PhD opportunity: Impact of climate change on catchment dynamics in cold, arid regions
We are looking for a PhD student in to join our team at the Waterways Centre, based at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
The successful candidate for this position (three years, full-time position) will be fully funded, and will work on a project entitled "Impact of climate change on catchment dynamics in cold, arid regions". The candidate will work with the Waterways Centre team, colleagues in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury, as well as researchers at the Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Chile. Research stays in Chile is possible to facilitate collaboration.
Main supervisor: Shelley MacDonell
Email: shelley.macdonell [at] canterbury.ac.nz
Project description:
In many regions of the world, mountain chains represent water towers for downstream ecosystems and communities. However, in arid and semiarid regions, often the hydrological response of these systems to change is poorly constrained, as there is a complex interplay between hydrological units (such as glaciers, rock glaciers, peatlands and a seasonal snow cover with large spatial and temporal variability) and wider catchment connectivity. Improving our understanding of hydrological processes and connections in cold, dry regions will facilitate the possibility to project the glacio-hydrological response of these systems under future climate scenarios. The main question the proposed study aims to address is: How will the cryosphere and downstream hydrology respond to future climate change, in particular extreme events, in semiarid and arid catchments? Two main study sites are proposed: the semiarid Andes of Chile, and the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The exact scope of the project will be defined by the successful candidate together with the supervision team.
The ideal candidate will have the following skills:
We are looking for a self-motivated, curious research student.
Essential experience includes: glacio-hydrological modelling on different platforms; satellite imagery analysis of snow properties; large dataset management (eg meteorological data); glaciological monitoring (ie fieldwork).
Desired experience includes: writing scientific articles; collaboration in group work; work on permafrost or similar; basic level of Spanish.
Funding information:
The student will be awarded a scholarship equivalent to a UC Doctoral scholarship - $32,000 + tuition fees for thesis-only enrolment for up to a total of 360 points.
Candidate should start the position within 2025
Prospective PhD student applications must include the following five items:
Cover letter explaining motivation for doing the proposed PhD outlining interest and experience
Curriculum Vitae including a list of any prior publications.
Contact details of at least two academic or professional referees.
A GPA report obtained from https://support.scholaro.com/portal/en/kb/articles/canterbury (those with New Zealand or United States qualifications are not required to use Scholaro).
Evidence of a completed masters level qualification.
Please send your completed application materials to: shelley.macdonell [at] canterbury.ac.nz
The deadline for submission of applications is 4 June 2025 at: 17:00 NZ Time.