Climate extremes in Western Australia
We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic PhD candidate to undertake research on current and future changes in climate extremes for the state of Western Australia. This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a larger collaborative project between Murdoch University and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. The overarching aim of this project is to produce the next-generation of high resolution regional climate projections for Western Australia based on the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6).
The candidate will work together with Murdoch and DWER scientists as part of a larger collaborative team. The candidate will be able to tailor their PhD based on their personal interests and range of topics would be suitable for study, such as: fire weather, compound extreme events, heatwaves and cold-spells, daily precipitation extremes, and many more topics can be tailored to the project.
This project will be a great opportunity for the candidate to work closely with a state government department and deliver new knowledge that will ultimately help the state better adapt to future changes in climate.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the required HDR degree to be eligible (first or upper second-class Honours degree, Masters degree by research, or equivalent).
A bachelor degree with first or upper second class honours or equivalent in science or engineering. Ideally, the student’s undergraduate thesis and/or major should be related to the earth sciences (e.g., atmospheric science, climatology, meteorology, physical oceanography etc). However, students with strong background in Physics and Mathematics and with good coding skills are encouraged to apply.
The student will be expected to have some prior experience and knowledge of scripted languages (or equivalent) such as:
- Python
- Matlab
- R
- Julia
- NCAR Command Language
Prior experience with Linux/UNIX operating systems would also be desirable, as well as prior experience in working with outputs from earth system models in netCDF format. Prior experience in running and/or analysing model outputs from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model would be very desirable.
How to Apply
Compile the required documentation and email to Jatin Kala.
Selected applicants will be then invited to interview and submit proposals via Murdoch University’s postgraduate scholarship application process.
For more information about the application process, contact the Graduate Research Office.
Required Documents
This scholarship requires you to provide the following documents via email to Jatin Kala:
- Cover letter outlining your suitability for the position (please refer to application criteria)
- Copy of your complete academic transcript
- Academic CV, including list of publications
Payment Method
- DWER $15,000 and Murdoch University $15,000 per annum; and
- DWER $5,000 once off extra allowance (for student research expenses, including conference, travel or training)