PhD Projects

I have an ARC future fellowship which will specifically fund some of these projects. In all cases the stipend would however come from a scholarship.

1) The evolutionary genetics of phase change in locusts.

Very little is known about the evolutionary genetics of phase change in locusts, we now have the tools and the opportunity to link studies of quantitative genetics of phase change with gene expression. This project will be at the cutting edge of evolutionary research with the advantage of having an applied angle.

2) Experimental threshold evolution

Experimental evolution is a powerful way of testing evolutionary theory. This research investigates experimental evolution and artificial selection on threshold traits using species with short generation times. The idea is to expand our traditional understanding of threshold traits to answer broader evolutionary questions.

3) The maintenance of genetic variation

I have projects available on the role of mutations in the maintenance of genetic variation. This project would use quantitative genetic methods to investigate lab adapted invertebrate species.

4) Allometry and sexual and natural selection.

There is a great deal of interest in allometry – the scaling of organ size to body size and its relevance to sexual selection and natural selection. This project would focus on intra-specific and inter-specific approaches to better understand allometry in both naturally and sexually selected traits.

PhD studentship funding

International Students

International Postgraduate Research Scholarships IPRS are available through the University of Western Australia. There are currently more of these studentships than normal! There are several closing dates each year: go to the Scholarships Office IPRS web page for the latest closing dates and to view the requirements and eligibility. Contact me for further information.

Australian Students

Australian Postgraduate Scholarships and University of Western Australia Scholarships are available. More details on requirements, closing dates and eligibility are available from the Scholarships Office web page. Contact me for further information.

Honours Projects

I’m always interested in hosting honours students. Please see the School of Animal Biology Web pages for the full details relating to these projects.

Daphnia plasticity across time and space

Genetic diversity, population history and adaptation to novel environmental stress

Sexual selection, artificial selection and the function of antennae in Callosobruchus maculatus

The evolution of conditional mating tactics in a freshwater fish

How temperature affects parasitism by ticks in Western Australia

Post-docs, Fellows and Visitors

Clearly if you have your own money to come as a Post-doc, an independent fellow, or as a visitor then you are very welcome!

Post-doctoral fellowships (DECRA’s) available to both international and local applicants can be applied for through The Australian Research Council’s Discovery Project scheme. Closing dates are usually in February, but applications require time to prepare; go to the ARC web site for further information.

Many Post-doctoral fellowships are available from donor countries which fund to travel to Australia.