comparison with acoustic assessments. Please contact Lin if you are interested. You will require a good publication record. 
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Vertebrate Ecology in the NewsVideo: Lin Schwarzkopf on Cane Toad traps, Reperio2018 Radio: invasive geckos https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/offtrack/barking-gecko/12216272 |
