Title

Building resilience through the improved understanding of coincident natural hazards

Type

PhD comes with a Faculty/School funded living allowance scholarship, and an ACE CRC funded PhD top-up

Value & Duration

UTAS will provide a living allowance of AUD $26,288 per annum (2016 rate) for 3 years, with a possible 6 month extension. This rate is indexed annually. In addition, the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC) will provide a PhD top-up of AUD $5,000 per annum for an exceptional candidate.

Closing Date

Friday 19 August 2016

The Research Project

While natural hazards can be caused by a single variable being in an extreme state, such as extreme rainfall leading to a flash flood, more often such events are the result of a complex interaction between several variables, either occurring in sequence or concurrently. The severity of the highest impact weather-related hazards, such as drought, bushfire, floods and storms, depends on how, when and where they combine and interact (i.e. a multi-hazard approach) as well as the complex interdependent relationships between these hazards and the antecedent, synoptic and large-scale climatic conditions that cause them. This combination of hazards is referred to as compound, or ‘coincident’, events. Using a mix of statistical and quantitative methods, the candidate will model these complex interdependent relationships, both between various natural hazards as well as with their causes, and quantify the likelihood of more than one high-impact event occurring coincidentally with another. The project will then assess how such information can be integrated into hazard modelling, natural hazard risk assessments and forecast/warning systems to improve our ability to prepare for, and build resilience to, such events both now and in the future.

This project is a collaboration between the University of Tasmania and the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC).

Eligibility:

The following eligibility criteria apply to this scholarship:
• The scholarship is open to Australian (domestic) and international candidates.
• The PhD must be undertaken on a full-time basis.
• Domestic applicants must already have been awarded a first class Honours degree or have relevant and substantial research experience in an appropriate sector.
• International applicants must already have been awarded a Masters degree with journal publications.

Candidates from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Knowledge and skills that will be ranked highly include:
• A background or experience in natural hazards, risk assessment or extreme climate/weather impacts.
• An ability to demonstrate strong research and analytical skills.
Funding (delete if not relevant):

The PhD living allowance scholarship is jointly funded by the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, and the School of Engineering and ICT at the University of Tasmania. The PhD top-up is funded by the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre.

Application Process:

Applicants should complete the application via the University of Tasmania’s admissions system and scholarship section (see How to Apply on the Graduate Research Future Students page) and indicate under ‘Scholarship Support: Living Allowance’ that you wish to be considered for a ‘UTAS merit-based scholarship for a living allowance’

More Information:

Please contact Dr Chris White, School of Engineering & ICT, for more information: chris.white@utas.edu.au

Image: Jim Reilly