This College Scholarships Minority studentship forms part of a 3 year project funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and is part of a wider applied research program to promote conservation of marine reefs formed by living organisms (biogenic reefs). The successful candidate will be responsible for designing and implementing field and laboratory trials that aim to develop novel tools and techniques for promoting reef conservation through direct intervention. The College Scholarships Minority project will investigate the recruitment, growth and development of these marine habitats and identify techniques to enable the regeneration of damaged marine biogenic reef habitats. Field and laboratory experiments will identify cost effective methods for optimising larval settlement of reef building species and identify the environmental conditions most conducive to subsequent reef development. The project will focus on three reef building species of significant biodiversity conservation importance in the UK: fan-worms (Serpula vermicularis), flame shells (Limaria hians) and horse-mussels (Modiolus modiolus).
The College Scholarships Minority project will be conducted within the Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot Watt University (www.sls.hw.ac.uk) and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to network with other research groups within the UK.
College Scholarships Minority Applicants must have a strong academic record (minimum 2:1 degree in Marine Biology, Zoology or similar discipline). A high level of competence in SCUBA diving is essential, preferably with experience of scientific diving. The project will require a significant amount of fieldwork and the applicant should have well developed practical skills, the ability to work well as part of a team and the ability to take the initiative in developing the project
For further details please contact Dr Dan Harries (D.B.Harries@hw.ac.uk) or Dr Bill Sanderson (W.G.Sanderson@hw.ac.uk).
Applications
Applications should be made via email to Dr Dan Harries. In the application please outline your interest in this research and your career aspirations. Please include a full CV, relevant transcripts and the names and addresses of two academic referees.
Closing date: 15 June 2011. After submitting your application you will receive an email confirming receipt.
