Contribute to vital ecological research and help protect Australia's vulnerable shorebird populations.

Federation University - in collaboration with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) - is offering a Master of Science scholarship focused on the ecology of the Latham's Snipe in central Tasmania. This exciting opportunity enables you to investigate critical habitat characteristics, seasonal patterns and conservation strategies for this nationally significant shorebird species.

These scholarships enable you to:

• Get paid while you develop your research career and make a real impact in conservation.
• Work with leading researchers and industry partners to guide wetland restoration and species protection.
• Join an immersive research project that includes hands-on fieldwork in Tasmania's unique wetland ecosystems.
• Gain industry experience with an internship of up to three months at TLC, contributing to conservation efforts.

Commencement date: 1 June 2025.

Benefits

The scholarship includes:

• A stipend of $38,000 per year (awarded for 1.5 years, no extensions permitted).
• Project support of up to $10,000 for field research and related costs.
• An RTP Fee-offset Scholarship / Tuition Fee Scholarship of up to $30,240 per year to cover tuition fees (for domestic applicants only).
• An internship placement of up to 3 months with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy.

Background

Latham's Snipe, recently uplisted to Vulnerable under Commonwealth legislation, faces increasing threats from habitat loss. The Silver Plains wetlands in Tasmania provide a crucial non-breeding season habitat, making conservation efforts essential.

This MSc research project will investigate:

• the distribution and abundance of Latham's Snipe at Silver Plains.
• daily and seasonal habitat use patterns, including roosting and foraging sites.
• the structural and floristic characteristics of wetlands used by the species.
• the presence of other priority species, including rare or threatened flora and fauna.

This research directly aligns with TLC's mission to enhance ecological knowledge and develop structured conservation monitoring. Findings will inform wetland restoration and conservation strategies across Tasmania.

Research project

The project requires both desktop research and extensive fieldwork at Silver Plains during the spring-summer season.

Ideal candidate

We are seeking a highly motivated student with:

• a strong passion for ecology and conservation.
• experience with waterbirds, migratory shorebirds or wetland ecosystems.
• skills in ecological statistics, R/Python and GIS (desirable but not essential).

Industry partner and supervisors

Industry partner and student host: Tasmanian Land Conservancy.

Principal Supervisor: Dr Birgita Hansen.

Associate & Co-Supervisors:

• Dr Grant Palmer.
• Dr David Hamilton (More about Dr Hamilton).

Eligibility

To apply for this scholarship, you must:

• be eligible to undertake an MSc (check eligibility via the Graduate Research School website).
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• apply for Honours equivalence (if required) and provide supporting documentation.

This is a unique opportunity to work with leading conservation experts and directly contribute to protecting Australia's shorebird populations. Apply now and be part of impactful ecological research!